Artistic Composition of Photographs

First of all, there are three main types of Art:

• Realism
• Abstract
• Non-Objective

Realism is exactly what it implies, you want the object to look realistic. The vast majority of photogrpahy is of this type. In abstract art, there is some distortion of form, but you can still identify the subject. this is more difficult to do than realism with photographs, but not impossible. Some possibilities are defocusing your subject, or using various filters. Non-objective, is completely interpretive, some classic examples by some artists include works that are simply a red rectangle. This art is very symbolic. This is perhpas the most difficult to do using photography, altough it is possible.

When deciding to make a photograph, it is important to decide which of these approaches are to be used. As I have said, the majority of photographs use realism, however you can get many interesting shots using a certain degree of abstract as well.

The next part is learning the Elements of Design. They are:

• line
• shape
• texture
• space
• light
• colour

The next set are the Principles of Design. They are:

• contrast/emphasis
• movement/visual flow
• balance -- assymetry vs symmetry
• variety
• unity

The final step is combining the elements of design with the principles of design. The best way to understand this and learn to aplly this is take a photograph, and look at it. See how it emphasises contrast/emphasis with line, shape texture, space, light, and colour. Do the same for the rest of the principles of design. Look at photographs of others as well as your own, (those by professionals really help). Once you do this, using the principles and elements of desing will come naturally to you, improving your photographs. An important thing to remeber is that different people like different things in photographs. Some people prefer their subjects slightly off centre, while others like them right in the middle. Also, many people can take good photographs without being conciously aware that they are using the elements and principles of design. To some they come naturally. In any case, if you become familiar with them, you will use them, whether you are aware of it or not.

--Eric Danek