composition rules

Composition RulesComposition Rules

Focal PointFocal Point

Your composition must have something in Your composition must have something in it that stands out from the rest of the it that stands out from the rest of the background. It can be background. It can be SizeSize ColorColor Converging linesConverging lines Placement on the pagePlacement on the page

Lines to create focal pointLines to create focal point

Rule of ThirdsRule of Thirds

Divide your composition into 3 equal parts, Divide your composition into 3 equal parts, either verticallyeither vertically


……or horizontallyor horizontally


Your Your focal point is located ON one focal point is located ON one of the thirds’ linesof the thirds’ lines


Or……..Or……..

To Review Rule of ThirdsTo Review Rule of Thirds

Divide the picture either vertically or Divide the picture either vertically or horizontally into 3 equal partshorizontally into 3 equal parts

The focal point will rest on one of the The focal point will rest on one of the dividersdividers

THIS COMPOSITION DOES NOT MEAN THIS COMPOSITION DOES NOT MEAN 3 OBJECTS IN 1 PICTURE3 OBJECTS IN 1 PICTURE

Diagonal CompositionDiagonal Composition

Your eye should be drawn from one corner Your eye should be drawn from one corner to the opposite cornerto the opposite corner

DiagonalDiagonal

Formal BalanceFormal Balance

Equal weight of objectsEqual weight of objects

OrOr

A Mirror imageA Mirror image


A mirror imageA mirror image

Informal BalanceInformal Balance

Large and small focal point that is in some Large and small focal point that is in some way joinedway joined

Informal BalanceInformal Balance

Golden TriangleGolden Triangle

Draw an imaginary diagonalDraw an imaginary diagonal


From the opposite corner, drop a line that From the opposite corner, drop a line that will give you a 90 degree anglewill give you a 90 degree angle


Your focal point will be small and at the Your focal point will be small and at the intersection of the 2 linesintersection of the 2 lines


A simpler way to understand this is to A simpler way to understand this is to draw both a vertical and horizontal rule of draw both a vertical and horizontal rule of thirds…….thirds…….


Your focal point is going to be located on 1 Your focal point is going to be located on 1 but only 1 of the intersectionsbut only 1 of the intersections

Or………..Or………..

Or…….Or…….

Or………Or………

High KeyHigh Key

The focal point and the background are The focal point and the background are both light or whiteboth light or white

High KeyHigh Key

Low KeyLow Key

Dark subject with a dark backgroundDark subject with a dark background

Low KeyLow Key

composition rules

Entertainment & Humor