The accomplished digital photographer doesn’t start at the level of identification, however. He or she tries to disregard the details of the objects and subjects and instead looks for the basic geometric shapes that define the primary subject matter, peripheral or distant objects and the “open” space between them.
The Rule of Thirds is one of the first compositional concepts many digital photography beginners and hobbyists learn. As beginners, they focus all their attention on placing the primary subject or object in the rule-of-thirds’ positions. With a bit of practice and study of photos, the enthusiast can obtain a deeper compositional understanding and use the Rule of Thirds more effectively. Instead of focusing on the positioned object, find the basic geometric shape that may be formed to the right or left of it. A tree in the right third of an image is also the right side of a horizontal or vertical rectangle that encompasses the space to the left of the tree.
In landscape photography, one of the critical compositional techniques is to include a smaller object in the foreground to create a balance with the grand sweep of landscape across the background. This object may suggest a circle that leads the eye to the landscape scene. Similarly, it may be an arch of a wind-blown sapling or a curved arm of driftwood on the beach. Often, the strongest element is not the object itself, but how its form reveals the geometry of the open space to its right or left.
Use a wide-angle lens for a landscape image and straight lines in nature begin to curve, which is a more pleasing guide for the viewer’s eye than the reality of straight lines. In the same way, diagonal lines become all or part of the outline of a triangle. Often, a foreground diagonal is positioned lower left to middle right. Then a distant diagonal becomes another side of a triangle, since it is positioned middle right to upper left.
Squares of different sizes, in the foreground and background, can become repetitive shapes within a composition. Your challenge is to position your camera such that you can create a balance with a series of squares. One may dominant, while smaller squares accent or support it.
It’s equally important to develop a photographer’s eye to recognize lines, both parallel and converging. Many beginners and hobbyists struggle with these compositional elements because they are often much more subtle than basic geometric shapes. In addition, parallel and converging lines that can be used creatively are only revealed when you first position your camera creatively. Almost anywhere you point your camera will result in rectangles, squares, circles and triangles, but parallel and converging lines are likely to remain hidden until you’ve found the optimum location and angle for your composition.
Your photographer’s eye must also be developed to see three-dimensionally, with the spatial factor added to the compositional equation. You and your camera exist within the three-dimensional space of your image, not just the objects and scenes in front of you. Your spatial relationship to the elements you want to feature in your digital photos is critical. It takes practice and experimentation to determine the correct distance between you and a foreground object and its distance from the background.
An excellent exercise to help you recognize shapes and spatial relationships is to print a number of your photos or buy an issue of a photography publication. Study the images carefully and mark the basic geometric shapes and parallel and converging lines you find with different colored markers. Then, use these as practical guides when you are in the field with your camera.
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Photograph by Photography Talk member Den Deniz