Composition

The word composition means combining or putting

together parts to form a whole.
Composition can apply to many works of human
endeavor including music and writing – in fact
anything that is arranged or ‘put together’ using
conscious thought.
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In this presentation we are going to look at some of the most
important ‘rules’ or conventions of composition:

Rule of Thirds
Rule of Even & Odd
Triangles
Space
Simplification
Symmetry
Pattern & Repetition

Learning ‘rules’ about art can seem stifling or constricting – if all

artists just follow a set of rules then their art would look very similar
and become very boring.
Many original artists manage to break or ‘bend’ these rules or
conventions, but to do so successfully they first had to fully
understand the rules and conventions.

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 Rule of Thirds

Chris Monaghan

Divide the image into thirds as shown – If the main visual components
(things in the image) lie on or near the lines then the image often tends to
look ‘right’. In this image the horizon line is on one of the bisectors.
[Remember, rules are there to be broken - once you understand and can
follow them!] 3
 Chris Monaghan

Which image do you prefer?

Which image more closely follows the rule of thirds?

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 Gary Winogrand

Sometimes an image does not follow the rule of thirds exactly,

but the main visual components (‘things’) in the image are
close to the 1/3rd bisectors.
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 Fay Godwin
Landscape photography often uses the rule of thirds – how?
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 Fay Godwin
Landscape photography often has the horizon line on or near
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one of the two horizontal lines
 The Rule Of Even And Odd

An even number of ‘things’

in an image can sometimes
create a feeling of tension
or a slightly un-natural look.

Norman Parkinson

… while an odd number of ‘things’ can

often create a feeling of harmony or
balance
Dianne Arbus
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An odd number of subjects in an image often has a more ‘natural’,
symmetrical or balanced feel than an even number.
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 Henri Cartier Bresson
In many artworks 3 subjects or ‘things’ in an image (an odd
number) can draw attention to the central subject.

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 Rule of
Triangles
Triangles have 3 sides and
tend to form stable, solid
looking compositions.

Can you spot any

triangles?

Arnold Newman

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 Rule of Triangles

Triangles have 3 sides

and tend to form stable,
solid looking compositions.

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 Victorian Family Portraits

Can you spot any triangles?

Why were triangular compositions
often used for family portraits?

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 Victorian Family Portraits

Think about what the triangle connotes

….
…….stability & solidity

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 Rule of space

Nadar
Which composition is more dynamic?
Which composition is more ‘restful’, allowing the subject to ‘look dreamily
into space’?
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 Rule of space

Nadar
The empty space in the right-hand image creates a more contemplative or
thoughtful feel to it.

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Space can also help create an impression of movement
In this image there is not much unfilled space

Swimmers diving into the water

(shot from beneath the water, looking upwards).

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The swimmers now appear to be moving into the empty
space ahead of them, helping to create an impression
or feeling of movement.

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 Simplification

How does
Rembrandt draw our
attention into the
face?

Rembrandt, Self Portrait. 21

Simplification
ANSWER:
1. Lighting - the face
has more light on it
than other areas.
2. The brush-strokes
are finer and more
detailed in the facial
area but become
broader and less
detailed for other
areas.
3. Vignette – the
painting becomes
darker towards the
edges.
4. Use of colour – dark
‘drab’ colours except
for the face.

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 Chris Monaghan

What technique has the photographer used to simplify this image?

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Is this picture ‘simplified’ ? If not, why not … and so what might the
photographer Joel Meyerowitz be saying about life in the modern city? 24
 Symmetry

Chris Monaghan

In this photograph the building seems to be ‘balanced’ by

the white cloud. The line of symmetry runs from the
bottom left to top right corner.
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 Symmetry & Repetition

Chris Monaghan
Line of symmetry

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 Where is the line of
symmetry in this image?

Norman Parkinson
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 Note: unlike in mathematics
where perfect symmetry can
be found, in art symmetry is
often an approximation.

Norman Parkinson
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 Does this image exhibit
any symmetry?

When something has no

symmetry we say that it
is asymmetrical

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Chris Monaghan
 David Seymour (Chim)

How does being asymmetrical (not symmetrical) help or add

to the viewing experience and meaning of this image?
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Answer: War is chaotic & random – death can come at any
moment and does not follow beautiful aesthetic rules of
composition. By being asymmetrical the image manages to
convey this. 31
Repetition & Pattern

Jackson Pollock

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 Paul Strand

When something is repeated, it

can create a visual pattern.

Edward Weston
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 Andreas Gursky Paul Strand

Pattern can be used to suggest texture, or can produce an abstract

visual experience.
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 Summary
Rule of Thirds
Rule of Even & Odd
Triangles
Space
Simplification
Symmetry
Pattern & Repetition

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