Talking about how to express the author's meaning in the photographic structure with practice

The picture of a photographic work can be roughly divided into four parts: subject, companion, environment and blank space. The subject is the main part used by photographers to express the theme, the center of the picture structure and the interesting point of the picture, which should occupy a prominent position. It can be an object or a group of objects. It can be said that a picture without a subject cannot be called a complete photographic work.

Generally speaking, there are two ways to highlight the subject: one is to directly highlight the subject, let the subject fill the picture to make it stand out, and then cooperate with appropriate lighting and shooting techniques to make it more eye-catching; The other is the indirect expression of the subject, which is to contrast the subject through the rendering of the environment. At this time, the subject does not have to occupy most of the screen area, but it will occupy a more prominent position.

There are eight ways to highlight the subject: ① to express and highlight the subject in a close-up way; (2) Putting the subject in the foreground can not only highlight the subject, but also capture more elements for the picture; ③ Set off the main body with a background that is in sharp contrast with the main body in tone or tone; ④ Emphasize the subject with bright light; ⑤ Blur the background and further highlight the subject; ⑥ Use objects with directional significance such as convergence lines to converge on the main body, which plays a certain visual directivity; ⑦ Set the main body in the center of the screen or slightly to the left or right; ⑧ Use a certain shooting angle to highlight the subject.

Second, set off the subject with the environment.

In the photographic picture, besides the subject and partner, we can also see that some elements are components of the environment, which play a certain role in setting off the subject and the plot and strengthen the expressive force of the theme. For the object in front of the subject, which is an inseparable part of the environment, it is called foreground; What is behind the subject is called background.

In the process of photography, photographers should pay attention to three aspects when choosing the background of the picture: one is to grasp the characteristics, the other is to strive for simplicity, and the third is to have color contrast. First of all, photographers should be good at capturing some scenery with local characteristics, and make clear the premise of the incident with time and place as the background, so as to facilitate appreciation of the works. Secondly, the background processing should be concise. Photography itself is "subtraction". In the process of photography, things that are unnecessary and hinder the subject in the background are subtracted to achieve the effect of concise and refined pictures. Photographers can use a variety of photography techniques to achieve this effect. For example, you can avoid the messy scenery on the ground with a clean sky as the background; Taking the road, water surface and grassland as the background, the main outline can be clear and a concise background can be obtained; Using backlight, the messy lines in the background are hidden in the shadow; Blurring the messy background with a telephoto lens will make the subject more prominent. These methods can get concise background effect. Furthermore, the background should strive to form a tone or tone contrast with the main body, so that the main body has a three-dimensional sense, a sense of space and clear outline lines, thus strengthening visual power.

Background processing is an important link in the structure of photographic pictures. Only by careful selection in shooting can the picture content be refined and accurate, and the visual image be perfectly expressed.

Blank: Creating the Artistic Conception of the Picture

In addition to the visible objects, there are some blank parts on the photographic screen, which are composed of a single-tone background, forming gaps between the objects. A monochromatic background can be sky, water, grassland, land or other scenery. Due to the use of various photographic means, these scenes have lost their original physical image, forming a single color tone on the screen to set off other objects.

Although the blank part is not a solid object, it plays an inestimable role in the picture. First of all, leaving a certain blank on the screen is the need to highlight the subject. To make the subject more visually impactful, it is necessary to leave a certain gap around. If you put the subject in a pile of messy objects, it is difficult to appreciate its beauty. Only by leaving a certain space around the subject will the whole picture be attractive. Secondly, the blank on the screen helps to create the artistic conception of the screen. If a picture is all physical, there is no blank, it will give people a feeling of depression. Only by leaving the blank of the picture just right can people's vision have room for manoeuvre and their thinking can change. Of course, photographers should pay attention to the area ratio of blank to solid objects. It is best not to let them occupy the same proportion in the picture, otherwise the picture will look dull. Furthermore, blank space can give the object a certain activity space. Especially when shooting people or things with forward momentum, there is a certain blank in front of the picture, so that the moving objects have room to stretch, which is also in line with the viewer's visual habits.

