Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I..

Composition IdeasComposition Ideas

Fill the frame & 2Fill the frame & 2ndnd reading reading

Copyright © 2003 - 2009 Kenji TachibanaCopyright © 2003 - 2009 Kenji Tachibana

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography IComposition – Fill the frame and 2Composition – Fill the frame and 2ndnd reading reading

Composition Ideas:Composition Ideas:

1.1. The subject must fill-the-frame by taking at least The subject must fill-the-frame by taking at least 85% of the image.85% of the image.

2.2. Composition must also have 2Composition must also have 2ndnd and 3 and 3rdrd reading reading elements beyond the subject to enrich the elements beyond the subject to enrich the composition and story.composition and story.

3.3. The main function of the second and third reading The main function of the second and third reading elements are to ‘flesh out’ the story idea.elements are to ‘flesh out’ the story idea.

4.4. In a photo, there will always be 2In a photo, there will always be 2ndnd reading reading elements. The idea is to ‘pack’ your own to elements. The idea is to ‘pack’ your own to control the story telling.control the story telling.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography IComposition – Avoid split subjectComposition – Avoid split subject

Student Example:Student Example:

Avoid having two or more subjects as shown below.Avoid having two or more subjects as shown below.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography IComposition – Make the subject clearComposition – Make the subject clear

Fix Stage 1: Reposition the dominant subjectFix Stage 1: Reposition the dominant subject

Use the 1/3 rule to move the subject.Use the 1/3 rule to move the subject.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography IComposition – Use overlapComposition – Use overlap

Fix Stage 2: Move the 2Fix Stage 2: Move the 2ndnd reading behind the subject reading behind the subject

Using overlap is a good device to signal when an Using overlap is a good device to signal when an object is meant to be supporting element.object is meant to be supporting element.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography IComposition – Give meaning to the second readingComposition – Give meaning to the second reading

Fix 3: Change the propFix 3: Change the prop

Replace the dead tree trunk with flowers which might Replace the dead tree trunk with flowers which might be more appropriate to the facial expression.be more appropriate to the facial expression.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography IComposition – Start thinking colorComposition – Start thinking color

Fix Stage 4: Add colorFix Stage 4: Add color

Use propping as an opportunity to add color. You can Use propping as an opportunity to add color. You can also use it for scale, contrast, or any number of other also use it for scale, contrast, or any number of other ideas. Yes the squigglyideas. Yes the squigglycolor lines are meantcolor lines are meantto be flowers…to be flowers…

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography IComposition – Right choicesComposition – Right choices

Fix 5: Packing & decisionsFix 5: Packing & decisions

Size, position and other attributes can play very key Size, position and other attributes can play very key roles in the story telling. Your choices are about roles in the story telling. Your choices are about making the rightmaking the rightpacking decisionspacking decisions

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography IComposition – Background considerationsComposition – Background considerations

Background: Make it countBackground: Make it count

How you handle theHow you handle thebackground can bebackground can bea make-or-breaka make-or-breakdecision. Here I amdecision. Here I amchoosing to continue on with the color theme and to blur it out choosing to continue on with the color theme and to blur it out so that it does not compete with the subject and the prop.so that it does not compete with the subject and the prop.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I

Avoiding Tangency: Avoiding Tangency:

In the original, the hat is creatingIn the original, the hat is creatinga perfect tangency with the right a perfect tangency with the right edge of the image. This kind ofedge of the image. This kind oferror is easy to make in the heaterror is easy to make in the heatOf capturing the decisive moment.Of capturing the decisive moment.

Make sure to watch out for thingsMake sure to watch out for thingslike tangency and amputation inlike tangency and amputation inyour camera Playback review.your camera Playback review.

You know now after your FreeYou know now after your FreeChoice re-shoot experience that Choice re-shoot experience that re-shooting can be a major challenge. So, getting it re-shooting can be a major challenge. So, getting it right the first time is a very good idea.right the first time is a very good idea.

Composition – Avoid tangencies & amputationComposition – Avoid tangencies & amputation

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I

Safety Margin: Safety Margin:

Frame tight but back up byFrame tight but back up by10% for the final shot. I call10% for the final shot. I callthis the 10% safety margin this the 10% safety margin and it shown as a whiteand it shown as a white rectangle to the right.rectangle to the right.

This tends to not onlyThis tends to not onlyavoid the tangency issue avoid the tangency issue but provide practical solutions to other advance layout but provide practical solutions to other advance layout issues which we will discus later…issues which we will discus later…

Composition – Safe marginComposition – Safe margin

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I

Flip The Rule: For tensionFlip The Rule: For tension

Place the subject on thePlace the subject on the‘‘wrong side’ to addwrong side’ to addtension. Lot of advertisingtension. Lot of advertisingimages are done this wayimages are done this wayto grab your attention.to grab your attention.

Learn the classic rules andLearn the classic rules andApply them correctly first.Apply them correctly first.Once you ‘get-it’, move on to more dynamic Once you ‘get-it’, move on to more dynamic compositions when the story requires it. Yes, compositions when the story requires it. Yes, everything leads back to your story.everything leads back to your story.

Composition – Break the ruleComposition – Break the rule

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I

Compare the Difference:Compare the Difference:

Go from the originalGo from the originalimage above to theimage above to theimproved (?) imageimproved (?) imageto the right. Whether you like the changes or not, they to the right. Whether you like the changes or not, they were all based on concrete composition and story were all based on concrete composition and story ideas…ideas…

Composition – Reference ImagesComposition – Reference Images

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I

Concluding Thoughts: You know bestConcluding Thoughts: You know best

Whenever you have a question about a technical Whenever you have a question about a technical matter (f/stop, shutter speed, and other) or about matter (f/stop, shutter speed, and other) or about aesthetics (composition, negative space, design, aesthetics (composition, negative space, design, and other), always go back to your story.and other), always go back to your story.

The story can determine the exact brightness. It The story can determine the exact brightness. It can also determine the shutter speed from can also determine the shutter speed from stopping a bullet using 1/10000 sec or letting the stopping a bullet using 1/10000 sec or letting the water fall suggest movement by using 1/15 sec.water fall suggest movement by using 1/15 sec.

Composition – ThoughtsComposition – Thoughts

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I

Summary:Summary:

Take an art class, take a design class, take part 2 Take an art class, take a design class, take part 2 to this class. Take any class that will improve to this class. Take any class that will improve your visual literacy.your visual literacy.

The camera is only an image capture device. The camera is only an image capture device. What’s more important than capturing images is What’s more important than capturing images is to become an Image Maker.to become an Image Maker.

Composition – Last thoughtsComposition – Last thoughts

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I

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