Things to note about photographic composition

1. Formally beautiful composition

(1) Nine-square grid composition

Some nine-square grid composition is also called tic-tac-toe composition. As mentioned before, it actually belongs to A form of the golden section. That is to divide the picture into nine equal parts, and use the four corners of the central block to arrange the position of the subject at any point. In fact, these points are in line with the "golden section law" and are the best positions. Of course, balance, contrast and other factors should also be considered. This kind of composition can show change and movement, and the picture is full of vitality. These four points also have different visual perceptions. The two points above are more dynamic than the ones below, and the left is stronger than the right. The thing to pay attention to is the issue of visual balance.

(2) Cross-shaped composition

Cross-shaped composition is to divide the picture into four parts, that is, draw two horizontal and vertical lines through the center of the picture, and the central intersection is where the subject is positioned. , this kind of composition adds a sense of security, peace, solemnity and mystery to the picture, but it also has unfavorable factors such as rigidity. However, it is suitable for expressing symmetrical compositions, such as ancient architectural themes, which can produce a central perspective effect. For example, the sense of mystery is mainly reflected in photography of crosses and churches. Therefore, different themes use different expression methods.

(3) Triangular composition

Triangular composition, the subject expressed in the picture is placed in a triangle or the image itself forms a triangular posture. This composition is a visual induction method. If there is There are also triangular shapes formed by shadows. If it is a naturally formed linear structure, then the main body can be placed in the center of the hypotenuse of the triangle to try to make a breakthrough. But only use it in panorama for the best effect. Triangular composition creates a sense of stability, while inversion creates instability. It can be used for different scenes, such as close-ups of people, close-ups, etc.

(4) Rule of thirds composition

The rule of thirds composition refers to dividing the picture into three parts horizontally, and the main form can be placed in the center of each part. This kind of composition is suitable for multiple forms. Parallel focus of the subject. It can also represent large spaces and small objects, and can also be selected in reverse. This kind of picture composition has clear expression and concise composition. Can be used for different scenes such as close-ups.

(5) A-shaped composition

A-shaped composition refers to arranging the structure of the picture in the form of A-shape. The A-shaped composition has a strong sense of stability, upward impact and strong visual guidance. It can express the form of tall natural objects and itself. If the object of expression is placed at the top of the A, it is a forced visual guide. You don’t want to pay attention to this point. Different tilt angle changes in the A-shaped composition can produce different dynamic effects in the picture, with novel forms and clear subject orientation. But it is also a method that is difficult to master and requires experience.

(6) S-shaped composition

The S-shaped composition gives full play to the beauty in the picture, which is first reflected in the beauty of the curves. The S-shaped composition has a strong dynamic effect, which is both dynamic and stable. It can be used for pictures in various formats, which is chosen according to the subject matter. To express the subject matter, the long-range shooting is the best, such as the natural ups and downs of mountains, rivers, regions, etc. It can also express the curve arrangement and changes of numerous human bodies, animals, objects, and various natural and artificial forms. Generally speaking, the S-shaped composition extends from the lower left corner to the upper right corner of the picture.

(7) V-shaped composition

V-shaped composition is the most varied composition method. Its main changes are the arrangement in the direction or inversion or horizontal placement, but No matter how the intersection is placed, it must be centripetal. The dual use of the V shape can fundamentally change the properties of single use. When used alone, the picture is unstable. When used dually, it not only has centripetal force, but also has a sense of stability. The positive V-shaped composition is generally used in the foreground as a frame structure to highlight the subject.

(8) C-shaped composition

C-shaped composition has the characteristics of curvaceous beauty and can produce variable visual focus, making the picture simple and clear. However, when arranging the main object, it must be arranged at the C-shaped gap so that people's vision follows the arc to the main object. The C-shaped composition can be adjusted arbitrarily in the direction. Generally, it is mostly used in industrial and architectural themes.

(9) O-shaped composition

O-shaped composition is a circular composition, which is the visual center formed by arranging the subject in the center of the circle. Circular compositions can be divided into outer circle and inner circle compositions. The outer circle is a natural solid structure, the inner circle is a hollow structure such as a pipe, steel pipe, etc., and the outer circle is a solid circular object (generally larger and grouped). The morphological composition mainly uses the variation effect of the main body arranged in a circle to reflect the form of expression. The visual perspective effect produced by the inner circle composition is shocking. The viewpoint arrangement can be in the center of the picture to form a composition structure, or it can be deviated from the center, such as the left and right upper corners, to produce a sense of movement. The movement produced below is small but stable. Enhanced.

If you take the combination of superimposed inner circles, you can produce a multi-circle chain of light and shadow perspective effects, which is exciting. If combined with regular curves, the effect will be even stronger. For example, the rifle lines in the barrel are both beautiful and coordinate with the visual direction.

