Trigonometry and photographic skills of TIC-tac-toe composition

Lead: The word composition, typed in Google search, will run out of a series of websites, and a series of online articles will definitely dazzle you. Readers may click on each link and have a look. If they understand it, they will continue to read it. If they don't understand it, they will go back to the previous page and continue to click on the next one. The next article may be whether you have read it or not, then go back to the previous page and click the next one. Maybe I understand it a little, but the more I look at it, the more blurred it is. The biggest possibility after seeing it is to find the Duke of Zhou to go to Xiaqi. Photographic skills of trisection and tic-tac-toe composition

If Google search is changed to search for related images of the word "composition", the golden ratio (not the golden ratio XD of Qingyu) and tic-tac-toe composition must have the highest probability. The so-called golden ratio is 1: 1.618

The initial composition is proportional relationship

When we view the scene in front of us through the viewing window, we press the shutter to record the image by the photosensitive element. The ratio of the length and width of the viewing window to the photosensitive element is just 2: 3, which is similar to the golden ratio of 1: 1.618, so the golden ratio has an indissoluble bond with photography.

▲ The photosensitive element is 2: 3, which is close to the golden ratio of 1: 1.618. The author will draw the blueprint of composition directly on the photosensitive element for your reference.

composition is everything?

Although composition doesn't necessarily determine everything in a photo, it is the first step of taking a photo. Composition is the starting point of photography, and photography is a combination of various trainings, including the foundation of personal aesthetics, the cultivation of aesthetic feeling, the collocation of chromatics and the understanding of light. Only a good composition and correct exposure can make a photo.

Start composition

The composition of the word "composition" refers to the elements that make up the image. The "elements" may be the rules of scene arrangement, the size ratio of objects, color contrast or the directionality of visual extension, or simply "the combination of images". Aside from the basic principles of photography, such as aperture, shutter and exposure, composition is the most important spirit of photography. The quality of composition affects the sense of balance, space and proportion of photos. Proper proportion of composition can even extend the meaning and create an imaginary space outside the photos.

rule of thirds

rule of thirds is the most basic, simple and commonly used composition technique. Making good use of rule of thirds can make photos break away from rigidity, add interest and make photos full of vitality.

▲ Schematic diagram of the most basic three-point composition method.

The rule of thirds is the most basic composition principle in composition. In landscape photography, the rule of thirds is often used to arrange the foreground, middle and background, which is also the reason for applying the rule of thirds to composition. Below we use some examples to illustrate the works of these rules. After understanding the rules, we can certainly break the rules and how to make full use of various skills to improve our photography skills.

summary

TIC-tac-toe composition is an extension of the rule of trisection and the golden ratio. The purpose of using the rule of thirds and TIC-tac-toe composition when taking pictures is to make the subject leave the center of the picture and redistribute the layout to increase the interest of the picture. Experience tells me that it is the most comfortable visual effect to divide the photographed picture into one-third and two-thirds states according to the rules. Divide the scene or combination block in the picture into one-third and two-thirds along imaginary lines, which can be horizontal, vertical or diagonal.

The rule of trisection and TIC-tac-toe composition are most commonly used in landscape photography. Although they look like mathematical rules, we can get rich and varied pictures by properly using such composition rules and creating the visual effect of balanced distribution of pictures. Making good use of the rule of thirds and tic-tac-toe composition to make the picture balanced is an important learning course to establish a correct aesthetic choice in photography. Proper use of it can make the image get rid of the feeling of being too static and complicated.

Proper allocation of pictures

After learning the rule of thirds, we know that the basic composition is actually a proportional allocation principle. Through the ingenious arrangement of the photographer, the picture can be balanced, and the more accurate composition can make the picture more harmonious. Try to look at the following photo:

▲ In addition to dividing the sky and the landscape into one-third and two-thirds by using the trichotomy, the highest mountain peak in the picture happens to be on the left-third of the picture, the total height of the road curve extending from the bottom left is also close to two-thirds, and the end point of the road disappearing is also close to the right-third of the picture.

