Composition 3: Leading lines and frames

Leadining Lines are lines within an image that draw the sight of a viewer in a particular direction, often straight but not always.

                     

Frames - just what it says on the tin - elements of the image that form a frame of part or all of the image.

                      

Composition 2: The Fibonacci Ratio

Having looked at the "Rule of Thirds" as an aid to composition I now aim to take this further.

Leonardo Fibonacci was an Italian mathematician that lived c.1200.  He was responsible for introducing the Fibonacci sequence - lots of maths behind this.  (If you really want to look at the maths try this - Maths re Fibonacci and nature )  This looked at sequences and patterns that occur in nature.  When developed as a ratio it can be shown graphically as a pattern of squares or a spiral.

Naturally occurring pattern

It has been recognised that images that conform to this pattern are pleasing to the eye.  This may also contribute to other names that are given to it; "The Golden Ratio" and "Divine Proportion".  It does not mean that everything has to have a spiral within it  just that an image is more likely to be pleasing if elements sit within the pattern of boxes or spiral.  As well as paintings it is also found in architecture such as the Parthenon.

It has been developed into a ratio - 1:1.618 that is commonly used by artists etc.  This ratio maked it easier to use for compostion as it can itself be represened as a grid.

It is similar to the "Rule of Thirds" but the grid is not evenly spaced across the area.  As with the previous rule the composition will appear pleasing if the lines and intersections are used as focal points.  The "Rule of Thirds" probably derives from this as a quick and easy method for composition.

The Olympus Pen that I use can be set up to overlay this grid over the screen to aid composition while preparing to take a photograph.  Lightroom 3 also has the option to use this as an overlay to aid post-production cropping of images.

Composition: Rule of Thirds

It's always nice to start with a definition, so I found one from an on-line dictionary:
composition
n.

1.

a. The combining of distinct parts or elements to form a whole.

b. The manner in which such parts are combined or related.

c. General makeup.

d. The result or product of composing; a mixture or compound.

2. Arrangement of artistic parts so as to form a unified whole.

3.

a. The art or act of composing a musical or literary work.

b. A work of music, literature, or art, or its structure or organization.

So really for this blog I am looking at 2 - "Arrangement of artistic parts so as to form a unified whole" and hopefully one where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

The "Rule of Thirds" is one tool that can assist with arranging compositional elements of an image to develop balance.  This is not about equal weighting to each side of an image but rather a balance that can help an image appear pleasing to the eye.  It goes back before photography, with many examples being found in art for many centuaries.

Thirds, unsurprisingly, comes from dividing the image into three.  This is done both horizontally and virtically to develop a grid pattern.  Now for the rule. Use the lines and intersecions to place your subject or points of interest. 

With landscapes aim to place the horizon on one of the horizonal third lines dependant upon whether the sky or land is the main subject.

Aim to place specific elements/objects at the intersections, helping the balance of the image.  This will aid anyone looking at the image as their view moves around the picture.

However, rules are made to be broken.  As a general guide the rule of thirds is really useful and is a great aid to composition.  It will depend upon what you are tyring to achieve with the image - sometimes it just works to put the subject in the middle of the image, or anywhere else for that matter.  So more of a guide than a rule.