1. Diploma in Photography
UNIT 5
CRACKING COMPOSITION

2. Unit 5 – Cracking composition
Learning outcomes of unit 5
By the end of this unit, you will:
• Understand the ‘rule of thirds’
• Learn how to work the 'lines' in your photography
• Know about the importance of focal points
• Learn how to break the rules

3. Introduction
Composition is everything in photography. It involves all the
physical images we see when looking down a viewfinder.
In this unit, we look at how to compose a great shot and some
rules for you to consider when deciding on composition.
Don't forget that rules are made to be broken and some of the
most inspiring shots we have ever seen do just that. Before you
can break a rule though, you need to understand it in the first
place and that is what we aim to do here.

4. Introduction
Sometimes, you'll get lucky with a snapshot with perfect
composition, however most shots will need to be carefully planned
and may take patience.
Have you ever looked a photograph and it just 'works'? We'll train
you to have that professional eye, so you can take more of these
shots every time.
Read on and if inspiration strikes during this module, why not post
some of your pictures on the forum?

5. Simplicity
Perhaps the most important guideline
that you should always follow is
simplicity.
Think about how you can keep you shots
simple while giving your subject the
centre of attention.
In this shot, a relatively uninteresting and
uncluttered background helps to
highlight the red arrows zooming in from
the right.

6. Using the picture shape
One of the most useful options at your
disposal is being able to change the
orientation of the frame from horizontal
to vertical.
Which one you use will depend on your
subject, the background and what you
want to convey with your image.
Tall structures like lighthouses and open
landscapes may automatically suggest
vertical or horizontal framing but think
about how the subject would look if you
change the frame.

7. Using the picture shape
Horizontal lines can increase a sense of horizontal movement
where vertical shots can have the opposite effect.
Remember, the more extreme the proportions of your subject
within your chosen frame, the more your eyes will be forced to
follow the composition of the shot in a certain way.
Your eyes see square images as most static as they require less
eye movement, so take all you have learned about movement in
previous units and start to put it together with composition for
amazing effects.

8. Rule of thirds
This is perhaps the most widely known rule in photography and
essential in good composition.
So what is the 'rule of thirds'?
Have a look at this grid:

9. Rule of thirds
The easiest way to explain this rule is to
image breaking down your frame into nine
compartments, using horizontal and
vertical lines.
When you look through the
viewfinder, image the scene with this grid
super-imposed on the top.
This grid will help you define where the
important elements of your shot should lie
in the frame (the red plus points). Placing
points of interest at these intersection
points, should in theory give you a better
image.

10. Rule of thirds
This is because your eye will be more likely
to go to an intersection point and the exact
centre of the frame and the idea with
composition is to take the viewer on a
journey around the shot.
If you can capture a subject where the eye
feels most comfortable beginning the
journey, you will be more likely to achieve a
pleasing composition.
The insect in this picture is at one of the
grid points. You can see that it falls nicely at
an intersecting point and so the photo looks
more interesting to the eye, because you
begin with the wasp and then your eyes
moves around the frame.

11. Rule of thirds
Have a look at this shot of a
cyclist.
You can see how the composition
helps to tell the story.
Because the main subject is at
the intersecting points on the
left, your eye begins with the
subject and follows the journey
he is likely to take out of the
frame.

12. Rule of thirds
When you are taking landscape shots, consider using one the
horizontal lines of the grid for your horizon line.
Have a look at this picture. The sea takes up the first third of the
pictures and the sky the remaining two thirds. This gives an
interesting composition and draws your eye from the start of
the pier to the end.

13. Rule of thirds
So, when you are using the 'rule of thirds', first decide what the
important elements are and think about those intersecting focal
points. Move the viewfinder around and try different
compositions.
Remember, rules are made to be broken, but in having an
understanding of this fundamental principal, you will have a
better understanding of how to break the rule as well!

14. Lines
Lines play a very important role
in composition. When you are
composing any shot, you should
take time to consider the lines in
the image.
They can play a very important
role in the feel of the shot and
how a viewer's eye interacts
with the image.

15. Lines
The three types of lines within images are 'horizontal', 'vertical'
and 'diagonal' lines and we'll look at all three in detail in this
unit.
It does take time to become good at using lines in your images. A
really good way to start is to go back over your pictures and look
for lines which worked. Why did they work? Look at images that
don't quite work and the lines within those images.
Before you take your next shot, stop and think about the lines in
the frame. How can you use them to make the shot more
interesting? Is there something in the scene that can be
emphasised using lines?

16. Horizontal lines
A horizontal line in a
photograph gives an image
a feeling of stability or of an
object at rest.
The horizon, the ocean, a
person sleeping, a gate. All
of these objects have
something timeless and
permanent about them.

17. Horizontal lines
Horizons are the most common horizontal line in our images and
they can be used as a dividing point (using the rule of thirds).
Your horizon can be the anchor around which the rest of your
shot forms.
To further emphasise the horizontal lines of a horizon, shooting
in landscape (the viewfinder being horizontal) rather than
portrait (the viewfinder being vertical) will achieve this.

18. Horizontal lines
Horizons are the most common horizontal line in our images and
they can be used as a dividing point (using the rule of thirds).
Your horizon can be the anchor around which the rest of your
shot forms.
To further emphasise the horizontal lines of a horizon, shooting
in landscape (the viewfinder being horizontal) rather than
portrait (the viewfinder being vertical) will achieve this.