Common composition skills:

First, the form of formal beauty

(1) Jiugongge composition

Jiugongge's composition, also called TIC-tac-toe composition, is actually a form of the golden section, as mentioned earlier. It is to divide the picture into nine blocks on average, and arrange the themes at any point in the four corners of the central block. In fact, these points are in line with the "golden section law" and are the best locations. Of course, balance, contrast and other factors should also be considered. This composition can present changes and movements, and the picture is full of vitality. These four points also have different visual senses. The top two points are more energetic than the bottom, and the left side is stronger than the right side. Pay attention to the problem of visual balance.

(2) Cross composition

Cross-shaped composition is to divide the picture into four parts, that is, draw two lines horizontally and vertically through the center of the picture, and the intersection of the centers is based on the position of the subject. This kind of composition increases the sense of security, peace, solemnity and mystery of the picture, but also has some unfavorable factors such as rigidity. But it is suitable for symmetrical composition, such as the theme of ancient buildings, which can produce a central perspective effect. Such as the embodiment of mystery, mainly in cross, church and other photography. So different themes choose different expressions.

(3) Triangular composition

Triangular composition, in which the subject in the picture is placed in a triangle or the image itself forms a triangle, is a visual induction method. If there is a triangle formed by a shape or a shadow, if it is a naturally formed linear structure, the main body can be arranged in the center of the hypotenuse of the triangle in order to make a breakthrough. But the effect is the best only when panoramic view is used. Triangular composition produces a sense of stability, while inversion is unstable. Can be used for close-up people, close-up and other different scenes of photography.

(4) Three-point composition

Triangular composition refers to the horizontal division of the picture into three parts, and each sub-center can be put together with the main form, which is suitable for the main body with multi-form parallel focus. It can also represent large space, small objects, and vice versa. This composition is vivid and concise. It can be used in different scenes such as close range.

(5) Type A composition

A-shaped composition refers to arranging the structure of the picture in an A-shaped form in the picture. A-type composition has a strong sense of stability, upward impact and strong visual orientation. It can show this form of tall natural objects and their own existence. If the performance object is placed at the junction of the top of the A word, it is mandatory visual guidance at this time. It is not enough to pay attention to this point. The change of different tilt angles in A-shaped composition can produce different dynamic effects of the picture, with novel form and clear main direction. But it is also a difficult method to master and needs experience accumulation.

(6)S-shaped combination

S-shaped composition gives full play to the aesthetic feeling of the picture, which is first reflected in the aesthetic feeling of the curve. S-shaped composition has strong dynamic effect, which is both dynamic and stable. All kinds of pictures can be selected according to the subject matter. The best effect is to express the natural ups and downs of themes, such as mountains, rivers and regions. It can also show many curves of human body, 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 structure

V-shaped composition is the most varied composition method, and its main changes are directional arrangement, upside down and horizontal, but in any case, the intersection point must be centripetal. V-shaped dual-purpose can fundamentally change the nature of single use. When used alone, the picture is unstable, and when used twice, it has both centripetal force and stability. Positive V-shaped composition is generally used in the foreground, as the frame structure of the foreground, highlighting the main body.

(8)C-shaped composition

C-shaped composition has the characteristics of curve beauty, can produce variable visual focus, and the picture is concise and clear. However, when arranging the subject and object, it must be arranged at the C-shaped gap, so that people's eyes can move to the subject and object with the arc. C-shaped composition can be adjusted in any direction. Generally speaking, it is mostly used for industrial and architectural themes.

(9)O-shaped combination

O-shaped composition, also known as circular composition, is the visual center formed by arranging the subjects on the center of the circle. A circular composition can be composed of an outer circle and an inner circle. The outer circle is a natural solid structure, the inner circle is a hollow structure such as pipes and steel pipes, and the outer circle is a composition of the shape of solid circular objects (usually large and grouped), which mainly shows the changing effect of the main bodies arranged in the circle. The visual perspective produced by the composition of the inner ring is shocking. The viewpoint arrangement can be a composition structure formed in the center of the picture, or it can deviate from the direction in the center, such as the upper left corner, to produce a sense of movement. The sense of movement generated below is small but the sense of stability is enhanced.

If the combination of overlapping inner rings is adopted, the light and shadow perspective effect of multi-circle chain can be produced, which is exciting. If combined with regular curves, the effect will be stronger, such as the double track in the gun bore, which is both beautiful and visually oriented.

(10) w-shaped combination

W-shaped composition, excellent stability, very suitable for close-up shooting. It can play a good role in dealing with the background and prospect. Using this composition, we should seek small changes and visual perception.

