February Assignment - COMPOSITION

[Mandy&Bailee]

I think perhaps I jumped into the deep end a little too soon with Aperture last month :)  and realized some members may need some instruction on the basics, so I thought we should focus on Composition this month.  This month, it doesn't matter what camera you have or what settings you take the images with - it's about how you compose the image you are seeing through the lens of your camera.
The human eye is engaged & entertained by shapes in specific arrangements, i.e. composition.  There are six universal techniques/guidelines in regard to composition of an image.
1) SIMPLICITY - reduce the photo to only essential elements that are needed to illustrate your idea.  Avoid extra subject matter - eliminate confusion & draw attention to important elements.
2) CONCEPT OF 1/3RD - place interesting objects/subject about 1/3 of the way from top, bottom, or side.  Makes the image less stagnant & more interesting than always placing subject dead center in image.
3) LINES - objects arranged in straight or curving lines will lead the eye to the center of interest of the image.  Leading lines are very appealing to the human eye & brain.
4) BALANCE - interesting objects on both sides, rather than everything located on one side or the other with nothing to balance on the opposite side.
5) FRAMING - elements in a photo that tend to create a frame within the frame to highlight the center of interest (doorway, arches, etc.)
6) FUSION/SEPERATION - make sure two unrelated objects don't merge in an unintended way (i.e. tree looks like it's growing out of someone's head).

This month's assignment is simple - take 2 pictures demonstrating the "correct" and "incorrect" of any of the above techniques.
As the month goes on I will post some tools and other ideas regarding composition, but I figured this will get you all started.  I apologize for the delay - I'm a busy busy girl lately!  As always feel free to post questions here or email me directly.
I have started another thread for posting the images and commentary regarding them.  Please keep composition questions in this thread and let's keep the images thread strictly for discussing the images as they are posted.
Have fun, happy composing!

[Sue]

Just curious, what camera do you have now?
How are you enjoying your vacation? I bet California is nice at this time of year. (Or any time of year)
Natalie is just getting cuter all the time!! I found out very recently that I will be a first time grandmother come this July! I am super happy!! We even found out at the last ultrasound that it's a girl!!! I can't wait to take some photos of her!

[Adina P]

I have a cannon rebel eos something or other.

Vacation is great...but I'm ready for home. We're in Arizona now...more Cali time starting tomorrow then home again in a few days. It had been super rainy before we got to Cali but it turned beautiful while we were there. I love the weather but man alive is the traffic anxiety producing! I don't have any real phobias, but the first few days in freeway traffic just about reaches phobia level in me. Hate hate hate it! I don't envy those who have long commutes to/from work. Everything is spread SO FAR in Socal. I'm VERY grateful to live in a small town, 4 miles and 8-12 minutes away from work =)

CONGRATS on grandmotherhood! I can't wait for YOUR photos too!! We'll need to start a group for bragging moms/grandmoms just for baby pics! Your photos are going to be spectacular!!!

[Sue]

Great idea Adina!!
Have a nice rest of your trip, and a safe drive home! There's no place like home!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Adina, if you are asking if the subject that you are focusing on will still be in focus if you were to move your camera to compose the photo the answer is yes. But, you must hold the shutter button half way down to lock the focus. In other words, you would find the subject you want in perfect focus, hold the shutter button down half way to lock the focus and then, while still holding the button half way, move the camera around to compose the photo. When you have it the way you like it (rule of thirds) then you just push the shutter button all the way down. You can compose the entire picture through your camera lens. Otherwise, if not, then yes, you would be correcting it in post processing. It is better if you can do the composing at the time you are taking the picture!