(10) W-shaped composition

W-shaped composition has excellent stability and is very suitable for close-up shooting of people.

It can be put into good use in the processing of background and foreground. When using this kind of composition, you should seek small changes and visual induction.

(11) Mouth-shape composition

Mouth-shape composition is also called frame composition. It is generally used in foreground compositions, such as using doors, windows, cave entrances, other frames, etc. as foregrounds. To express the subject and clarify the environment. This composition conforms to human visual experience and makes people feel that they are viewing images through doors and windows. The effect of creating a realistic sense of space and perspective is strong.

2. Formally beautiful linear composition structure

Linear composition is one of the main methods often used in photography. "Line" is an objectively existing visual phenomenon and the basic visual element of composition. It can divide the picture, create area, generate rhythm, and express various symbolic functions in composition.

The character of the line is as follows: thick lines are strong, thin lines are delicate; curves are tender, straight lines are straight; thick lines are heavy, light lines are light; solid lines are static, and dotted lines are moving.

For example: vertical lines symbolize strength, solemnity, and power; horizontal lines symbolize tranquility, breadth, and broadness; diagonal lines symbolize dynamics and unsettled feelings, which are also acceptable. Because of the fact that it leads to the distance, the diagonal line here reflects a depth effect. Curves symbolize softness, romance, and elegance, giving people a very beautiful feeling. .

(1) Golden Section

The golden section has been discussed before. Here, it is mainly the application of linear structure to enhance the perception of the golden section in the linear shape.

In news photography, we often encounter natural or artificial linear images, such as various linear images formed in nature, ranging from horizons, rivers, mountains, etc. to trees, leaves, flowers, etc. The physical structure of animals, insects, etc., especially the structural relationship of the human body. In the artificial environment, they can be seen everywhere, such as building doors, windows and frames, wires, water channels, cupboards, desks; frequently touched books, newspapers, magazines, etc. Therefore, the golden ratio should be used in linear composition in news photography. It is an effective way to reflect beauty.

(2) Diagonal composition

This is a very famous composition expression method. In the diagonal composition in the picture, the diagonal relationship formed by the lines makes the picture appear It has a very strong movement and shows a deep effect. The perspective also makes the subject become a diagonal line, guiding people's eyes to the depth of the picture. In the composition of photographic images, in addition to the obvious oblique lines, there are also oblique lines that are visually perceived by people, which are reflected in the shape, tone, light, etc. of the form to produce visual abstract lines. Therefore, grasping linearity is the key to using lines in photographic composition.

(1) Horizontal line composition

The use of horizontal lines in composition can produce symbolic meanings such as tranquility, breadth, and broadness in the picture, but a single horizontal line can easily separate the picture. In fact, horizontal lines often appear in photography, such as the horizon. Therefore, in photographic composition, it is taboo to have a horizontal line running through the center. In general, you can move it up or down to avoid the center position, or what is called "breaking a break" in photography is to arrange a shape at a certain point of the horizontal line. Break a section of the horizontal line. This single horizontal line is more difficult to master, but the combination of multiple horizontal lines is easier to master in photography, and it is very interesting. For example, when multiple horizontal lines fill the screen, you can arrange the subject's position on a certain section of some lines to cause some horizontal lines to appear broken. This method has a prominent main body and a rich decorative effect.

(4) Vertical line composition

Vertical line composition is more varied than horizontal line composition, and a single line also has the same shortcomings as horizontal lines. But there are relatively more changes when there are multiple lines. For example, symmetrical arrangement of perspective, multiple rows of perspective, etc. can produce sometimes unimaginable effects.

Vertical lines symbolize strength, solemnity, and power; the natural vertical lines faced in photography are more than horizontal lines. Such as trees, poles, pillars, etc. The variation effect produced by the vertical lines is very eye-catching.

(5) Curve composition

The curves included in the curve composition are regular curves and irregular curves. Curves symbolize softness, romance, and elegance, giving people a very beautiful feeling. Curves are widely used in photography. For example, body photography is to show the curvaceous beauty of the human body. Textures that express forms can produce beautiful pictures. When using composition, special attention must be paid to the direction of the overall axis of the curve. Its expression methods are diverse, and you can use diagonal, S, horizontal, vertical, etc. In addition, the comprehensive use of curves and other lines can produce more outstanding effects, but it is more difficult to grasp.

(6) The composition of irregular lines

The composition of irregular lines is very troublesome. If you don’t master it well, it can easily mess up the picture. Irregular lines themselves have various properties. Such as chaotic, abstract, rational, mysterious, etc., a single irregular line segment also has visual guidance, and if used properly, it will produce a unique picture effect. If the entire picture is filled with messy and irregular lines, and then the simple main form is arranged at an appropriate position in the picture, a strong contrast effect will appear, and at the same time it will present an abstract and mysterious atmosphere.

