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Composition 1In this presentation we will look

at some basic ‘rules’ of composition.

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CompositionThe word composition means combining or putting together parts to form a whole.

Composition can apply to many works of human endeavor including music and writing – in fact anything that is arranged or ‘put together’ using conscious thought.

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In this presentation we are going to look at some of the most important ‘rules’ or conventions of composition:

Rule of ThirdsRule of Even & OddTrianglesSpaceSimplificationSymmetryPattern & Repetition

Learning ‘rules’ about art can seem stifling or constricting – if all artists just follow a set of rules then their art would look very similar and become very boring.Many original artists manage to break or ‘bend’ these rules or conventions, but to do so successfully they first had to fully understand the rules and conventions.

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Rule of Thirds

Divide the image into thirds as shown – If the main visual components (things in the image) lie on or near the lines then the image often tends to look ‘right’. In this image the horizon line is on one of the bisectors.

[Remember, rules are there to be broken - once you understand and can follow them!]

Chris Monaghan

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Which image do you prefer?

Which image more closely follows the rule of thirds?

Chris Monaghan

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Gary Winogrand

Sometimes an image does not follow the rule of thirds exactly, but the main visual components (‘things’) in the image are close to the 1/3rd bisectors.

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Fay Godwin

Landscape photography often uses the rule of thirds – how?

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Fay Godwin

Landscape photography often has the horizon line on or near one of the two horizontal lines

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The Rule Of Even And Odd

Norman Parkinson

Dianne Arbus

An even number of ‘things’ in an image can sometimes create a feeling of tension or a slightly un-natural look.

… while an odd number of ‘things’ can often create a feeling of harmony or balance

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An odd number of subjects in an image often has a more ‘natural’, symmetrical or balanced feel than an even number.

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Henri Cartier Bresson

In many artworks 3 subjects or ‘things’ in an image (an odd number) can draw attention to the central subject.

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Rule of Triangles

Triangles have 3 sides and tend to form stable, solid looking compositions.

Arnold Newman

Can you spot any triangles?

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Rule of Triangles

Triangles have 3 sides and tend to form stable, solid looking compositions.

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Victorian Family Portraits

Can you spot any triangles?

Why were triangular compositions often used for family portraits?

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Victorian Family Portraits

Think about what the triangle connotes ….

…….stability & solidity

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Rule of space

Which composition is more dynamic?

Which composition is more ‘restful’, allowing the subject to ‘look dreamily into space’?

Nadar

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Rule of space

The empty space in the right-hand image creates a more contemplative or thoughtful feel to it.

Nadar

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Swimmers diving into the water

(shot from beneath the water, looking upwards).

Space can also help create an impression of movementIn this image there is not much unfilled space

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The swimmers now appear to be moving into the empty space ahead of them, helping to create an impression or feeling of movement.

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Simplification

How does Rembrandt draw our attention into the face?

Rembrandt, Self Portrait.

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Simplification

ANSWER:

1. Lighting - the face has more light on it than other areas.

2. The brush-strokes are finer and more detailed in the facial area but become broader and less detailed for other areas.

3. Vignette – the painting becomes darker towards the edges.

4. Use of colour – dark ‘drab’ colours except for the face.

24What technique has the photographer used to simplify this image?

Chris Monaghan

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Is this picture ‘simplified’ ? If not, why not … and so what might the photographer Joel Meyerowitz be saying about life in the modern city?

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Symmetry

In this photograph the building seems to be ‘balanced’ by the white cloud. The line of symmetry runs from the bottom left to top right corner.

Chris Monaghan

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Symmetry & Repetition

Line of symmetryChris Monaghan

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Norman Parkinson

Where is the line of symmetry in this image?

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Norman Parkinson

Note: unlike in mathematics where perfect symmetry can be found, in art symmetry is often an approximation.

30Chris Monaghan

Does this image exhibit any symmetry?

When something has no symmetry we say that it is asymmetrical

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David Seymour (Chim)

How does being asymmetrical (not symmetrical) help or add to the viewing experience and meaning of this image?

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Answer: War is chaotic & random – death can come at any moment and does not follow beautiful aesthetic rules of composition. By being asymmetrical the image manages to convey this.

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Repetition & Pattern

Jackson Pollock

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When something is repeated, it can create a visual pattern.

Paul Strand

Edward Weston

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Andreas Gursky Paul Strand

Pattern can be used to suggest texture, or can produce an abstract visual experience.

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Summary

Rule of ThirdsRule of Even & OddTrianglesSpaceSimplificationSymmetryPattern & Repetition