Having discussed in previous publications the important technical features of obtaining high-quality photos, today we will move on to the creative component-the compositional construction of the frame. Under the composition in photography, it is customary to understand such a mutual arrangement of objects, objects in the frame, which is pleasant to the eye and causes the viewer a sense of harmony.
Of course, everyone’s tastes are different, but there are some General patterns, given that, you can take pictures that are pleasant to most people. But here, as in any rule, there are exceptions when the violation of the main compositional techniques does not interfere, but on the contrary — helps to create unusual, memorable photos.
The basic photographic techniques for creating a harmonious picture are based on the concept of the Golden ratio, existing in art. In relation to photography, in a simplified form it is reduced to the so-called “rule of thirds”: the frame is visually divided by straight lines vertically and horizontally into three equal parts.
When constructing a composition, for a better perception of the picture, the main plot center is usually recommended to be placed not in the center of the frame, as is often done by novice photographers, but with a shift, placing it in one of the four points of intersection of these lines.
It’s not a dogma, but in most cases the rule of thirds does work. Displays or focus screens of different cameras often display vertical and horizontal grid lines specifically for more convenient frame layout. There are also more complex schemes of compositional constructions, for example, on the basis of a grid of dynamic symmetry, but these are topics for professionals.
Of course, everyone is free to take pictures as he wants, but believe me, the picture will look much less dynamic and attractive if the main object, such as a garden sculpture or a flower bed, will be located right in the center of the frame. A similar situation occurs when the picture is divided by the horizon line or some other line or strip in the frame exactly in half. Most often, some part of the picture, upper or lower, is more interesting, and it is worth paying more attention when filling the frame.
Haste is the enemy of the photographer. Before you press the shutter button of the camera, make it a rule to make a small pause. Try to imagine what you want to see in the picture taken. Will there be a clear main idea, well if the passed mood, whether constructed frame from the point of view of composition, where his plot centre, if there is enough contrast. If you want to make a photo more expressive-use the technique of introducing lines that direct the viewer’s attention from the edges of the picture to its plot important part. This role can be played by a garden path leading to a beautiful gazebo, or a blade of grass located in the foreground and pointing to a bright flower placed in the “Golden section point”.
When constructing a composition in the frame, the rules of perspective work well, which, as you know, can be linear and tonal. Linear perspective helps to convey the feeling of three-dimensional image with converging lines on the horizon: alley landings, contours of buildings, extended mixborders.
Tonal perspective emphasizes the depth of the frame in cases when its background is light, has cold shades, and the front, on the contrary, is darker.
Often, a good perception of the photo interferes with a colorful and bright background, in which the main object is lost, for example, a flower on the background of intertwining branches.
Skillful control of the depth of field of the lens, mainly by varying the aperture value, allows you to blur the background if necessary, keeping the subject as sharp as possible on its background.
And yet — try to get in the picture had some plans, grab the leaves of the nearest Bush or grass, in order to create a sort of frame inside the frame.
Taking all this into account when forming a landscape composition, you will get attractive and interesting pictures.