The tone of the photographic composition

The tone of the photographic picture is the tone produced by the subject, which is formed by the light source from the light-receiving surface to the backlight surface, and the entire picture. The overall tone produced by light. Under natural light source (sun), different light-receiving surfaces and shadow tones will be produced.

Therefore, the tone is directional and can be generally divided into: front light, side light, and back light. Directional effects can also be produced under artificial light sources, which are mainly the result of the use of light. Tone is the main factor that reflects the formal expression of the picture, and it is also the basis for the formal beauty of photographic composition. Tone can be understood from the perspective of the difference between photography and painting. The difference between them is that painting uses paint and brushes to paint on canvas through people's subjective consciousness and skills to express the author's aesthetic consciousness and emotions. Photography uses a camera to directly capture real-life images; it records images through the photosensitive medium carried by the camera. The photographer himself embodies aesthetic consciousness and emotions through the process of selecting images. Therefore, painting is a picture formed by paint; photography is a realistic image formed by light and shadow. There are two forms of expression of tone in photographic images: one is overallity; the other is individuality. The two are interdependent and influence each other, and the integrity plays a dominant role. Photography is the tones formed on the picture through the action of light, showing the information and aesthetic consciousness contained in the overall and individual tones. And through dissemination and display, a specific information and aesthetic characteristics are reflected. This embodiment is a two-way communication. One is the subject (the author himself) and the other is the object (the audience), which is felt by the subject and the object. Therefore, it is necessary to effectively control the tones so that various different tones are related to each other in the picture, thus forming a system, a tone of visual picture relationship. Tone is the basis of aesthetic consciousness and emotional expression in the picture, and is the basis of formal expression in the study of photographic composition. In photographic images, the relationship between image and image, and the relationship between image and color, can create an internal connection through a certain combination of tones, and use tones to express beauty and embody an aesthetic feature. Tone is mainly reflected in five aspects in photographic images.

1． Tone

When selecting a photographic image, the tones of the foreground, middle ground, background, etc. and the subject should be fully taken into consideration. If it is too simple, it will be boring, and if it is too complex, it will appear messy. This requires finding a beautiful order between simplicity and complexity. Order is one of the laws of formal beauty. The order of form can be divided into two categories:

①Master-slave law

When people focus their cameras on the main peak in the distance, especially when looking at the mountains with a wide-angle lens, they will have a clear view The mountains feel small, and this contrast between height and size naturally forms a master-slave relationship. Low peaks surround tall peaks.

This means that the diversity of forms can constitute visual richness, thereby increasing visual interest. In the same picture, when shooting different forms that are quite different, the area and size ratio of the forms can be adjusted through direction, distance, angle, etc. to form the basic tonal relationship of the picture. Generally, the image of the subject's focal point plays a leading role, and other images play a echoing and supplementary role. There is master and slave, contrast and mutual contrast between the two, thus forming coordination.

② Uniformly

An excellent news picture must not only have personality, but more importantly, be unique. It should express personality on the basis of uniqueness. Seeking change does not seem rigid. Look for the same thing in the difference, and find the different thing in the sameness. This means that the overall tone of the picture should be consistent, but the details should have different changes. In the form of news photography, through the use of "approximation" and "gradient" principles, a closer internal connection between images can be formed, creating a group of images that echo each other, forming rich changes in the whole characteristics, and has a unified order and regular image tone.

2. Black and white tone

Black and white tone refers to the overall tendency formed by the relationship between image brightness in photographic composition, such as black and white photography. 0 degrees can be used to represent black, and 10 degrees can be used to represent white. After the image is illuminated by light, different light-receiving surfaces form different contents of black and white tones, producing nine equal shades of gray. . In this way, a brightness series color scale with eleven brightness levels from black to white can be obtained. Divide this lightness color scale into three sections, from 0 degrees to 3 degrees, called the low lightness area; from 10 degrees to 7 degrees, called the high lightness area; and in the middle, from 4 degrees to 6 degrees, called the lightness area. It is the mid-brightness area. If the contrast difference is within 3 levels, we call it weak contrast of brightness (also called low-key contrast). The difference in brightness contrast is between 3 and 5 brightness levels, which is the mid-tone contrast of brightness (also called mid-tone contrast). If the difference in brightness contrast is more than 5 brightness levels, it is a strong contrast in brightness (also called high-key contrast). Different brightness tones give people different feelings. For example: high-key is bright, open and clear, low-key is dull and depressing; low-long keys have strong explosive power; middle keys give people a dreamlike impression. In photographic composition, using different tones to organize the relationship between the pictures can create different effects on the picture.

