The core skills of photographic structure

Lead: Because the core of the composition is really that simple. It's so simple that most people know it, but it's ignored in practical application. Thus falling into the quagmire of various composition routines and techniques. Let me tidy up for you.

1. The core skills of photographic composition

One day, @thomasksj asked about common composition skills in WeChat official account and Weibo. From more than 300 answers, I ranked the names of various skills according to the times mentioned: trisection (tic-tac-toe composition, golden section), central composition (symmetry), guide line (extension line, convergence line), diagonal line (X-ray composition), frame subtraction principle, and composition balance rule (contrast).

Trigonometry accounts for more than 80% of the answers, and there is no pressure. Secondly, guide lines, picture frames, subtraction and so on, which are often mentioned in various photography books, also appear many times.

Only a few answers are interesting:

? There are many composition techniques, such as diagonal lines, tic-tac-toe, contrast and triangle. But I think it is most important to expect the final effect in your mind before shooting. Instead of picking up the camera at the scene and shooting directly. ?

? What is the most important composition technique, and it will always be, to remove irrelevant factors in the picture?

? I think there is a good saying: highlight the key points. Change the composition repeatedly in the viewfinder until the most important thing you want to express is a good composition. ?

The core skill of photographic composition is really simple, so simple that most people know it for a long time but choose to ignore it: the core skill of photographic composition is to think about and confirm the subject or theme of the photo first.

Really, even if many people see the above sentence, they will still disagree. But to put it another way, Thomas himself will sweat with surprise: the reason why most people fail in composition is not because they don't understand dichotomy and symmetry, but because they never think about the theme of the photo. Just by feeling, taking chances, or simply putting on various composing techniques to compose music. ? Do you feel okay? 、? Seems beautiful? 、? Seems to be in line with the golden section, not bad! ?

Thomas himself often presses the shutter in such an unconscious way, never thinking about what the theme he wants to highlight, what the theme he can express and what the ultimate effect is.

(If you know more about it, you can even find another amazing fact: Most people are not good in the later period, not because they can't understand Lightroom, PS and Meitu Xiu Xiu, but because they never thought about what the photos would look like in the end! )

Understanding the core principle of photographic composition, we can also find many widely circulated but not rigorous statements.

Myth 1: Photography is an art of subtraction.

Correction: Photography is both subtraction and addition. Its core lies in the theme we want to highlight and express. Elements that interfere with the subject and do not conform to the theme should be subtracted from the screen. Elements that can set off the main body and help express the theme, instead, we should add them to the picture.

Myth 2: Don't put the subject in the center of the camera picture, but in one third of the photo.

Correction: The key to which geometric composition form to use depends on our theme and subject matter. Three-point composition (tic-tac-toe composition and golden section composition) is suitable for natural and relaxed scenes. The central composition method is suitable for scenes with large subjects, seriousness and natural symmetry.

It is important to emphasize again that the reason why most people fail in composition is not because they don't understand dichotomy and symmetry, but because they never think about what the theme of the photo is!

2. Photography is subtraction and addition.

Once we understand that the core of photographic composition is to confirm the subject and theme, we naturally understand what photos should be added or subtracted:

You can add elements to the screen that help highlight the main body and express the theme.

It has nothing to do with the subject and theme, and even interferes with them. We must subtract it from the picture.

The same scene, as long as the theme or theme is changed, the composition needs to be changed.

For example, the following scenario:

If our main body is the Snow Mountain, then the theme is to express the grandeur and majesty of Zhangjiafeng, the third highest mountain in the world. Then there is no doubt that there are too many composition elements in the previous picture. The grassland in the foreground not only does not set off the grandeur of the snow-capped mountains, but occupies a lot of composition space, making the snow-capped mountains look small.

So we need to do subtraction, subtract the irrelevant foreground grassland and the middle scene of the sea of clouds, and change the composition to the following.

So do you want to continue to do subtraction, and people don't want it, just give a close-up of the snowy mountain?

