Theory
Every practice needs a theory.
So, here are the lectures I prepared for my classes in “École Française de Belgrade” (French High School in Belgrade).
I wanted to arrange the theory of composition and other photographic subjects all in one place, because when I was preparing lectures, I did not find any online site that fully analyzes complete theory of composition in photography – which I think is very important.
Most of the texts, but not all are quoted or reformulated from other websites, or books about photography, and references can be found in the footer of each post. All photographs I use as examples within texts are mine and I have author’s rights for them. These texts are exclusively for my work in the EFB.
There will be more lectures, but it takes time to translate them from french
ELEMENTS OF COMPOSITION
LINE & DIRECTION
take vertical, horizontal or diagonal paths that eyes follow. Types of line impact on pictures can be various, and depending it, they influence the mood and emotional perception
FORM
as geometric or organic space. It exists in two dimensions and represents the first means by which a viewer can identify an object, although lighting can distort and destroy object’s shape
COLOR
with its various values and intensities. Depending on their place and relation on Color wheel, they may be harmonizing and complementary. Its temperature is opposite to physics – in image blue is considered as cold, and red as warm, although in space most warm object emit blue light
TONE
refers to the range and distribution of tones and the smoothness of gradation between them. Its hue, lightness and saturation define overall impression of the image
SIZE
refers to dimensions and proportions of the images or forms related with each other. Theirs balance implies that the visual elements within have a sense of weight
PERSPECTIVE
is the expression of the depth. Whether it is real or apparent, perspective refers to the relationship between the objects in a photograph
PRINCIPLES OF ORGANISING ELEMENTS WITHIN A COMPOSITION
CENTER OF INTEREST
or focus – determines what the center of attention of the artwork will be.
POINT OF VIEW
represents subjective choice of photographers angle to the scene. In general, it simply means the position from which the camera sees the object of shooting.
RHYTHM
or tempo is two-dimensional, geometric perception of repeated beat. Visual art, as well as other arts – music, combines repetition as pauses to create a sense of rhythm in the image.
GOLDEN RATIO
is a specific relationship between two sizes that meet the following rule: the ratio of their sum to larger size is equal to the ratio of larger size to the smaller.
