Basic structure of portrait photography

Basic composition of portrait photography

Portrait photography basic composition, photography enthusiasts will have a lot of their own photography skills, of which photography composition is particularly important. The quality of a photo has a lot to do with its composition. To learn photography, you must first learn composition. So, what is the basic composition of portrait photography? Study together.

Basic composition of portrait photography 1 1, golden section composition

Schematic diagram of golden section

Golden section composition is the most classic composition rule. We regard the golden section ratio as approximately three equal parts, and divide the picture horizontally and vertically into three equal parts to form a nine-square grid, so the golden section composition can be approximately regarded as a proportional nine-square grid composition.

The bisector connecting the four sides, and the four points obtained by crossing are the golden section points. These four lines are the golden section.

"Golden Section" is a geometric formula invented by the ancient Greeks, and the composition form that follows this law is considered to be "harmonious". The significance of this rule lies in providing a reasonable geometric line segment when appreciating an image work. For many painters and artists, "golden section" is the guiding principle that they must deeply understand in their current creation, and photographers are no exception.

Golden section composition is not only the most widely used composition method in portrait photography, but also the most widely used composition method in many other types of photography, such as landscape photography, which is considered as harmony in the picture.

2. Diagonal composition

Diagonal composition of portrait photography

Diagonal line of the figure's body shape picture.

In geometry, the diagonal is longer than any other side. Then diagonal composition is one of the most commonly used composition methods in portrait photography. Let the characters be on the diagonal of the picture, let them fill the picture as much as possible, and improve the utilization rate of the picture.

The diagonal composition of portrait takes the model's body as the diagonal position of the picture, which gives the viewer a full and vivid effect, creates a three-dimensional sense and a sense of extension, enhances the visual effect, embodies the beauty of the model's slender figure, increases the youthful dynamic feeling of the picture and gives people a sense of vitality.

3. Frame composition

The composition scene in Ruyi's Palace Love.

The composition scene in Ruyi's Palace Love.

Frame composition takes the frame formed by doors, frames or branches as the foreground, and people are placed in the frame. This way of composition introduces the viewer's line of sight to the people in the picture.

Frame composition is widely used in costume film and television dramas, such as: wishful court love, knowing or not, etc. The frame-shaped composition reflects the real life state of ancient women who were bound and suppressed.

This composition gives the picture a sense of hierarchy and depth. The visual effect and artistic rendering power are increased.

4, triangle composition

The posture of the characters constitutes the composition of the picture.

In geometry, a triangle is a symbol of stability. Then in portrait photography, triangle composition also has its specific significance. When taking portrait photos, it can create a lively natural effect for the subject.

Triangular composition can make the picture look more stereoscopic and stable, create a kind of artistic conception and highlight the special temperament of the model.

5. Central component

The figure in the center of the picture constitutes the central composition.

The position of the characters in the picture constitutes the central composition.

Central composition in portrait photography.

Central composition is more suitable for close-up of human body parts, such as showing wrinkles of the elderly, so it is suitable to shoot with central composition method.

From an artistic point of view, it depicts the face of a wrinkled but sharp-eyed old man, and combined with the performance of black and white tones in the picture, it highlights the aging of the old man's face and the complexity of his inner world.

Basic Composition of Portrait Photography II. Golden Section Composition

The basic theory of golden section composition method comes from the golden ratio-1: 1.6 18. The golden ratio is mainly to express "harmony", for example, it can often be seen in the fields of architecture, painting and fashion design. Using the golden ratio in photography can make photos feel more natural, comfortable and attractive to the audience. There are many forms of golden section composition in photographic composition, and the most commonly used compositions are "golden spiral" and "golden nine squares".

This photo adopts the composition of Jin Jiuge. Taken at sunset, the backlight just highlights the people in the background. The main character is at the intersection of the golden ratio, and the position of sea level is also at the horizontal line of the golden ratio. The direction of the ship is consistent with the line-of-sight direction of the model, just at the diagonal position, which makes the picture have an extended visual effect.