Like the picture below, the snow-capped mountains occupy more space in the picture, but they don't feel as magnificent as the picture above. This is because we have also subtracted people who can echo the snow-capped mountains, setting off the grandeur of the snow-capped mountains.

Therefore, subtraction in photography is not simply to remove everything except the subject. We just need to get rid of those elements that can't set off the subject and express the theme. And the elements related to the theme and theme, we should keep them in the picture and never simply subtract them.

The composition above, my theme is to highlight the grandeur of the third peak in the world, so I need to do subtraction.

But if I change the theme, the theme of the photo is to express the magnificent scenery at that time. Then I not only don't need to do subtraction, but need to do addition to add more elements through panoramic composition.

In the composition below, the snow-capped mountains appear smaller, but it doesn't matter. Because I don't want to highlight the magnificence of the snow-capped mountains, but I need to show the magnificence of the whole sunset scene. So I never let go of grasslands, people, snow-capped mountains, clouds and the sun, and put them all into the composition.

It should also be noted that addition is not without rules, and everything can be added. Only elements that can express the beauty of nature, such as the sea of clouds, the sunset and so on, can I add them. If there are elements that particularly damage the atmosphere, such as telephone poles, transmission towers, etc. We must not involve them.

Through the above example, we can also sum up a truth. There is no best composition, only the composition that suits your subject matter and theme best. In the same scene, the subject you want to highlight or the theme you want to express is different, and the composition should be adjusted accordingly.

3. Draw inferences from others and achieve mastery through a comprehensive study

Over the years, in the teaching of thousands of students in New York Institute of Photography, we have realized the so-called composition rule, which can only confuse students. The success or failure of photos has little to do with these rules. The only rule that all photographers agree on is. All laws are doomed to be broken? ! -New York Institute of Photography textbook

All the rules of composition, such as trisection, guide line, central symmetry, etc. , even? All laws are doomed to be broken? This sentence is all about the subject and theme of the photo.

Once you understand that the core of photographic composition is to confirm the subject and theme, you will naturally understand when to use the trisection method, when to use the center method and when to find another way.

For example, trisection (placing an object in a third of a photo, not in the middle) is the most common composition technique. The reason why it is best to use three equal parts is because the main body will be more serious and rigid in the middle, and it is not easy to balance the picture if the main body is placed too far away, and the position near one third is generally just right.

Trigonometry serves the subject, which can make the subject less rigid and ensure the balance of the picture. With this in mind, you may imagine that in some cases, the trisection is not as good as the symmetrical composition in the middle.

In the first case, the subject and theme are already serious, such as churches, palaces and conferences, so the central symmetry composition method is more suitable. You can also think about why most travelers don't put people in the middle, while ID photos and professional photos almost put people in the middle. )

In the second case, the subject itself is relatively large, even if it is placed in the third position, it will make the picture out of balance.

The subject occupies a large picture, and there is no other object to balance the picture, so the subject can only be placed near the middle.

Another situation is that the subject is naturally symmetrical, such as reflection. At this time, it is more appropriate to use symmetrical composition to express it.

There are not only dichotomy and central symmetry, but also guiding lines, frame composition, hierarchical composition and so on. , all serve the subject and theme. Grasping the theme center, we can understand and use various composition techniques by drawing inferences from others.

What I understand is that no matter what composition rules are, they all serve the theme and theme. Then we can analyze which composition rule is more suitable according to the characteristics of the topic, and even break the routine and find another way.

summary

1. The reason why most people fail in composition is not because they don't understand dichotomy and symmetry, but because they have never thought about the theme of the photo. Just by feeling, taking chances, or simply putting on various composing techniques to compose music.

2. Photography is both subtraction and addition. Its core lies in the theme we want to highlight and express. Elements that interfere with the subject and do not conform to the theme should be subtracted from the screen. Elements that can set off the main body and help express the theme, instead, we should add them to the picture.

3. All the rules of composition, such as trisection, guiding line, central symmetry, etc. , even? All laws are doomed to be broken? This sentence is all about the subject and theme of the photo.

Grasping the subject matter and theme of photos and learning from each other, you will find that photographic composition is really simple!