Elements of Composition #8

 The 8th element of composition is

Use of Negative Space (or "White Space")

open space brings the eye to where you want it

This is a group of balloons we spotted in the sky...they were tied to some kind of a sign. Mysterious!

I know that this isn't the nicest photo to look at, but I was proud of the fly for holding still for me.

This element is pretty easy to understand. You can use blank or empty space in your photo to bring attention to the subject. I think this element would work well with a shallow depth of field. Sorry I didn't have a photo to demonstrate that... :S

One more post left...on Symmetry!

Elements of Composition #7

Today's element of composition is  

Lines

using horizontals, verticals or diagonals to emphasize your subject

Well, I don't have a perfect example to share with you today, but this photo will work with a bit of explaining. 

I was photographing this bridge. (Yes, that is a bridge, and I walked over it!) See those lovely lines that the boards make? If I had moved my camera up a bit and focused on the PEOPLE instead of the BRIDGE, the lines would have emphasized the people beautifully. The photo is still nice, the composition isn't quite right to call it a lines example.

Only 2 days of this series left...hang in there! Tomorrow is Use of White Space :)

Elements of Composition #6

 The sixth element of composition is....

Frame Your Subject!

It was a bit hard for me to find a photo for this...I didn't have one that was obviously framed, but I came up with these two that will work.

Here I am framing the sky at sunset with the roofs near me...

....and here I am framing a clump of flowers through the a hole in the railing of our deck. 

 It's fun when you find a subject that would work well with a frame... the problem is finding a frame!
Tomorrow's element of composition is Lines.... mysterious....;)
Happy November, by the way!

Elements of Composition #5

Depth of Field

use focus to draw the eye to your subject

I wrote a bit more about the technicalities of aperture & depth of field here if you would like to learn more about how to use it ;)

Next up: Frame Your Subject!

Elements of Composition #4

 Element number 4 is:

Patterns, repetition of lines or elements

 Sorry, clothespins aren't the most picturesque thing to photograph....it was hard to find subjects for this element! ;)

Tomorrow will be: Depth of Field