Before you think about the role of composition, think about the role of grammar in writing an article. It provides a structure for expressing yourself but in itself does nothing to make the article worthy of reading. Nobody remembers a story because it was written with perfect grammar.
Composition is just that, in the context of photography. Composition is very important, but a well composed picture is not necessarily interesting.
Composition does not come to us naturally. We have to learn, observe and practice to the point it feels nothing but natural.
The first task of composition is to know how to choose between horizontal and vertical framing.
Horizontal frame convey a sense of stability, open space, serenity.
Vertical frame convey a sense of rigidity, edginess and tension.
In either case:
- Wasted space is not acceptable. Any space around the main subject must contribute to the frame. It is same as making every word count in writing.
- At the same time, you want to have the space needed for the eye to wander a bit and then back to the point of interest. Negative space has a role too.
- You want to tell a single story. Include only what is needed in the frame that helps to tell the story.
Just for fun, use your imagination to figure out what kind of framing would be best for:
- A winding path leading to a farmhouse at the top of rolling grassy meadow.
- An old man walking up a cobblestone alley with rickety houses on either side.
- A man playing a violin in a park to a gathering of passersby.
- A single rose in a vase kept on the sill of a beautiful arched window.
I would love to know your thoughts on what your choice for framing would be and why.
To help you get started, here are 2 pictures from the same scene. Which framing works for you and why?
