Introduction to Composition
Learn what composition is, a few general tips, and how I’m going to walk you through it in this course.
Prefer to watch this tutorial in video format? 😏
In this tutorial, I'm going to introduce you to the concept of composition.
The word composition comes from the Latin word “componere,” and it means "to put together or arrange." In basic terms, it’s how you use your camera to make an ordinary scene look beautiful. In more technical terms, it's how different elements of a scene are arranged using certain artistic principles.
Composition is a massive concept that simply can’t be covered in just one tutorial. Therefore, I’m going to break it all down for you over the course of the next 14 tutorials. Specifically, we’re going to cover the Seven Elements of Design and the Seven Principles of Art, and how you can use them to create original images.
You’ll see many tutorials online that say things like “use the rule of thirds,” or “look for shapes in nature,” or “use leading lines.” Sure, I’ll cover those concepts in this course, but I’m going to go far beyond that and give you the full skeletal structure for how to compose an image from scratch. That way, you’ll know all the ins and outs of how an image is created.
Let’s jump in!
This photo was taken while looking up in a mall in California. Using the various composition rules, I was able to create something that looks like it’s from a futuristic sci-fi flick.
The Seven Elements of Design
We’ll start with the Elements of Design. These are essentially the puzzle pieces of your image. These are the subjects, foregrounds, backgrounds, and different components that make up a photo. These seven elements are:
Line - A single dimensional object that stretches between two points.
Shape - A two dimensional area that is made up of one of more lines.
Form - A three dimensional area that adds depth to the equation.
Color - Different wave lengths formed from hue, value, and saturation.
Texture - The implication of touch in an image.
Value - The brightness (or luminosity) of an image.
Space - The positive and negative potions of an image.
This photo was taken at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco, California. It utilizes the element of negative Space to highlight the ferns in the image.
The Seven Principles of Art
Following the Elements of Design, we're going to cover the Principles of Art. If the Elements of Design are the pieces of the puzzle, the principles of art are how you put the puzzle together. These principles are:
Balance - The distribution of visual weight in an image.
Contrast - Defines how opposite elements are arranged together.
Pattern - How one or more elements are repeated in an image.
Movement - Demonstrates how elements move in a scene.
Proportion - Determines how different sized elements are arranged.
Variety - Which various elements mix together in an image.
Harmony - The skillful combination of different elements in a scene.
This photo was taken at Cenote Ik Kil in Mexico. It use the principle of Contrast twice. First to highlight the leaves from the darkness, and secondly to differentiate the orange leaf from the green ones.
A Few Starting Tips
Before we jump into those 14 concepts, I want to share a few helpful tips to keep in mind while you're searching for a composition. Think of these as the foundation of composition.
1. Start With One Element and One Principle
14 concepts might sound overwhelming, especially if you're just getting into photography. So my recommendation is: start with just one element and one principle, and see how you can combine them.
For example, look for a line, then see how it can demonstrate movement. As you become more advanced, you'll get better at pairing elements and principles together, and eventually, you’ll be able to stack multiple concepts. That’s when your images really begin to stand out.
The neat thing is that subconsciously, people will recognize these elements and principles even if they can't name them. They’ve permeated our society for thousands of years, and exist in every art form known to man. By constructing compositions using this framework, you’ll be creating visuals that resonate with viewers on a deep level.
This photo was taken at White Sands National Park in New Mexico. It utilizes the element of Line and the principle of Movement.
2. Shoot With a Singular Focal Length
When you’re starting to learn composition, it can be helpful to shoot with one focal length. This simplifies your photography experience, and helps you get solid with a specific type of shot.
For instance, decide: “Today, I’m only going to shoot at 35mm.” Even if you have a zoom lens, lock it at 35mm and don’t change it. This forces you to work within a single perspective and learn its quirks. Once you’ve done this with several focal lengths, you’ll be more confident in determining which focal lengths work for what types of shots.
The goal initially is to reduce the amount of thinking you have to do in the field. This course is packed with information, so starting small and stacking your skills over time is the path to success.
3. Scout Compositions Using Your Phone
You can also use your phone to look for compositions before committing with your camera. It’s a quick and easy way to test framing without the hassle of setting up a tripod.
Tripods can be a pain in that you have to adjust the legs, level it, get the ball head just right. Doing this all while scouting takes time. But if you use your phone to preview scenes, you can quickly see what looks good and decide whether it’s worth setting up your gear for.
This photo was taken at Grutas Tolantanga in Mexico. With waterfalls I will often pre-compose shots on my phone to see if it’s worth the trouble of setting up the tripod and ND filter.
4. Be Flexible with your Composition
One last tip before we dive into the 14 concepts: timing.
It’s often a big debate in the landscape photography community about whether to stick with one composition or move around to find better ones. For example, say you show up an hour before sunset and find a great composition. Should you stay there and wait, or keep searching?
My answer: it depends on how much you like to gamble.
If you stick to that one composition, you're betting that the light is going to hit it perfectly. But the weather can change fast- clouds might block the light, or subtly shift its direction. If that happens, you just wasted your time.
One way to mitigate this is to set up your tripod and lock in a composition. Then, detach your camera, scout around, and come back to the locked in tripod if needed. That way, if the light starts hitting your original scene perfectly, all you have to do is reattach the camera and start shooting.
The key takeaway is: be flexible. If the light’s hitting hard and you’re already set up well, maybe don’t move. But if you feel there might be something better just a few feet away, trust your intuition. Sometimes moving pays off. Sometimes it doesn’t. In the end, it comes down to what feels right in the moment.
This photo was taken at Punta Lobos in Mexico. I ultimately settled on this composition because I was betting the sunset was going to illuminate the saguaro.
Let’s Get Started
Alright! Now that we’ve gone through these basic tips, let’s go ahead and dive into the 14 concepts. I’ll begin with the Seven Elements of Design, and then we’ll move on to the Seven Principles of Art right after that.