19. Horizontal lines
When you are using horizons, do remember that a horizontal, unbroken
horizon can look quite static and dull, so make sure you something else in the
frame at the intersecting points on the grid to give it some interest.
This picture of a yacht has a very restful feeling about it and the horizon
anchors the frame, giving a balanced shot.

20. Horizontal lines
The image of the yacht can be improved compositionally by
cropping it down. This is because, having a horizon right in the
middle of the shot leaves it feeling unbalanced. It's much more
effective to place your horizon line on the upper or lower third
of the frame.

21. Horizontal lines
Finally, a really good tip is to keep your horizontal lines
horizontal.
It may be obvious, but a great shot composition can be
spoiled by having the horizon skewed by just a few
degrees.

22. Vertical lines
Vertical lines can produce very
strong images indeed and
convey power, strength and
growth.
Think of the dynamic images
produced by shooting
architectural structures like
this one on the right.

23. Vertical lines
Vertical lines can be significantly
enhanced by using the camera in
portrait mode (the viewfinder
being vertical) as in the image
above. This lengthens the subject
and enhances the feeling of
height.
Break the rule: by framing vertical
lines in a landscape frame, you
can convey the impression of the
subject bursting out of the
frame, which helps to emphasise
the power of the vertical lines.
See an example on the right.

24. Vertical lines
Again it’s important to try and keep your vertical lines as much in
line with the sides of your image as possible. This is not always
possible if you’re shooting looking up an image as the subject
will taper off towards the top (this is called 'converging verticals)
– but attempt to keep it’s centre as straight as possible and you
should be ok.
Keep in mind the 'Rule of Thirds' when you have strong vertical
lines in a photograph. Placing a line directly in the middle of a
shot will effectively cut your image in half. This can be used with
dramatic impact but also can leave your image looking
unbalanced.

25. Vertical lines
Keep an eye out for vertical lines that
are repeated in patterns in your
images as they can be used to great
impact. Have a look at this image for
an example.
Think about composing shots with
vertical lines contrasting with other
shapes and lines going in all different
directions for interesting images.

26. Diagonal lines
Diagonal lines can be used to
great effect to draw the viewer's
eye through the image, creating
movement and dynamism.
They create points of interest
when they bisect other lines and
can create interesting
perspective shots.

27. Diagonal lines
Another great use of diagonal lines is to help emphasise
movement or dynamism.
Consider how your diagonal line could define the way the
image is viewed and how it could lead the eye to (or
away from) the subject.
When people were studied viewing images, it was normal
for people to view them from left to right. A diagonal line
travelling from the bottom left to the top right of an
image can give a very natural feel because of this.

28. Diagonal lines
You don't want a strong diagonal
line cutting your image in half of
course, just look around for
natural objects and lines which
will give this effect without
spoiling the composition.
Also, having your diagonal line
slightly off centre can look better.
The sculpture of a fish has natural
diagonal lines which have been
shot slightly off centre to give a
better feel.

29. Diagonal lines
Lots of diagonal lines in an image can create movement and
interest, but be careful, too many and your image could become
distracting and cluttered.
Have a look at the patterns in the world around you.
You can create some really good images by focussing in on
everyday objects and using lines to create a dynamic image.

30. Balance
What does a photograph with good balance look like? Does the
shot need to be composed of equal sized elements? The answer
to this is sometimes yes and sometimes no.
Formal balance is the equal balancing of elements on each side
of the shot. This works well for any visual art and is often used by
designers to get a good balance on web-pages or adverts for
example.

31. Balance
Have a look at this portrait image.
If you folded it in half, the two half
would look loosely the same. Both
sides would show half a nose, half a
mouth etc.
This is formal balance and when
used for images which have strong
symmetry, it can produce a striking
effect.

32. Balance
Informal balance is
balancing on one or more
sides of the subject by
using an object that is
different to the original
subject.
Have a look at the portrait
of the girl again, but this
time the picture has an
informal balance.

33. Balance
Is one type of balance better than the other? Well it really
depends on what you are shooting of course.
Buildings, sculptures and monuments or anything with a uniform
structure often look good in a formal composition as this is how
they were designed to be viewed.
Ultimately, balancing a shot comes down to personal taste and
artistic eye for what works.

34. Balance
PRACTICE ASSIGNMENT
This assignment will not be scored.
Take your camera and a static
object, preferably outside. This could be a
tree, a post-box, a mailbox or a notice-
board.
Your assignment is to take 36 pictures of your chosen object and
each one must be balanced differently.
You should find that your last shots are better because by
then, you will have been forced to see things differently. Share
your best shots on our forum!

35. Perspective
Perspective can be used in many
different ways in photography to
give your pictures a different
feeling or to emphasis strength
or even weakness of your
subject.
Shooting up towards a subject
generally gives it a sense of
power and solidity like this
cactus.

36. Perspective
In the opposite way, if you shoot an image looking down on the
subject, it can make them appear diminutive and the
surroundings more powerful.
This can be a great technique for portraits. Just by moving
slightly above or below the subject you can give a different
feeling to the image using perspective.

37. Perspective
ADVANCED TIP:
A growing trend in photography
is to used 'forced perspective'.
This is where you use perspective
to make the subject or object in
shot appear larger, smaller or
appear in a different way than is
natural.
The classic shot of forced
perspective is the person
standing at just the right spot in
front of the Taj Mahal and
holding their hand at the tip, to
make it look like they are about
to pick it up. This is a fun Image Fraser Reid
technique and can deliver some
really professional results.