Framing and Composition of a Picture

Rule of thirds

• The rule of thirds is the standard for framing and composing an image.

• Applying the rule of thirds to a picture involves using the cameras in-build grid lines. The focus of the photo is often placed on where the gridlines cross each other. In addition to this horizons are placed on horizontal lines and vertical lines are used for framing up faces.

• This gives the photo a sense of story to a picture by often revealing more to the picture.

• The idea is that an off-centre composition is more pleasing to the eye and looks more natural than one where the subject is placed right in the middle of the frame.

Fibonacci Spiral

• The Fibonacci spiral is a more complex and artistic form of the rule of thirds. Many say that this type of composition is superior to the rule of thirds.

• It is comprised of different sized squares with one line leading in a spiral.

• This is used to tell a story in the picture. The line going through the picture is where the eye should be lead through the picture. Where the spiral ends is usually the main subject of the picture.

• More than one spiral can be used in a picture.

Leading Lines

• Leading lines are used to guide the eye and often make the picture more pleasing overall.

• A leading line provides a path for the eye to follow through different elements of a photo. Usually they start at the bottom of the frame and guide the eye upwards and inwards, from the foreground of the image to the background, typically leading toward the main subject.

• The lines are usually straight or diagonal.

Point of View

• The point of view at which the subject is taken is usually in three main places: birds eye, eye level, worms eye.

• The view point is used to give power or diminish a subject. This is often used in films as well.

• By using a worms eye view the subject looks over the camera and makes them appear big, thus giving them power and importance over the person viewing.

• By using the birds eye view it diminishes the subject by making them appear small, thus presenting the as weak and scared.

• By using eye level view it puts the subject and the viewer on the same level giving them the same ground feel.

• Different points of view can be used in interesting ways as well. By taking photos low down it can exaggerate the size of things often associated with being small, and vis-versa with things being small that are actually big.

Filling Space

• Filling the shot with content can add drama and overall meaning to a photograph.

• It is used to convey the fullness of the space or the feeling of the environment you are shooting.

• Using the entire space can also enhance the variety of colours that may be in a shot.

• Another use of filling space is to concentrate on a large amount of detail.

Background

• Paying attention to the background of a picture is very important. If the background is cluttered or if something is interrupting the main subject of the image it can lead the eye astray from the main focus of the image.

• Keeping the background similar to the main focus is very helpful as it will follow along with the image.

• Depth of field is used to maintain focus on the background. Shallow depth of field will produce a lot of bokeh, usually at F1.8 on the cameras aperture settings, This will blur the background of the image and pull all the attention to what is in focus. This is usually used when taking photos of people or animals. Using a deep depth of field is used to include everything in focus, usually around F13, this means that the background and foreground will be in focus meaning that you need to be carful as to what is in the background. This is usually used for landscapes.

Rule of Odds

• This rule states that images are more visually appealing when there is an odd number of subjects.

• This is because of the positioning of the objects always means that one the things is going to be in the middle, centring the image and drawing the viewers eye to the middle object, making the photo more interesting. If there are an even number of objects there is often space and the photo will sometimes bore people faster than if there was an odd number of objects. The photo seems unbalanced and can put people looking at it for longer.