During the first few weeks of my Photography & Photoshop class, we explore a variety of compositions to use when planning out our camera shots. This allows students to think about how they are organizing their subject within the viewfinder while choosing designs that are more advanced than your typical snapshot. Below are examples of their work while taken at school. These images have not been adjusted aside from possibly re-cropping in Photoshop.
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| Rule of Thirds by Tyler B. |
Rule of Thirds: This device keeps your focal point or emphasis away from the center to create more visual weight on one side. This creates an interesting asymmetrical balance to the work.
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| Leading Lines by Rachel H. |
Leading Lines: Finding natural lines in your environment that lead the eye to your subject or through your work. They can be actual lines or implied lines.
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| Framing by Lauren K. |
Framing: Capturing subjects in the foreground that help to frame your main subject or using subjects to create an artistic edge to your work.
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| Close-up by Rahela G. |
Close-ups: While using Macro mode on the camera, get in close so that you can capture detail in your subject. In this composition, your subject should take up most of your frame.
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| Abstraction by Megan L. |
Abstractions: This works nicely with close-ups in getting close and creating a sense of ambiguity that keeps the viewer guessing about what it is they are looking at.
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| Reflection by Kylie N. |
Reflections: This device can help to repeat your subject if you or create layers in a work.
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| Shadows by Efren L. |
Shadows: This will show the importance of dark values in a work while capturing interesting shadows of your subject. This can help to create patterns or keep your subject ambiguous.
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| Using Light by Kayla A. |
Using Light: Take the time to see how light interacts with your subject. Notice natural light during different times of day and the difference between natural and artificial light.
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| Unusual Angle by Gracie H. |
Unusual Angles: Capture your subject or environment at an angle or view that is different from the norm. This can help to exaggerate your subject or allow the viewer to see from a direction that is unfamiliar and more interesting.
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| Changing Focus by Kylie N. |
Changing Focus: When selecting a subject and focusing in, it may be important to eliminate distracting details in the background or foreground. Your camera will do this for you if it is on automatic focus. This effect may also be used when choosing your Macro mode during close-up Photography. The distracting details in a photo will be blurred out so that more emphasis is placed on your chosen subject.