Triangular synthesis

Triangular composition is actually just a simplified version of "golden section", also called nine-square composition, which we can often see in the built-in reference line of the camera. Three-dimensional composition can be divided into horizontal three-dimensional composition and vertical three-dimensional composition. When shooting a portrait, the picture is divided into three equal parts horizontally and vertically, and the trunk of the subject can be placed on each dividing line, while placing the subject at one of its four intersections can highlight the subject more clearly.

This photo was taken in the middle scene. People are placed at the intersection on the right, and the picture feels comfortable and quiet. The following shooting removes the expression of the characters, which makes the viewer more imaginative.

Triangular composition method is not only suitable for shooting large scenes, but also for shooting close-ups and local close-ups. The visual center is placed at the intersection, and the eyes are usually placed at the intersection when shooting close-ups of people.

The strong colors of clothes and body, as well as the legs with the extension of the dividing line, are easy to focus on the red clothes, which is the visual center that uses colors, dots and lines to guide the viewer.

Triangular composition

Triangle composition is a typical composition form in portrait photography, which is divided into regular triangle, inverted triangle and oblique triangle. When shooting, the limbs or postures of the characters are combined into a triangle. This composition has a strong sense of stability and upward impact. The human face is usually located at the top of the triangle as the visual center, which is the most commonly used composition method for taking portraits.

The bow of the model tidies up the socks, so that the head, feet and buttocks are naturally divided into regular triangles, so that the visual center of gravity of the picture is naturally concentrated in this triangle area, and the backlight also creates a transparent atmosphere for the picture.

Triangular composition can be achieved not only by body movements, but also by clothes and props. The model's arms and hair blowing just form a very stable triangle with the railing.

Guiding line composition

It is to use lines to guide the viewer's eyes and create a sense of depth in the picture. The guiding line is not necessarily a specific line, but all directional and continuous lines can be called guiding lines. In reality, roads, rivers, colors, shadows and even people's eyes can be used as guiding lines.

In the above picture, the central bridge opening extends in an arc. As the foreground and background of lines change, the depth and interest of the picture are enhanced.

Diagonal composition is also a guide line composition. When the guide line is distributed along the diagonal direction of the picture, it is diagonal composition. In the above picture, it is not a specific line composition. When the model is lying down to shoot, the body is mainly on the diagonal of the picture, and the hand is placed on the top of the head to further extend the lines.

Blank composition

Blanking is to leave a certain blank for the picture when composing a composition. In fact, this blank is not a blank in the actual sense. Usually, it is expressed by large-scale scenery with the same color in the environment, such as sky, ocean, mountains, grasslands, land, etc ... Blank space can make the picture more comfortable and natural visually, and photographers can better control the rhythm and artistic conception of the picture by using blank space, leaving more imagination space for viewers to feel this artistic conception.

The picture above is a common blank method in the distant view. The composition of the sky is divided into three parts, leaving a large area of blank space. Chinese painting is the most particular about blank space, and the feeling of tranquility and distance can be better reflected by using blank space to shoot ancient style.

In the background of the picture, the sky and the lake are integrated, and there is also a large area of blank space. The motion of the model is dynamic. Although it is a central composition, it enriches the content of the picture through the combination of motion and static.

Basic composition of portrait photography 3 1, three-point composition method.

Also known as tic-tac-toe combination. As the name implies, dividing the picture horizontally and vertically into three parts to form a "well"-shaped wireframe, and placing the subject at any of the four points where the four lines intersect will make the picture more formal and aesthetic. Portrait photography usually suggests putting people on the left or right third line.

2. Central composition method.

This is the most common composition method in portrait photography. I believe that most people will conditionally put the characters in the middle when taking pictures, which will make the main body of the characters stand out and have a strong sense of stability, but it will also give people the impression that the picture is not vivid enough.

3. Symmetric composition method.

Using the reflection of water, window or mirror to shoot the shadow of a portrait to form a symmetrical image, this creative shooting technique has brought more surprises to the photo. (Figure 5)

4. Composition method.

Careful observation reveals that there are many "boxes" in life scenes. Such as doors, windows, arched frames formed by trees, etc. Putting the characters in the frame will make the viewer focus on the characters in the frame visually, which can highlight the main body of the characters well.

5, guide line composition.

Life also has many guiding lines. Such as winding roads, railings, street lamps, tracks, etc. Putting people on the guide line will make the audience naturally look at people along the guide line.