3． Color tone

In the expression of photographic composition and picture form, especially color photography, color plays an extremely important role in rendering the picture, expressing the atmosphere and conveying certain information. The factors that constitute the color tone of a picture include, in addition to the relationship between brightness, hue, purity, warmth, area, light, and many other factors. In general, the composition of tone first depends on which color has the largest area in the picture. Colors with large areas and obvious advantages can form the main tone of the color relationship in the picture.

In this clear main tone, the other colors in the picture are divided according to the arrangement. Colors that are close together in the hue circle have a strong sense of harmony, while colors that are far away have strong contrast. It is usually customary to divide the hue relationships at different distances and angles from small to large into similar colors (the contrast between colors with a distance of about 15° in the hue circle), adjacent colors (the distance between about 45° in the hue circle) Color phase contrast relationship), heterochromatic color (the color phase contrast relationship between the distance of 120° and 197° in the hue wheel), complementary colors (the color phase contrast relationship of the distance between 180° and 180° in the hue wheel).

The color relationship with the strongest hue contrast is 180 degrees apart. Angular's complementary colors. The contrasting relationship between similar colors can be regarded as harmonizing the hues and becoming the link between the hues.

For the tonal composition of color pictures that have small volume differences in color relationships and are far apart in the hue circle, the same kind of color is adjusted into the conflicting and highly contrasting color relationships. Color factors create color connections with different properties, thereby producing a certain uniqueness and forming a tone. For example, you can mix white, gray or black, blue, yellow, red and green into a pair of complementary colors red and green, which are highly irritating, to produce a harmonious effect.

① Mix the same color into heterogeneous colors to strengthen the "blood relationship" of their appearance.

② In heterogeneous color pictures, use the same color for decoration and embellishment, thereby forming a visual assimilation effect of color.

② Connect the same color around the heterogeneous color areas so that the contradictory colors cannot be in direct contact.

④Add some colors that are between heterogeneous colors in the hue circle in the picture, so that they can blend and gradually change the contradictions of heterogeneous colors.

The purity relationship of colors also has a strong influence on the formation of tones of different color relationships. The same hue also gives people different feelings due to differences in purity. In the expression of color tones, the combination of different purity relationships can form the richness of color tones in levels.

In the expression form of photographic composition, the determination of color tone should mainly be based on images. According to the expressive function of the picture form, it needs to be combined with the laws of formal beauty and comprehensively consider various relationship factors to make the color The tone becomes the expressive language of the picture form.

4. Tonal Expression Techniques

Expressing different artistic conceptions requires different morphological structures, different colors, different processing methods, and different expression techniques. Using the same archetypes in life as materials, if processed using different expression techniques, different visual textures, different aesthetic characteristics can be formed, and different psychological feelings can be given to people. The diversification of techniques can enrich the expressive language of formal beauty, facilitate the expression of unique styles, help improve the visual interest of the picture image, and enhance the expressiveness and appeal of the picture form.

There are many techniques for expressing tones. Changes in different directions, angles, and positions of the camera will bring about different changes in light, which will change the effect of tones. If you change the lens, photosensitive film or use a color filter, the expression space will be even wider. It is true that there are many techniques for expressing the tone of the picture, but in the specific expression of the photographic picture form, the picture form effect should be selected according to the needs of the subject object, so that the harmony and unity of content and form can be effectively achieved.

5． Shadow Momentum

Everything in the universe has laws of movement and change. The expression of photographic composition form should also reflect this law of movement, because photography is a form of picture expression that combines objectiveness and subjectivity, and the combination of its picture forms cannot be divorced from the basic laws of movement in the material world. Correctly understand the laws of nature and adapt to them.

In the expression of photographic composition, a kind of dynamic expression is obtained through tone, but in the expression of tone, the local tone must be subordinate to the overall tone. ; Through the beauty of contrast, the beauty of harmony, the beauty of rhythm, the beauty of rhythm, the beauty of ratio, the beauty of balance, the beauty of movement... seeking change in unity, seeking unity in change, the comprehensive application of the law to photography The dynamic beauty of the picture is creatively expressed.

The subject of the photographic object comes from objective existence. In the form of the picture, the picture should be created and perfected boldly and rationally. In this process, there is also the process of sorting out the picture, that is, the problem of tailoring. The tailoring is the partial increase or decrease in the overall organizational relationship of the picture form, so that every part is subordinate to the needs of the whole.

In short, composition is the main aspect that makes a photograph a masterpiece, and this is known to all photographers. The understanding of photographic composition and quick response should be essential qualities for photographers.