Methods to improve photography composition skills

What are the techniques to improve photography composition? Photography composition refers to the layout and structural arrangement of a photo. Although the specific understanding of the meaning of photographic composition is different, one conclusion is the same, that is, PP with good composition is more attractive in image than PP with poor composition. Below I have compiled methods for improving photography composition. You are welcome to read and refer to them!

1. The picture effect of the shooting point

Photographic composition is the composition of the camera lens. The direction in which the camera lens is pointed at the subject is the shooting point. Depending on the shooting location, the effect of the same scene on the screen will be very different. Choosing a good shooting point can often be the key to a good photo.

A. Picture effects at different shooting distances.

Different shooting distances will bring different effects to the picture, and different scenes have different performance effects. Generally divided into the following types:

Vision: The scope of the photographed scenery is broad and far-reaching, and it is good at expressing the momentum of the scenery. It mainly uses nature as the expression object, emphasizing the overall structure of the scenery and ignoring its performance.

Panorama: The scope of the photographed scene is smaller than that of the distant view, and it is good at showing the whole picture of the subject and the characteristics of the environment. Relatively speaking, panoramic views have a more obvious three-dimensional effect than distant views.

Medium shot: The range of the photographed scenery is between the long shot and the panorama. It is good at showing the relationship between people and people and objects, and wins by plot.

Close shot: Highlights the main parts and main features of the subject, and is good at delicately depicting the demeanor of the character or the main shape of the scene.

Close-up: A more focused and prominent representation of a certain part of the person or scene being photographed. It is more detailed and specific than the close-up depiction.

B. Picture effects in different directions.

?Direction? refers to whether the shooting point is in the front, back or side of the subject. Changes in the direction of the shooting point will not only significantly change the image of the subject, but also cause obvious changes in the background environment.

Front direction: that is, the camera is facing the front of the subject. It is good at expressing the beauty of symmetry and can produce a sense of solemnity, majesty and tranquility. But the picture lacks perspective.

Oblique direction: It can turn the horizontal line of the subject into a converging line on the picture that can produce a strong perspective effect, thus helping to express the three-dimensional and spatial sense of the scene. It appears vivid and helps highlight the subject.

Front side direction: that is, the side direction that is 90 degrees to the front of the subject. It is often used to take pictures of people, and its characteristics can vividly express the faces of people, especially the outline of the nose. However, it is not advisable to take pictures of buildings, as it will weaken the three-dimensional and spatial sense of the building.

Back direction: Shooting from the back of the subject. When shooting people from the back direction, if you pay attention to the use of posture, it can produce a subtle beauty and make people think more.

C. Picture effects at different heights.

"Height" refers to whether the camera is higher, lower, or at the same level as the subject.

Flat shot: The camera is positioned at a similar height to the subject, characterized by the lens shooting in a horizontal direction.

Upward shot: The camera position is lower than the horizontal height of the subject. The characteristic is that the lens is tilted upward to shoot. Shooting from above helps to emphasize and exaggerate the height of the subject, but the lens cannot be tilted too high, otherwise it will cause serious deformation of the characters or scenery.

Overhead shot: The camera position is higher than the horizontal height of the subject, characterized by shooting with the lens pointing downward. Its biggest feature is that it can fully develop the front and rear scenery on the picture, which helps the picture to produce rich scenery layers and a profound sense of space.

2. The modeling effect of light

The position of the light to the subject, that is, the direction and angle of the light, will produce different light and dark shapes for the same object under different light positions. Effect. Among them:

A. Front light. The light comes from the front of the subject and is divided into flat light, smooth light and high smooth light according to the angle. The subject illuminated by front light will appear bright, but the three-dimensional effect will be poor.

B. Front side light. Refers to the front side light at 45 degrees. The subjects and characters are alive and three-dimensional.

C. Side light. Also known as 90-degree side light, the subject under side light has a yin and yang effect, which can highlight the strong contrast between dark and dark.

D. Rear side light. Also called side backlighting. The light comes from the side and rear of the subject and can create contour lines on one side of the subject. Separate the subject from the background, thereby enhancing the three-dimensional and spatial sense of the picture.

E. Backlight. Also called backlight. The light comes from directly behind the subject. It can produce vivid outlines of the subject. Separate the subject from the background, thereby enhancing the three-dimensional and spatial sense of the picture.

F. Top light. The light comes from directly above the subject, such as the midday sun.

G. Footlight. The light comes from below the subject and is commonly seen in nature as reflections from water.

3. The visual effect of the subject

Composition, the most important thing is where the protagonist (i.e. the subject) should be placed. This is the positioning of the subject. In a good PP, generally speaking, a center point that attracts the most visual attention should be used, that is, the "visual center".

The position of the visual center in our common pictures can be formed by using the "three-level method" of the nine-square grid to form a tic-tac-toe shape. That is, two vertical and horizontal lines are used to form a tic-tac-toe on a picture. Then the four intersection points in the tic-tac-toe are the best points to arrange the position of the photographic subject.

In order to achieve the visual effect of the picture, we must also pay attention to the use of foreground and background. The foreground refers to the scenery in front of the subject and close to the camera. It helps the subject reflect seasonal characteristics and local characteristics, and prompts the audience to make associations and create artistic conception. The background is the scenery behind the subject on the screen. It is an integral part of the picture and serves to set off the subject. Note that the background should be simple and in sharp contrast with the subject. It can improve the visual effect of the subject.

