Basic Photography Course

main object of the photograph should probably be kept
out of the picture; for instance, a photograph showing a
person standing at some distance in front of a building
may leave the observer wondering whether the person
or the building is the primary subject. When people are
included in a scene for comparative size of objects or

just for atmosphere, keep them from looking directly at

the camera. When people look at the camera and
therefore at the viewer of the picture, the viewer tends
to return their gaze by looking directly back into their
eyes. When they are not the intended point of interest,
we miss the statement and purpose of the picture. When
people are subordinate elements within the picture and
they are looking in a direction other than at the camera,
the viewer's attention is directed from the people to what
they are looking at, which should be the center of
interest; for example, when people are grouped around
a piece of machinery that is the center of interest of the

picture, have them look at the machine, rather than the
camera.

SUBJECT PLACEMENT

Sometimes good composition is obtained by placing

the center of interest in the geometrical center of the
picture; it is generally not a good idea to place it there.
Too frequently it divides the picture into equal halves
and makes the picture uninteresting and difficult to
balance. By dividing the picture area into thirds, both
vertically and horizontally, and locating the center of
interest at one of the intersections of the imaginary lines,
you can usually create a feeling of balance to the
composition (fig. 5-5).

In photographic composition there are two general

guides for determining the best location for the center
of interest. The first is the principle of thirds. The other

is dynamic symmetry. In the principle of thirds, the
intersection of lines that divide the picture area into

thirds are marked by O's. These intersections are good
locations for the center of interest in most photographs.
Notice we said THE center of interest. Remember, have
only one center of interest to a picture-keep it simple.
The principle of dynamic symmetry is a similar idea. A
good location for the center of interest is found by
drawing or imagining a diagonal line from one corner
to an opposite corner. Then, draw a second line
perpendicular to the first from a third corner (fig. 5-6).
The intersections of the lines are the location for the
center of interest.

SIMPLICITY

Simplicity is the key to most good pictures. The

simpler and more direct a picture is, the clearer and
stronger is the resulting statement. There are several
things to be considered when we discuss simplicity.
First, select a subject that lends itself to a simple
arrangement; for example, instead of photographing an

entire area that would confuse the viewer, frame in on

some important element within the area. Second, select

different viewpoints or camera angles. Move around the

scene or object being photographed. View the scene
through the camera viewfinder. Look at the foreground
and background. Try high and low angles as well as
normal eye-level viewpoints. Evaluate each view and
angle. Only after considering all possibilities should you

take the picture. See beyond and in front of your subject.

Be sure there is nothing in the background to distract the
viewer's attention from the main point of the picture.

Likewise, check to see there is nothing objectional in the
foreground to block the entrance of the human eye into
the picture.

A last point of simplicity-tell only one story. Ensure

there is only enough material in the picture to convey

5-7

contents

Basic Photography Course

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DOFMaster for Windows On-line Depth of Field Calculator DOFMaster for Mobile Devices On-line Depth of Field Table Hyperfocal Distance Chart Articles FAQ Recommended Books Support Contact Links Home As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.	contents <- previous page next page -> Figure 5-5.Principle of thirds. Figure 5-6.Dynamic symmetry. main object of the photograph should probably be kept out of the picture; for instance, a photograph showing a person standing at some distance in front of a building may leave the observer wondering whether the person or the building is the primary subject. When people are included in a scene for comparative size of objects or just for atmosphere, keep them from looking directly at the camera. When people look at the camera and therefore at the viewer of the picture, the viewer tends to return their gaze by looking directly back into their eyes. When they are not the intended point of interest, we miss the statement and purpose of the picture. When people are subordinate elements within the picture and they are looking in a direction other than at the camera, the viewer's attention is directed from the people to what they are looking at, which should be the center of interest; for example, when people are grouped around a piece of machinery that is the center of interest of the picture, have them look at the machine, rather than the camera. SUBJECT PLACEMENT Sometimes good composition is obtained by placing the center of interest in the geometrical center of the picture; it is generally not a good idea to place it there. Too frequently it divides the picture into equal halves and makes the picture uninteresting and difficult to balance. By dividing the picture area into thirds, both vertically and horizontally, and locating the center of interest at one of the intersections of the imaginary lines, you can usually create a feeling of balance to the composition (fig. 5-5). In photographic composition there are two general guides for determining the best location for the center of interest. The first is the principle of thirds. The other is dynamic symmetry. In the principle of thirds, the intersection of lines that divide the picture area into thirds are marked by O's. These intersections are good locations for the center of interest in most photographs. Notice we said THE center of interest. Remember, have only one center of interest to a picture-keep it simple. The principle of dynamic symmetry is a similar idea. A good location for the center of interest is found by drawing or imagining a diagonal line from one corner to an opposite corner. Then, draw a second line perpendicular to the first from a third corner (fig. 5-6). The intersections of the lines are the location for the center of interest. SIMPLICITY Simplicity is the key to most good pictures. The simpler and more direct a picture is, the clearer and stronger is the resulting statement. There are several things to be considered when we discuss simplicity. First, select a subject that lends itself to a simple arrangement; for example, instead of photographing an entire area that would confuse the viewer, frame in on some important element within the area. Second, select different viewpoints or camera angles. Move around the scene or object being photographed. View the scene through the camera viewfinder. Look at the foreground and background. Try high and low angles as well as normal eye-level viewpoints. Evaluate each view and angle. Only after considering all possibilities should you take the picture. See beyond and in front of your subject. Be sure there is nothing in the background to distract the viewer's attention from the main point of the picture. Likewise, check to see there is nothing objectional in the foreground to block the entrance of the human eye into the picture. A last point of simplicity-tell only one story. Ensure there is only enough material in the picture to convey 5-7 contents Basic Photography Course <- previous page next page ->	As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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