Photo Composition

All photos were taken by students

Deep Depth of Field

Deep Depth of Field• Usually not used in professional photos• Everything is in equal focus from front to back

Deep Depth of Field• Everything is in equal focus from front to back• The picture must have a front and back

Deep Depth of Field• The focus is usually softer throughout• It usually pictures LARGE objects – like

landscapes

Deep Depth of Field• The picture has no true subject

DEEP DEPTH NOT DEEP DEPTH

Shallow Depth of Field

Shallow Depth of Field• Part of the forward to back is in focus.

Another part of the photo is out of focus.

Shallow Depth of Field• It is imperative to note that the front OR the

back may be in focus. The middle may also be the focus point.

Shallow Depth of Field• Used by most professional photographers.• It is extraordinarily difficult to perform this

technique (but NOT impossible) without using a manual focus camera.

BackgroundPitfallsNot student photo

Background Pitfalls• Be wary – especially in deep depth pictures –

of the background. • It may be distracting, or make your subject

look QUITE strange.

Not student photos

Wrong Way Right Way

Not student photos

High Angle

High Angle • Photographer is positioned above subject• Subject usually has space around in photo

High Angle • Subjects are usually small, and photo makes

them look even smaller.

High Angle • Also brings about feelings of innocence,

peace, relaxation, solitude.

High Angle • Typical subjects include nature, children, small

animals.

Low Angle

Low Angle • Photographer is below subject• Subject usually fills frame from side-to-side

Low Angle • Subjects can extend beyond the frame of

photo

Low Angle • Subjects are usually large, or meant to seem

even larger

Low Angle • Brings about feelings of dominance, strength,

chaos, controlling

Low Angle • Typical subjects include buildings, large

animals, mountains, adults, or authority figures

TiltedComposition

Tilted Composition• Turns the camera a few degrees to one side

Tilted Composition• BIG angles are easy to see and cause greater

discomfort and chaos• Smaller angles can be very subtle, and almost

unnoticeable.

Subject Positioning

Subject Positioning• Subject positioning adds interest to the photo

by placing the subject to one side

Subject Positioning• Subject can be placed slightly or dramatically

to one side

Subject Positioning• Nearly all professional photos use subject

positioning

Subject Positioning• Subjects can also be placed up or down• Simply move the camera to place subject

Nose Room• Change composition to position subject to the

left or right of the frame• Subject travels toward the center of the photo• You show WHERE the subject IS GOING

Nose Room• About one-third is behind the subject, about

two-thirds is ahead• Implies movement in the picture• Must travel left to right or right to left

• About two-thirds of empty frame is ahead of subject

• One-third is behind• Larger space is always in front of the subject

Color

Color• Placing contrasting objects adjacent to

highlight differences• Usually warm (red, orange, yellow, green) next

to cool (blue, purple, green)

Color• NOT BLACK AND WHITE – THESE ARE NOT

COLORS• Usually striking – can be natural

Texture

Texture• Photographing close enough to see the

individual makeup – rise and fall• Best pictures are natural objects

Texture• Photograph so you feel like you could touch

each ridge and fall• Usually a calming effect on viewer – to see

individuality of makeup

Not student photographs

Leading Lines

Leading Lines • Photographing parallel lines to convergence• The convergence of lines ‘points’ viewer

toward a subject

Leading Lines • The lines may be real, or suggested by parallel

objects• Creates a dynamic interesting photo that can

point to a desired subject

Framing

Framing• Surrounding your

subject – usually on three sides

• It points to a subject like a bullseye

Framing• Surrounding your subject – usually on three sides• It points to a subject like a bullseye• Akin to an actual frame. Usually it is in the

foreground or background, but can be in the same plane

Framing• Akin to an actual frame. Usually it is in the

foreground or background, but can be in the same plane

Dynamic

Dynamic• Photo(s) that contain on or more composition

techniques and best example(s) of your work.