srt101fan

Composition is mentioned quite often in UHH topics. Usually it refers to the arrangement of the main visual elements within the image. But is the word frequently misused?

Many posters, when discussing a photo, will mention sharpness, contrast, color, etc. Composition gets highlighted, often with the implication that it is the most important element of a good photo. Usually absent in these discussions is photographic content.

Do some folks confuse "composition" with "content"?

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Composition is how the content is arranged.

Content = subject + supporting (surroundings, background).

srt101fan

True! So we have two separate photo elements, content and composition. Do some people talk about composition when they really mean content?

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Hmm, you might have to ask them. Or, provide an example? I'm always happy to give my opinion, whether I know what I'm talking about or not 😊

Richard1947 Loc: Knoxville, TN

It’s a good issue for discussion. Thanks for bringing it up! I’m gonna pass on offering my opinion for the time being.

yorkiebyte Loc: Scottsdale, AZ/Bandon by the Sea, OR

Awesome question!! From "Study.com": For the arts, whether visual or musical, composition refers to the arrangement of elements used. In photography, it means paying attention to what will be photographed, how it is placed in relationship to other objects in the image, and how well the subject matter is expressed.

tramsey Loc: Texas

This has been discussed at length on the foruem. I took a look at 'SEARCH' and found some intresting reading at https://digital-photography-school.com/9-composition-techniques-to-use-to-improve-your-photography/

He talked about rules of thirds, leading lines, diagonals, fill the frame etc. It seemed a little contradictory to me when they listed 'leading center eye' and had the subject dead center in the photo; what happened to rules of thirds? Kind of an after thought. I wonder what Brian Peterson has to say about Composition?

But we all know the rules are made to be broken.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I could ask the opposite.
I find trains interesting - in fact, that is where I started - but do you?
Would you find a realistic picture of a station "uninteresting" regardless of how it was composed,
not being interested unless it was made artsy beyond what was actually there??

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

If it doesn't have a leading line, a Golden Spiral, and an odd number of objects, it's a composition failure ...

bleirer

I use composition to refer to the traditional elements: line, shape, form, color, texture, etc. and their placement and organization. I've read a lot of books and looked at a lot of art, but can't say I really 'get' the so called rules. Maybe somewhere in the back of my mind I'm developing and eye, but it is a slow go.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Content is one element of composition.

Suggest Bryan Peterson’s “Understanding Composition”.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

In that article, there are nine composition techniques shown. Rule of Thirds is just one. The one above center eye is "fill the frame" and there is the "symmetry" example also.

Some thoughtful conversation is found in the recent "Rule of Thirds" topic on UHH. I like the proposition that one must learn how, when and why to use the so-called "rules" in order to effectively break them. Doing something contrary to proven successful techniques without knowing why rarely results in success

Bill_de Loc: US

From B&H:

"Composition noun com·po·si·tion \ˌkäm-pə-ˈzi-shən\ : the way in which something is put together or arranged : the combination of parts or elements that make up something"

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/tips-and-solutions/11-thoughts-introduction-photographic-composition

Way back when I took photography classes in college a word that was commonly used was 'juxtaposition'.

https://expertphotography.com/27-juxtaposition-examples/


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TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Take a look at this thread just posted: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-636011-1.html

repleo Loc: Boston

My favorite book on the subject is Michael Freeman's 'The Photographers Eye: A Graphic Guide. In very simple terms, Freeman lists three essential and interconnected sets of skills for successful photography - Technical, Visual and Conceptual. To paraphrase Freeman a bit:

'Conceptual' is about what you want the photograph to say. What is the subject, the story, the emotion, the mood you are trying to convey, eg excitement, tranquility, awe, romance or a simple record of an event.

'Visual' is about how the elements of the image are arranged to express the concept. In other words how the elements are composed. It can include framing, format, balance, color, light/shade, leading lines, proportion, perspective, placement of the main subject etc etc. The 'Rule of Thirds' is probably the best known example of these techniques, but Freeman's book is full of others. Freeman's book includes wonderful simplified 'cartoons' or graphics to illustrate how these devices work in his photos.

'Technical' is about the camera and how it is handled. It can cover topics such as focus, exposure, aperture, focal length, ISO etc. The well rounded photographer may use these controls or equipment choices to create or eliminate depth of field, motion blur, bokeh, vignette, starbursts etc etc and incorporate them as elements of the 'visual' to express or reinforce the 'conceptual'. Sharpness, contrast, color temperture etc fall under 'technical'. These topics are discussed most here on UHH because they are qualities that are easily understood and measurable and directly related to 'gear'. (Let's face it - many of us are gearhead 'camerographers' to some extent.)

I have often suggested that beginners start with exploring the principles of composition ie the Visual before getting bogged down in Technicals like the 'exposure triangle'. Every modern photo device does an excellent job of exposure, focus etc on Auto. The exposure triangle can wait until the beginner develops a sense of the Visual and wants to expand their vocabulary.

I think 'content' is the final image. How was the technical used to create the visual that tells the story - assuming the photographer actually conceived a story to tell. Too often we don't.