Composition in Digital Photography

Composition in Digital Photography has several advantages over Composition in Photography as we pointed out in other related article, in fact a part of this article on Composition in Digital Photography, that is widely known as Rule of Thirds in Digital Photography. You only can break the rules if you have already mastered the rules, because behind Photography there are big part of sciences like Optics, making gross human interpretation of human brain deceived (you are representing a 3D world in 2D image), as well as the artistic parts. Knowing Composition in Digital Photography helps to take the shortcuts of well known and established scientific logics.

Composition in Digital Photography : Difference with Traditional Film Photography Composition

As pointed out in the linked article in first paragraph, in Digital photography we can see the bigger image as preview as live preview, we can use on screen grid overlay of Digital Camera to reinforce Rule of Thirds, we can take multiple shots with a digital camera which costs nothing, most importantly, we can do a huge post processing in Adobe Photoshop CSx Extended like advanced image editing software to crop, reinforce rule of thirds, add blur realistic effects, add or enhance Bokeh effects and many more. The darkroom is in your computer now and as we stated before, more the younger the generation will use Digital Camera seriously for mere 2-3 years, they can create excellent Composition in Digital Photography – simply browse deviantArt to check yourself. The reason is – a Digital Camera is a micro computer with Lens and optical parts. They will and is mastering the techniques more easily as by just handling a Digital Camera’s documentation, they will understand and remember the functions of the buttons. It is an undeniable truth – I have not handled an Android mobile phone when I was 5 years old. A 5 years old child today can use the basic functions of an advanced mobile phone – he/she is technically illiterate. Digital Camera has broken the buzz word – Professional Photographer. Excellent photographs are coming out from advanced users’ cameras.

Composition in Digital Photography

So you know the digital camera’s function very well, may be more fast to use the functions than a 70 years old professional photographer with the same model, but if you know the basics – Composition in Digital Photography, which is Composition in Photography in broad sense, you will beat any one with your sense of creativity.

The factors that plays role in Composition in Digital Photography are:

• Space on the image used for illustration
• The perspective , the spatial arrangement of the objects in the image, depth of field , and all the methods that give the impression of depth on a two-dimensional image
• Line or direction followed by the eyes when viewing the image
• Play with light or dark tones avoiding artifacts
• Properly mastering Adobe Photoshop

Composition in Digital Photography consists of all the decisions taken by the photographer at the time of the shot, regarding the choice of subject to be represented and its relationship with the surrounding environment. Other solutions may be practical, the choice of the location from which the image is captured or technical optical parts such as the time of exposure or focus. Usually the practical choices have a greater impact on the composition of the image while the result from the qualitative point of view. The photographer today needs to understand the unmodifiable factors in Adobe Photoshop on post processing (you can not make a blurred, out of focus image looking the right) and which are modifiable. Here are some basic rules :

Rule of Thirds : Already discussed and linked above.

Simplified view : To make images more readable, limit distractions for the eye by simplifying the environment. You can not take a dog’s portrait with a heap of mobile phones in the same focal plane. Unless there is definite intention,those heaps of mobile phones will create a distraction – human brain will try to think about the brands, makes etc. instead of the dog. It is good, if you want to use it for advertisement of a mobile security application.

Field of vision : If you take a bird’s photo with a 35 mm lens from 15 feet distance, it will some what like an odd landscape. The unwanted tree, the grass or ground in front will distract.

Depth of field and Bokeh : Depth of Field and Bokeh acts as dual sided good sword – it simplifies the image and gives a fake three dimensional feel to the brain.

Symmetry : It is rule of odd, an odd number of objects gives a more dynamic feel an even number. One person, three person looks more dynamic than that of two in a portrait. It is not always possible to reinforce it plus after number of Eight, human brain thinks as a bunch, flock etc.

Point of view : This is a thing that you need to learn from observing the good looking photographs.

Lines  of Flow : Straight line should cut at an angle – like the edge of a way or path over a grassy field or take a S shape.

Movement and looks : Motion blur adds a dynamic effect. A person as if moving the face towards the camera with some motion blur makes the person looking lively. They needs very good photoshoping.

Colors : Temperature of color, black and white, play of light and shadow creates beautiful effects.