Mastering Visual Composition Techniques in Photography

The Golden Rectangle Construction

The Golden Rectangle: Square and mark the midpoint (D) of one side (AB). Join the vertex (C) opposite side D. Use a compass to transfer that distance onto the initial side (D), obtaining the longest side of the rectangle (AC).

Compositional Strengths and Rules

The Four Strengths and the Law of Thirds

Strengths are obtained by drawing lines on the sides; four points (Q) are achieved that relate to the golden section.

Basic Lines of the Frame

The lines must direct the gaze toward the center of interest:

• Horizon: Unless creating a specific effect, the horizon should never divide the frame into two equal halves.
• Vertical: Often suggests the divine or spiritual element.
• Diagonal (Bias): The best resource to break monotony.
• Curved Lines: Suggest grace and sweetness, but if too numerous, they can suggest insecurity or disorder.

Mass and Background Management

1. Objects or people that distract or cut the contour of the main subject should be moved.
2. The background can be illuminated less intensely than the subject.
3. Reduce the depth of field using an open f-stop, or move the camera and use a longer focal length objective.

Triangular Composition

A triangle provides a very stable visual image; stability equals credibility.

Focus Placement

The focus should be in the most illuminated area.

Chromatic Composition

This is based on establishing compositional balances through patches of light and color:

• Cool Colors (Incoming): Blue, blue-violet, suggest distance.
• Warm Colors (Outgoing): Red, orange, suggest closeness and increase the apparent size of objects.
• Medium Green: Neutral.

Avoiding Confusion in the Picture

• Tonal Confusion: Occurs when several important elements overlap or mix, losing their individual identity.
• Edge Confusion: Occurs when the subject is cut off by the edge of the frame.
• Introduce no too high points in the frame that compete for attention.

Image Format Ratios

The Image Format: This is the relationship between the height and width ratio of the image, expressed as a relationship between the unit and the ratio between the highest and lowest dimension. For example, TV was 4x3, or 1:1.33.

Composition in Panoramic Images

The standard aspect ratio complies with the safety area (1:1.33 for standard, up to 1:1.85 for widescreen). The 16:9 ratio is becoming commercially dominant. The HDTV ratio is close to the golden number (1.618).

Image Composition in Motion Pictures

Proper dynamic composition must be designed to allow time to read the plane while the focus of the next plane appears at the same point where the eye was in the first plane. It is important that, when cutting, each plane remains properly composed.