4. The formal effect of lines

Once many objects in nature enter our lens, they will obviously form a line structure. Common compositions include the following:

A. Triangular composition

There are many kinds of triangular compositions on the picture, such as equilateral triangle, right-angled triangle, equilateral triangle, inverted triangle, There are also oblique triangles, lateral triangles, etc. The equilateral triangle has the characteristics of stability, balance and stability, while the inverted triangle gives people a sense of instability, but is extremely dynamic and visually stimulating. In addition, the V-shaped composition also belongs to the triangle composition.

B. S-shaped composition

The S-shaped composition is actually a curve, which is a regular stereotyped curve. It has the advantages of a curve, is beautiful, energetic and charming, and the picture looks lively and lively. , which can effectively express the sense of space and depth of the scene.

C. Cross diagram

A cross is a vertical intersection of a vertical line and a horizontal line. This composition gives people a sense of stability, solemnity, and seriousness. It can express maturity and mystery, health and upwardness, but it is not easy to make the horizontal and vertical lengths equal. Generally, it is better to have long vertical lines and short horizontal ones. If the two lines are the same length and the intersection points are equal, it will give people a sense of symmetry and lack of vitality and movement, which will weaken it. expressiveness.

D. Diagonal cross-shaped composition

The deformation of the cross-shaped composition is the diagonal cross-shaped composition. The intersection point of the original cross-shaped horizontal and vertical lines is used as the axis, and it is twisted to form two diagonal lines. Compared with the former, the picture composed of diagonal lines is less symmetrical and rigid, and is more dynamic and more dynamic. To be lively and stretch.

E. Rice-shaped composition

The rice-shaped composition is not only a "meter" shape, but also a multi-line cross figure with an intersection as the axis. It has the feeling of unity and cohesion. Feel. The lines are cohesive at intersections, symbolizing centripetal force, like the two wings of a butterfly, so it is also called a "butterfly" composition.

　F. Frame-shaped composition

Frame-shaped composition is to surround the subject to be expressed in the center with the trees, flowers and plants closest to the camera, so that the foreground forms a "frame". To allow the audience to appreciate the subject through the frame, this kind of PP should pay attention to the strong contrast between light and dark or virtual and real between the frame and the subject.

G. Filled composition

It not only refers to using a single subject to fill the screen to highlight the main subject, but also refers to using a larger number of subjects. The body fills the picture without leaving any blank space. Since the images of the subject are packed together, there will be no problem of imbalance or instability, and it will give people imagination and lead their eyes outside the frame.

H. Diagonal composition

Diagonal composition refers to the relationship between the four corners of the picture and the role of diagonals, and the second refers to the position of the object in the picture Create diagonal lines to make the picture come alive.

Diagonal lines can guide people’s eyes and create a sense of movement, adding vitality to the picture and changing the fixed image. In addition to using the diagonal lines of the picture, you can also use scenery to create diagonal lines in the picture. There are many ways to create diagonal lines. Commonly used ones include tilting the picture, choosing a shooting angle, using perspective, etc. to make the subject diagonal.

I. Diagonal composition

Diagonal composition means deliberately creating angles in the picture. The difference from diagonal composition is that it creates one or several angles in the picture. , expressing the direction of motion as an angle. The smaller the angle, the greater the impact; the sharper the angle, the stronger the dynamic. This kind of composition can create atmosphere and enhance artistic expression. The angle-form composition can not only use buildings, but also other people, groups, scenes, etc. to create angles.

J. Central Convergence Form Composition

Central Convergence means that all the lines in the frame converge towards the center, forming an intersection shape, which leads the audience's line of sight to the center of convergence. Click on.

This kind of composition should not only reflect the deep and distant lines, but also arrange the main scenery at the position of the convergence point, so as not to form a situation of convergence without owner.

K. Symmetrical composition

Symmetrical composition refers to the same or similar form factors in the scene, which are expanded or combined in a corresponding relationship on both sides of the central axis to form a whole. Symmetry requires that there are identical objects corresponding to each other on the left and right sides or the upper and lower ends of the picture, or the objects are not exactly the same, but their sizes are commensurate and their positions are corresponding.

5. The emotional effect of tone

In real life, due to different light exposure conditions, objects have different characteristics of absorbing and reflecting light, and have different colors and brightness. The changes in light and shade of the scene will be displayed on the screen, allowing us to understand the shape, volume and texture of the scene. For example, in the lightest to darkest tones, there are many levels of different shades of tones and the transition is slow. This is called "soft tone". On the contrary, it is called "hard tone". It is called "hard tone" between the two. Midtones?. Different proportions of black and white tones in the picture will create different feelings. Some are high-profile, and some are low-key. Color photos are divided into: warm tones, cold tones, contrasting tones, harmonious tones, etc.

In this colorful color tone, it gives people a psychological, emotional, symbolic, and functional feeling effect. For example: among different colors, warm colors make people feel close and give people a sense of warmth; cold colors make people feel far away and give people a sense of coolness.

6. Comprehensive artistic effect

Based on the above points, based on the comprehensive configuration of the shooting point, light, subject, lines, and tone, PP has a certain influence on the picture modeling, vision, form, Emotionally produced rich artistic effects. Of course, it is impossible for everything to be perfect, but as long as you pay attention to the composition of these aspects when shooting, it will definitely be more perfect and durable than a random PP shot.