(1 1) oral ingredients

Mouth-shaped composition, also known as frame composition, is generally used for foreground composition, such as using doors, windows, holes and other frames as the foreground to express the main body and clarify the environment. This composition is in line with people's visual experience, which makes people feel that they are watching images through doors and windows. The sense of space and perspective that produces reality is very strong.

Second, the formal beauty of linear composition structure

Linear composition is one of the main methods commonly used in photography. "Line" is not only an objective visual phenomenon, but also a basic visual element. In composition, it can divide the picture, create areas, produce rhythm and show various symbolic functions.

The characteristics of thread are as follows: thick thread is strong and thin thread is slender; The curve is gentle and the straight line is rigid; Thick line is heavy, thin line is light; The solid line is static and the dotted line is moving.

Such as: vertical line, symbolizing strength, solemnity and strength; The horizontal line symbolizes tranquility, broadness and broadness; Slant lines symbolize dynamic and unstable feelings, which is also acceptable. Because of this, the diagonal line leads to the distance, which shows a deep effect here. Curves symbolize softness, romance and elegance, which will give people a very beautiful feeling. .

(1) golden section

The golden section has been discussed before, and here is mainly the application of linear structure to enhance the impression of the golden section in a linear form.

In news photography, we often encounter natural or artificial linear images, such as all kinds of linear images formed in nature, ranging from the horizon, rivers, mountains and rivers to the physical structures such as trees, leaves, flowers, animals and insects, especially the relationship between human bodies. In the artificial environment, it can also be seen everywhere, such as doors and windows, outer boundaries, wires, canals, cabinets and desks of buildings; Books, newspapers, magazines, etc. ; Therefore, the application of golden section in linear composition of news photography is an effective method to reflect aesthetic feeling.

(2) Diagonal composition

This is a very famous composition expression. When the corner lines are composed in the picture, the diagonal relationship formed by the lines makes the picture have a strong dynamic form, showing a deep effect. Its perspective will also turn the subject into a diagonal line and lead people's eyes to the depths of the picture. In the composition of photographic pictures, in addition to obvious diagonal lines, there are also diagonal lines that people feel visually, which are manifested in the shape, tone and light of the body to produce visual abstract lines. Therefore, the grasp of linearity is the key to the use of lines in photographic composition.

(1) horizontal line

The use of horizontal lines can produce symbolic meanings such as tranquility, openness and broadness in the picture, but a single horizontal line is easy to split the picture. In fact, horizontal lines often appear in photography, such as the horizon. Therefore, it is forbidden to cross the horizontal line from the center in photographic composition. In general, you can move up and down to avoid the central position, or the "breaking" in photography is to arrange a shape at a certain point on the horizontal line so that the horizontal line breaks a section. This single horizontal line is more difficult to master, while the combination of multiple horizontal lines is easier to master and very interesting in photography. For example, when multiple horizontal lines occupy the screen, you can arrange the main position on a section of some lines, which will interrupt some horizontal lines. This method has prominent subject and rich decorative effect.

(4) Vertical line composition

The composition of vertical lines is more varied than that of horizontal lines, and single lines have the same shortcomings as horizontal lines. But there are relatively more changes when there are multiple lines. Such as symmetrical arrangement perspective, multi-row perspective, etc. Sometimes, it can produce unimaginable effects.

Vertical lines symbolize firmness, solemnity and strength; Its photography faces a more natural vertical line rather than a horizontal line. Such as trees, poles, pillars and so on. The change effect produced by vertical lines is very striking.

(5) Curve composition

Curves included in curve composition include regular curves and irregular curves. Curves symbolize softness, romance and elegance, which will give people a very beautiful feeling. Curves are widely used in photography. For example, human photography is to present the curvaceous beauty of the human body. The texture of expression can produce beautiful pictures. Pay special attention to the direction of the overall axis of the curve when using composition. Its manifestations are varied, such as oblique, S-shaped, horizontal and vertical. In addition, the comprehensive application of curves and other lines can also produce outstanding results, but it is more difficult to grasp.

