Lessons 101

Today I learned about photographic compositions.

I come from a family of artists. All my life, I felt like I was the only outsider. I could not draw. I wrote like a child. I could not paint. I could not design furnitures, not even clothes. I have always wanted to be like my father, or even half of what he was. That’s why I decided to learn the things he knew. He did not have any formal training on his craft. But he studied about them himself, and he excelled in so many things.

So here’s what I learned:

1. The rule of thirds. I’ve already known about this, but it still feels good to know more than what I do.

2. Balance. A picture can have formal balance or informal balance. while formal balance looks ordely, informal balance is still preferred because it makes the picture dynamic.

3. Light. Every photographer must first learn how to work with light. Good lighting in a picture maximizes the effect and the mood of a photograph.

4. Point of view. This can add energy to the picture and create a presence or significance for the subject.

5. Lines. They can be physical or implied. Lines guide a viewer’s eye through the photograph. Lines can lead the viewer to the subject of the phot and give a sense of unity to a composition.

6. Motion. Cameras can create a sense of motion or latent energy, depending on what the photographer wants to do.

7. Selective focus. Although it’s hard to achieve, it really emphasizes the subject of the picture.

8. Contrast and variety. Contrasting and contradicting subjects cathc the viewer’s attention.

9. Shape. Rhytm and pattern. Texture. Space. Perspective. Scale.  These factors are necessary when you want to achieve a photo that stands out.

10. Framing. This draws the viewer’s attention to the subject.