Photography and Photographic Composition

[Abstract] Just as language is a tool for expression, composition is a tool for expression. Emotional communication cannot be separated from language, and photographic expression cannot be separated from composition. There are many forms of composition. The form of good photographic works is hidden within the content level of photographic expression. This article explains the use of theme, light, tone, color, rhythm, etc. in photography, so as to understand the meaning of photographic composition.

[Keywords] Photography, composition, theme, light, tone, color

Photography is both realistic and abstract; it is both objective and subjective. Reality

Reality is because it is the imitation, copy, copy, shadow of reality... Abstractness is because it is

selected and intercepted by people, which is expressed by the choice of lens focal length , the selection of scene range

, the strength of exposure control, the strength of post-processing...objectivity is because it itself

is based on people and objects in objective reality. The shadow of people and things in objective reality is a kind of image reflection of people and things in objective reality. Subjective because what to shoot and how to shoot are completely determined by people's subjective consciousness. The emotions expressed are also determined by people's subjective feelings. Photography is just means of expressing feelings.

Photography is formally an art of composition and light. All elements of photography are related to

composition. Therefore, composition is like the frame of a building. Without the frame, there would be no building. Without

there is no photography. Photography that claims to have no composition is itself a composition rule.

All the spirit of photography is contained in the expression of composition. Composition is a matter of form.

The content of photography lies in the form. Without the form of composition, the content cannot be expressed well

. Precisely because composition is formal, a composition that pursues form too much will sometimes overwhelm content with form

making the photo appear ingenious and artificial. First Document Network

1. Composition and theme

Theme is the soul of photography, the concentrated expression of photographic expression, and the content of photographic expression

. The theme benefits from the formal expression of the composition, from the emotional expression of color tone

, from the far and near perspective effect of the main layout, and from the ups and downs of all rhythms

The ups and downs benefit from the overall composition and cumulative superposition of all elements. In short, the theme is the content. All other forms of expression in photography are the shell. The theme must be fully expressed.

Other elements of photography must be coordinated as a whole and fully displayed, and the theme rests on the material and artistic element shell of the photographic elements; content determines form, and form serves content. There is no

If the form is good, the content will not be sufficiently expressed, artistic, vivid, or shocking enough.

Photography is like a person, and the theme is this person’s thoughts, composition, etc. The formal element

is the person's healthy body. A person who only has thoughts without health or only has health without thoughts

is imperfect. The same is true for photography. If there are only creative themes but no photographic elements such as composition, light and shadow

, the ideological theme will be aborted, and creative ideas will be impossible to talk about, just like

making people guess. The thoughts of a mute are equally elusive. Just having formal things such as composition

but without thoughts can only be flashy and without any connotation, and it also makes people feel confused

2. Composition and light

Photography is the art of light. Without light, there would be no photography, just like there would be no painting without points, lines, and

surfaces. . Light is the material basis for creating the tone of photography. Photography without light

does not exist. It is not correct to say that photography does not use light. Photos without bright light are just too common light. .

Lighting, like composition, is a loosely-conventional term. Composition comes from painting

and is actually about the range, distance, and distance of objects in the lens or viewfinder. A comprehensive choice of expression and perspective. Light is like a person's temperament, that is, mental outlook. The use of light is consistent with the content and expression, just like a person's natural sunshine, which can quickly attract the attention of others. It is better to use less light than too much. The light and the amount of light that can fully express the style of the subject are the best light and the amount of light. It’s not that more light can highlight the subject and theme. Too much light will affect the expression of the picture.

3. Composition and Tone

Tone and tone are created by light. More light will affect the unity and tone of the tone

The trend of shadow tones expresses emotions, and light creates shadow tones.

Shadow tones are divided into high-key, low-key, and mid-tones, and tones are divided into cold tones, warm tones, and mid-tones. Photography has great emotions. Degree is expressed by the combination of these tones.

Good photos are dominated by a tone and tone. A tone does not

mean just one light or color.

Tone is like the main melody of music. Only local changes in color and light can constitute sonata and harmony. A monotonous note cannot constitute the art of music. The same is true for photography. Without local changes in tone and tone in the picture, the picture will not be the same. It will be lifeless. The tone and tone are like people's emotional changes. There should be hope in the low and melancholy mood, and there should be contemplation in the cheerful and joyful mood. Only in this way can it conform to the ups and downs and changes of people's emotions, and can it be more dialectical and profound. First Document Network

4. Composition and Color

Color is the picture element after color photography, and color is more involved in people's

visual stimulation. Color creates hue, participates in creating tones and emotions, participates in creating composition distribution, and participates in content expression. You must be good at changing colors when using colors. Without contrast, it is difficult to reflect the tonal advantages of colors. Mixing a little warm tone with a cold main tone will make the cold tone more prominent. Similarly, mixing a little cold tone with a warm main tone will make the color more prominent. Warm tones are more expressive.

In order to highlight the main tone of a certain color, even complementary tones are used for bright contrast.

Sometimes the more intense the color, the more artistically appealing it is. The layout and flow of the color must conform to the emotional changes of the tone. In order to express an emotional need, we do not hesitate to give up a lot of color interference, which is also an aspect of composition.

5. Composition and Rhythm

Any art has rhythm. Rhythm is a change in rhythm, and rhythm is a regular process of movement change, so rhythm expresses a regular change. The rhythm of photography is mainly reflected in the positional arrangement of spatial subjects on the plane, tonal changes, light and shadow distribution, and light and dark matching. Photography is fundamentally about expression, and rhythm is the accumulation and arrangement of emotional elements. Light and shadow, color, tone, tone, lines, and the arrangement of points, lines, and surfaces are all elements that constitute rhythm.

From a formal point of view, the overall layout design of the composition is the rhythmic staff, and the color and

main body, accompanying light and shadow are the musical notes. The emotion to be expressed is the commander and the soul, and the emotional tone determines the coordination and change rules between these notes.

References

[1] Zhao Daoqiang. "Composition Techniques of Digital Photography" China Photography Press 2007.10

[2] Kang Daquan. "Principles of Photography Aesthetics" Sichuan Fine Arts Press 2006.8

[3] Zhang Hejin. "The Charm and Composition of Photography" Fudan University Press 2007.2

[4] Tang Dongping. "Photography Composition" Zhejiang Photography Press 1999.12

[5] Zheng Chengyi. "Digital Photography Composition" People's Posts and Telecommunications Press 2007.9 —561— First Document Network