(6) the composition of irregular lines

The composition of irregular lines is troublesome. If you don't master it well, it's easy to mess up the picture. Irregular lines have various properties. Such as disorder, abstraction, rationality, mystery, etc. A single irregular line segment also has visual guidance, which will produce strange picture effects if used properly. If the whole picture is filled with chaotic and irregular lines, then arranging the simple subject form in the appropriate position of the picture will have a strong contrast effect and present an abstract and mysterious picture atmosphere.

The tone of photographic composition

The color tone of the photographic picture is the main body, which consists of the color tone between the light receiving surface and the backlight surface irradiated by the light source and the overall color tone generated by the light of the whole picture. Under the natural light source (sun), different light receiving surfaces and light and shade will be produced. Therefore, the color tone is directional, which can be generally divided into: front light, side light and backlight. Directional effect can also be produced under artificial light source, which is mainly the result of lighting application. Tone is the main factor to reflect the form of the picture, and it is also the basis of the formal beauty of photographic composition. Shade can be understood from the perspective of the difference between photography and painting. The difference between them is that painting is to express the author's aesthetic consciousness and emotion by painting on canvas with pigments and brushes through people's subjective consciousness and skills. Photography is to directly capture realistic images with a camera; Images are recorded through the photosensitive medium carried by the camera, and the photographer himself embodies aesthetic consciousness and emotion through the process of selecting images. Therefore, painting is a picture formed by pigments; Photography is a realistic image formed by light and shadow. There are two forms of tone of photographic images: one is integrity; The second is personality. The two depend on each other and influence each other, and the integrity is the main position. Photography is a tone formed on the screen by the action of light, which shows the information and aesthetic consciousness contained in the overall and individual tone. And through communication and display to reflect specific information and aesthetic characteristics, this embodiment is two-way communication. One is the subject (the author himself) and the other is the object (the audience), which is felt through the giving of the subject. Therefore, the hue is effectively controlled, so that different hues are interrelated in the picture, thus forming a systematic and visual picture-related hue. Tone is the basis of aesthetic consciousness and emotional expression in the picture, and it is also the basis of formal expression in the study of photographic composition. In a photographic picture, the relationship between image and image, as well as the relationship between image and color, can be internally related through a certain tone combination, and an aesthetic feature can be embodied by expressing beauty through tone. The embodiment of color tone in photographic images is mainly manifested in five aspects.

1. Shadow

When choosing a photographic picture, we should fully consider the color factors of foreground, middle scene, background and subject. Too simple will be monotonous, too complex will be messy, which requires us to find a beautiful order law in simplicity and complexity. Order is one of the laws of formal beauty. The order of forms can be divided into two categories:

① Master-slave rule

When people aim the lens at the main peak in the distance, especially when they look at the mountains with a wide-angle lens, they feel that other mountains are short in the sky. And this contrast between height and body shape naturally forms a master-slave relationship. Low peaks surround tall peaks.

In other words, the diversity of forms can constitute the richness of vision, thus improving the interest of vision. In the same picture, when shooting different shapes with great differences, the area and size ratio of the shapes can be adjusted by direction, distance and angle to form the basic tone relationship of the picture image. The focus image of the general subject plays a leading role, while other images echo and supplement. There is a master and a slave, and the two contrast and set off each other, thus forming coordination.

② Uniformity

An excellent news picture should not only have individuality, but also have generality. It is not blunt to express individuality and seek change on the basis of commonness. Looking for the same in the difference, looking for the difference in the same. In other words, the overall tone of the picture form should be consistent, but the details should be changed. In the formal expression of news photography pictures, through the application of the principles of "approximation" and "gradual change", we can form a closer internal relationship between images, produce a group of images that echo each other, and form an image tone with rich and diverse characteristics and unified order and law among the whole.

2. Black and white tones

Black and white tone refers to the general tendency of the relationship between image brightness in photographic composition, such as black and white photography. 0 degree can be used to represent black and l0 degree can be used to represent white. After the image is illuminated by light, different light receiving surfaces form different shades of black and white, resulting in nine different brightness grays. In this way, eleven lightness series color scales from black to white can be obtained. Divide this lightness color scale into three sections, from 0 to 3 degrees, which are called low lightness areas; From 10 degree to 7 degree, it is called high brightness area; The middle part from 4 degrees to 6 degrees is called the middle brightness area. If the contrast difference is within 3 levels, we call it the weak brightness contrast (also called low-key contrast). The difference of brightness contrast is between 3 and 5 brightness levels, which is the middle contrast of brightness (also called midtone contrast). If the brightness contrast is different by more than 5 brightness levels, it is a strong contrast (also called high-profile contrast). Different lightness and hue give people different feelings. Such as: high-profile clear, open, clear, low-key plain, depressed; Low long tone and strong explosive force; Alto gives a fantastic impression. In photographic composition, different colors can be used to organize the picture relationship, which can constitute different effects of the picture.

