Briefly describe the purpose and significance of photographic composition

The foreground is a commonly used special term in photography. It is the related scenery near the camera lens relative to the front part of the main subject. The foreground is sometimes dispensable, but sometimes it is very important. Its specific functions are mainly reflected in:

First, using the foreground when framing and composing can enhance the spatial distance of the photo. When taking photos, you don’t necessarily need to have a foreground under most conditions, especially when you only take close-up photos of mountains, cultural buildings, landscapes, etc. However, when the part of the scene close to the camera is relatively single, foreground shooting should be used appropriately.

Especially when shooting with an aperture value of F8 or above, the depth of field is relatively large, the front and rear scenery in the picture are clearer, and there is a visual effect of elongating the depth of the scenery, the sense of space will be stronger, and the flat picture will have a Sculpture-like three-dimensional perspective.

The second is to use the foreground when framing the picture, which can set off the theme of the photo. Photos all have a certain ideological connotation. It is clear what should be captured and what should be expressed. Otherwise, the photos will have no soul and become pure photographic records. For landscape photos such as clouds, rays of light, rivers, mountain peaks, or buildings, cultural landscapes, etc., you can choose to be the subject of the photo. Other foregrounds serve it, and the subject is more prominent.

Even for landscape photos of people, in order to better show the rich shapes of the people, adding a foreground when composing the picture can better bring out the nature and charm of the portrait. Similarly, if the flowers, green grass and rocks in front of the snow-capped mountains and rivers are used as the foreground, the mountains and rivers will be more vibrant and dynamic.

The third is to use the foreground when framing the picture, which can balance the front and rear proportions of the photo. Some scenes have an unobstructed view of the front part of the camera, and there are no other scenes, making them look relatively single and empty. If the foreground is added to the composition, the scenery in the front and back of the picture will become more balanced, and problems such as top-heavy and imbalanced proportions will be easily solved.

Especially when taking photos of sunset, sunrise, moonlight under the stars, etc., if there is nothing in front of the lens, the sun and moon may be photographed into a "big pancake". But after adding the foreground, the lonely sun and moon may be flowers, trees, or buildings, and it becomes a natural landscape that harmonizes the front and rear.

Fourth, using the foreground when framing and composing the photo can enhance the interest and style of the photo. Many scenery can be photographed directly, but if some foregrounds are appropriately added, the beauty will be greatly enhanced, the taste and style will be more elegant, and it will also contain a richer sense of story. For example, in the photography of a portrait standing among flowers, the flowers and leaves in the foreground can not only enrich the picture, but also cover some "defects" that are not suitable for the lens.

At the same time, the foreground can also be combined with the main scene to form a new artistic conception, making the photo more poetic and picturesque, and improving the interest and style of the photo. The variability and randomness of the foreground can also add an element of surprise to the photo. Sometimes just because a foreground "accidentally enters" may make the photo unexpectedly unique.