▲ Remove the imaginary lines added in the above picture, and use roads (car tracks) to frame the picture, and you will find that the landscape of Fargesia is also one third. The sea of clouds below the mountain is about one-third of the road, and the sky above the sea of clouds is about one-third. Even though these factors are abstract in the photo, a careful scrutiny shows that there is a reasonable order and organization in the photo.

does all this mean that when composing a composition, we need to pay attention to the fact that everything in the shot should be completely aimed at two-thirds or two-thirds factors? The answer is: not necessarily.

actually, the details of these compositions are only rough guidelines. When taking pictures, you usually think, "What's the most important thing? ",and then think about what to match? What are you shooting? The so-called subject to be photographed is usually the subject, and the scope of the subject does not always appear directly in the photo, but is usually matched with the scenery developed or extended from the perspective.

▲ Let's take this photo as an example.

▲ From the above photo, it can be seen that the plant lines in the foreground invariably point to a vanishing sight point, and these hidden indicators can be found after the lines are drawn.

▲ If you draw a horizontal dotted line on the horizon and the right third of the picture, you can more clearly guide the aiming point of visual disappearance.

▲ Put TIC-tac-toe on it, and you can see the distribution principle of the picture more clearly.

When shooting landscapes, the horizon or horizontal line is usually used to cut the picture and distribution ratio, and the composition of the upper or lower third of the horizon is taken. When shooting people and ecology, the subject is placed on both sides of the composition of the photo, which can make the picture more directional or dynamic. Putting the theme away from the center of the picture can add a visual sense of direction to the picture.

▲ In the above example, the cyclist is placed in the lower right corner because he is moving in the direction of the vanishing point.

Familiarize yourself with the rules and get rid of the restrictions

Trigonometry and TIC-tac-toe composition are only the basic exercises and applications of landscape photography composition, and you don't have to stick to these norms every time you take photos or start composition. If you insist on applying all the pictures yourself, it will become an invisible shackle. However, the basic principles of proportional distribution and direction guidance still apply to all shooting processes. Remember to keep a normal mind, think more, watch more and listen more when taking pictures, and don't let "thinking about how to compose" become your own trouble.

The photo below has neither half reflection nor any object in the third position. On the contrary, everything slightly deviates from the trisection or the center, and there is no example on the right.

an example of breaking the rules is beneficial to symmetry

If you are a student who is studying, the knowledge taught by the teacher in class must be the rules to be followed before you know all the norms. But if you are a free-spirited and creative artist, you will feel that all the rules are binding your creation, and the rules are like a cage to confine you to a narrow space. However, all the rules will be broken after proficiency. This is to use learning and time to release inner rebellion. In other words, as long as you want to make a breakthrough, it may be a good opportunity.

one of the core principles of the rule of thirds is that it is not ideal to place the subject in the center of the photo. However, if you want to emphasize the symmetry of the picture, it is understandable to use half of the composition to reflect the social contrast.

Similarly, there are many other situations in which it may be a rule that can be ignored, instead of using it indiscriminately. For example, you may want to make your subject out of balance and deliberately create a disharmonious picture.

At the end of composition, the most important thing is to ask yourself: What do I want to emphasize? What is specifically about this theme? What kind of mood do I want to convey? If the rule of thirds can help you achieve these goals, then use it. If not, then don't use this theory to compose a picture.

▲ The mountain view and sky above the lake account for only 1/4 of the picture, and the foreground Miscanthus reduces the proportion of the lake area and balances the picture with the cloud waterfall in the upper right corner.

▲ The purpose of placing the boat in the lower right corner is to balance the weight of the sunrise in the upper left corner. If the boat is removed from the composition, the weight of the whole picture will inevitably shift to the left, losing the balance of the picture.

the important meaning of composition principle lies in: first, being familiar with the principle and then understanding the rules; finally, using the rules to get rid of the restrictions.