Composition has always been a controversial element in almost all works of art.
In photography, this has either been an unexplored area or a nightmare for budding photogs.
In this post, we'll see how compositions change the overall mood or message of a photograph.
Below are a series of crops taken from a single shot of a kingfisher on a branch, to show how changing the composition (here, in post production) can change how an image is viewed/understood.
Let's start with the first one here, where the bird is top-centered.
In this photo, the focus is on the colors of the kingfisher and predominantly its tail feathers, with lots of space below the bird. One possible message is that of the bird poised high on the branch, scouting for prey.
The one below has the bird in to the lower left thirds.
With respect to the particular subject's (the kingfisher) posture and direction, this composition kind of corners the bird with no space supporting the direction of its gaze.
Such compositions, wherein a subjects' posture or direction of movement/gaze is restricted by closing in the space around it, are usually avoided unless intentional. This is primarily due to the negative effect it conveys...such as seclusion, loneliness, outcast, etc.
This composition is a fairly pleasing one in that it gives sufficient space supporting the bird's gaze. There's a balance between the bird as subject, with its environment. The empty space left of the bird's gaze leaves a fair sense of mystery about what caught the bird's attention.
Similar to the cornering of the bird, this composition also gives a negative effect to the composition.
Here, the left placement of the bird gazing left, with open space to its right gives a feeling of neglect or sorrow.
Here, although the bird is conveyed as perched up high on a branch, due to the lack of space to support its gaze towards its left, it still has a fair amount of melancholy to it.
This is a significantly better composition, with the open space towards the bird's left.
However, here, with the bird towards the upper end of the composition, there is a sense of power for the bird...as a predator watching its prey from high above.
In the below composition, which could be arguably one of the most preferred/sought after compositions, the placement of the bird on the lower right thirds give ample space above and towards the left of the bird (supporting its gaze). This renders the image to convey freedom, serenity/calmness (from the supposition that the bird is patiently waiting/resting on the branch until it wants to fly) and opportunity. Also, this image has a little more appeal since it also strongly justifies the rule of thirds.
Below is a composition very rarely executed.
Positioning a subject dead center of a frame leaves little to imagination of viewers. This type of composition makes a subject more of an object with no supporting mood or message...it just exists.
However, note that such composition have a different results when shooting portraits.
Another composition giving the feeling that the bird has the freedom to fly away.
The only thing here is, because it is centered at the bottom, there isn't any additional message it conveys...it's just there...waiting maybe?
Footnote: There is one thing in common in all of the (cropped) images shown here - they all follow the rule of thirds. This is one of the most successful composition techniques used over centuries and by different artists in different fields. Understanding this better also helps in breaking this rule to attain a controversial yet uniquely appealing image.
Pray this post has helped or assisted some of you a tad bit in improving your photography and images.
In photography, this has either been an unexplored area or a nightmare for budding photogs.
In this post, we'll see how compositions change the overall mood or message of a photograph.
Below are a series of crops taken from a single shot of a kingfisher on a branch, to show how changing the composition (here, in post production) can change how an image is viewed/understood.
Let's start with the first one here, where the bird is top-centered.
In this photo, the focus is on the colors of the kingfisher and predominantly its tail feathers, with lots of space below the bird. One possible message is that of the bird poised high on the branch, scouting for prey.
The one below has the bird in to the lower left thirds.
With respect to the particular subject's (the kingfisher) posture and direction, this composition kind of corners the bird with no space supporting the direction of its gaze.
Such compositions, wherein a subjects' posture or direction of movement/gaze is restricted by closing in the space around it, are usually avoided unless intentional. This is primarily due to the negative effect it conveys...such as seclusion, loneliness, outcast, etc.
This composition is a fairly pleasing one in that it gives sufficient space supporting the bird's gaze. There's a balance between the bird as subject, with its environment. The empty space left of the bird's gaze leaves a fair sense of mystery about what caught the bird's attention.
Similar to the cornering of the bird, this composition also gives a negative effect to the composition.
Here, the left placement of the bird gazing left, with open space to its right gives a feeling of neglect or sorrow.
Here, although the bird is conveyed as perched up high on a branch, due to the lack of space to support its gaze towards its left, it still has a fair amount of melancholy to it.
This is a significantly better composition, with the open space towards the bird's left.
However, here, with the bird towards the upper end of the composition, there is a sense of power for the bird...as a predator watching its prey from high above.
In the below composition, which could be arguably one of the most preferred/sought after compositions, the placement of the bird on the lower right thirds give ample space above and towards the left of the bird (supporting its gaze). This renders the image to convey freedom, serenity/calmness (from the supposition that the bird is patiently waiting/resting on the branch until it wants to fly) and opportunity. Also, this image has a little more appeal since it also strongly justifies the rule of thirds.
Below is a composition very rarely executed.
Positioning a subject dead center of a frame leaves little to imagination of viewers. This type of composition makes a subject more of an object with no supporting mood or message...it just exists.
However, note that such composition have a different results when shooting portraits.
Another composition giving the feeling that the bird has the freedom to fly away.
The only thing here is, because it is centered at the bottom, there isn't any additional message it conveys...it's just there...waiting maybe?
And to end this presumably helpful post, here is the original shot of the kingfisher. :)
Footnote: There is one thing in common in all of the (cropped) images shown here - they all follow the rule of thirds. This is one of the most successful composition techniques used over centuries and by different artists in different fields. Understanding this better also helps in breaking this rule to attain a controversial yet uniquely appealing image.
Pray this post has helped or assisted some of you a tad bit in improving your photography and images.
