Composition:

Composition in art refers to the arrangement of elements in a framework. Generally speaking you want to follow certain rules and employ various techniques to create something functional and appealing within a space. This is the overall appearance of the work and should be the first thing considered (after the concept of course).

Bad Composition

Framing:

Cropping is usually the first decision you make when capturing or editing and image that affects your composition. You could also argue this has the largest affect on the composition.

• When taking images, actively think about the frame abstractly. This is the job of the photographer.
• Avoid tangents. You don’t want shapes or lines touching the border. Leave a gap or cut them off.
• Use the rule of thirds, golden spiral, grids, etc. to help you choose how to crop.

Space:

Space is the final frontier (any trekkies?). Space in art represents the area that the elements of the piece take up (and do not). It is a good idea to look at your work abstractly by the negative and positive space it embodies.

• Most compositions will benefit from the rule of odds. This means not allowing any positive or negative space be equal.
• Avoid alignments. You don’t want your components to line up.
• Incorporate overalapping shapes. This implies depth in the image. A common technique is to include a foreground, midground, and background in a work of art.

Focus:

This is not just making sure that elements are sharp in camera (although that is one way of achieving focus). This is about highlighting points of interest in the image.

• Use the elements of art and principles of design to emphasize what you want the viewer to see (and in what order). We will cover these in a later class but if you know them, use them.
• Utilized linear and aerial perspective. You can have the perspective “pointing” towards the main subject. You can have elements meant to recede but less saturated and blurry.
• Strive for clarity. Which means you may need to clean up items or remove them altogether. Examples would be cleaning up stray hairs, wires, foliage, etc. or removing trees, people, trash, etc.

Lines:

Composition lines are the explicit visible lines you are familiar with, but also implicit lines that are merely hinted at through perspective, eye lines, shapes, etc. All these are used to help move the viewers eyes through the page. When used with movement and rythm these become even more powerful tools.

• When capturing an image be mindful of the implicit compositional lines.
• Rearrange elements when necessary to help push movement in your image.

Common Commands:

cmd/ctrl + z:

Undo/Redo

cmd/ctrl + alt + z:

Step backwards (undo)

cmd/ctrl + shift + z:

Step forwards (redo)

cmd/ctrl + c:

Copy

cmd/ctrl + v:

Paste

cmd/ctrl + t:

Free transform (move, rotate, scale)

cmd/ctrl + j:

Duplicate layer

cmd/ctrl + d:

Clear selection

cmd/ctrl + +:

Zoom in

cmd/ctrl + -:

Zoom out

cmd/ctrl + s:

Save

Tools:

v:

Selection tool

m:

Marquee select tool

l:

Lasso select tool

w:

Magic wand/smart select tool

c:

crop

i:

Eyedropper tool

j:

Healing brush tool

b:

Brush tool

s:

Clone stamp tool

y:

History brush tool

e:

Eraser tool

g:

Fill tool

o:

dodge/burn/sponge tool

p:

Pen tool

t:

Text tool

a:

Direct selection tool

u:

Rectangle tool

spacebar:

Hand tool (panning)

z:

Zoom tool

q:

Quick mask mode

Content Adjustment:

It is beneficial to take your own photos for a project. However, there are many times when this is not the case and instead you have to work with what you are given or able to find. Often these images may have issues such as damage, undesired content, or poor compositions. In this assignment you will either repair a damaged/old photo or make significant adjustments to a photo with content/composition issues. If you choose to repair a photo make sure it has a decent amount of issues such as tears, scratches, spots, etc. This is an excellent opportunity to revitalize an old family photo as a gift to a parent or grandparent. If you choose to adjust an image be sure that there are major elements to be fixed such as removing people, trash, telephone poles, etc. Vacation photos work well for this since there are usually other tourist or elements you want to remove. Be sure to make general adjustments to the image such as contrast and color correction.

Your image should be 6 by 9 inches with 300 ppi. You should have multiple layers but one should be labeled “original” so that I may see what the original image looked like. Once completed name your file “yourLastName_assignment03.psd” and submit here. 

All assignments will also include the project cover sheet. You can grab it here. Just answer the questions in the document.