Composition Assignment

Assignment description:
The purpose of the composition assignment was to basically learn how to set up a good photograph. Composition is the makeup of a photo- where the point of interest is in the scene, what colors are used and how, and other visual effects that are used when taking a photo. Examples include the Rule of Thirds, which shows where the point of interest should be in the scene, depth of field, which is putting certain significant objects into focus while letting other things go out, and symmetry, a familiar term which means the two halves of the scene are pleasingly similar in appearance. We each had to take eleven pictures, each one being an example for an element of composition.


Photo descriptions:
Pattern = “hallway”
Texture = “close-up prickly plant”
Depth of field = “five-pointed plant seed pod”
Rule of Thirds = “landscape of tree and water”
Lines = “bottom of tree and reflection in water”
Symmetry = “table”
Space = “flag”
Color = “green plant among brown leaves”
Framing = “portrait of Andrea framed in branches”
Perspective = “stair railing”
Balance = “tree against sky”




What I learned:
Overall, I learned how to take a good-looking photograph! I have had limited experience with artistic photography; I’ve only taken pictures for fun, such as scenes from vacations or from outings or parties and whatnot. When I would look back through my pictures, they all just seemed to be ordinary, plain old pictures! None of them were particularly aesthetically pleasing, and I could never figure out why. This assignment has since provided me with many different tools that, when put together, can make for a much more interesting photograph. It has made me really excited to take more artistic and expressive photos everywhere I have my camera with me.