Step 3: Tone

In the formal expression of photographic composition pictures, especially in color photography, color plays an extremely important role in rendering pictures to express atmosphere and convey some information. In addition to lightness, there are many factors that make up the tone of a picture, such as hue, purity, temperature, area, light and so on. Generally speaking, the composition of hue first depends on which color has the largest area in the picture. Large-scale and dominant colors can form the main tone of the color relationship of the picture. In this clear theme, it is divided according to other colors in the arrangement picture. In the color circle, the colors that are close to each other have a strong sense of harmony, and the colors that are far away have a strong contrast. Usually, it is customary to divide the hue relations of different distances and angles into the same color from small to large (the distance in the color phase ring is 15). The hue contrast around the corner), adjacent colors (the distance in the color phase ring is 45. Angle of hue contrast), different colors (the distance in the color circle is 120. To 197. The hue contrast between them), complementary colors (the distance in the color phase ring is 180. Angle of tone contrast relationship).

The color relationship with the strongest hue contrast is 180. Corner complementary color. The contrast of similar colors can be regarded as a harmonious effect in tone and a link between colors.

For the tone composition of color pictures with small volume difference in color relations but far apart in the color phase ring, the same color factors are introduced into the contradictory and contrasting color relations respectively, so that they have different color relations, thus generating some commonalities and forming a tone. For example, white, gray or black, blue, yellow, red and green, added to a pair of exciting complementary colors, can produce harmony.

(1) Mix the same color with different colors, thus strengthening the "blood relationship" of its appearance.

② In heterogeneous color pictures, the same color is used for decoration and embellishment, thus forming the visual assimilation effect of color.

(2) The same color is coherent around the heterogeneous color area, so that the colors with strong contradiction cannot be directly contacted.

(4) Add some colors between different colors in the color circle in the picture, which can play a role in reconciling and gradually changing the contradiction of different colors.

The purity relationship of colors also has a strong influence on the tone formation of different color relationships, and the same hue gives people different feelings because of different purity. In the expression of hue, the cooperation of different purity relationships can form the richness of hue.

In the form of photographic composition, the determination of hue should be based on images. According to the expressive function of picture form, it is necessary to combine the law of formal beauty and comprehensively consider various relationship factors to make color tone the expressive language of picture form.

4. Shadow expression skills

To express different picture artistic conception requires different morphological structure, different colors, different processing methods and different performance skills. Taking the prototype in the same life as the material, if we use different expression techniques to deal with it, we can form different visual textures, different aesthetic characteristics and give people different psychological feelings. The diversification of skills can enrich the expressive language of formal beauty, help to express the unique style, help to improve the visual interest of the picture image, and enhance the expressive force and appeal of the picture form.

There are many ways to express hue. The change of camera's different direction, angle and position will bring different changes of light, thus changing the effect of hue. If you change the lens, change the photosensitive film and change the color filter, the performance space will be broadened. Admittedly, although there are many ways to express the tone of the picture, in the concrete expression of the photographic picture form, we should choose the effect of the picture form according to the needs of the subject and object, so as to effectively achieve the harmonious unity of content and form.

5. Shadow mobilization potential

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

In the form of photographic composition, a dynamic expression is obtained through tone, but in the expression of tone, local tone should be subordinate to the overall tone; Through the comprehensive application of the beauty of contrast, harmony, rhythm, rhythm, proportion, balance and movement, the dynamic beauty of photographic pictures is creatively expressed.

The subject of the photographic object comes from objective existence. In the form of pictures, we should boldly and rationally create and improve pictures. In this process, there is also a process of picture arrangement, which is the problem of cutting. Cutting is a partial increase or decrease in the overall organizational relationship of the picture form, so that each part is subordinate to the overall needs.

In a word, composition is the main aspect that makes a photographic work a masterpiece, which is well known to all photographers. Understanding and quick reflection of photographic composition should be a necessary quality for photographers.