Digital Photography and Imaging

WEEK 2 (05.09.2022)

Lim Rui Ying / 0358986
Digital Photography and Imaging / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media

LECTURES

Introduction to composition

This week, we have learned about the basic composition, the rule of thirds, the golden ratio, and the framing and cropping in composition. After learning about composition, we started to create several pre-compositions with the collage materials we have prepared.

1. Basic Composition

Focal point

A good composition should have a focal point that catches the viewer's eye and convey the main information to the viewers.

Fig. 1.1 Example of a focal point, artwork by the dose of design

Scale and hierarchy

Scale refers to the adjustment of the sizes of the elements in a particular composition. It also helps in arranging the elements in an order to create a hierarchy in the composition, which helps viewers to digest and understand the flow and the messages conveyed.

Fig. 1.2 Example of scale and hierarchy, Aging personalities, illustration by Eleni Debo

Balance the elements

Positioning the elements used is important to create a balanced 'weight' in a composition.

Fig. 1.3 Example of balance, digital collage by Max Guther

White space

Appropriate white space is essential in a composition that creates a balanced composition and avoids too many elements that make the composition too messy.

Fig. 1.4 Example of white space, a poster from the Pinterest site

2. Rule of Thirds

Rule of Thirds is a composition guideline that places a subject in the left or right third of an image, leaving the other two-thirds more open.

Fig. 1.5 Rule of Thirds grid from Free Icons PNG site

Fig. 1.6 Example of Rule of Thirds, image from Photutorial site

3. Golden Ratio

Golden Ratio is a mathematical ratio, it is commonly found in nature. It can be used as a guideline in design and it helps with pleasing and harmonious outcomes of that particular design work.

Fig. 1.7 Golden Ratio, image from Adobe Stock site

Fig. 1.8 Golden Ratio in nature, image from Treehugger site

Fig. 1.9 Example of Golden Ratio, image from IWA site

4. Composition [Framing and Cropping]

Framing and cropping are important in making compositions. We have to know what elements we need for our designs to create great compositions in the designs.

TUTORIAL

Mr Fauzi played the video of the process of him creating the physical collage as the tutorial for making the collage.

Video 1: Composition Studies video - Physical Collage by Mr Fauzi

PRACTICAL

PROJECT 1: Collage Design

Physical Collage

We were asked to come out with 3 pre-compositions either using the same or different collage materials. In week 3, we will choose one of the pre-compositions to be the final composition of the physical collage.

After the week 2 lecture, I have a better understanding of composition, so I re-composite my collage again. I have created 3 pre-compositions of collage design. I am using the same collage materials in pre-compositions #1 and #2, while the different collage materials are in pre-composition #3.

Fig. 2.1 Pre-composition #1, Week 2 (7/9/2022)

Fig. 2.2 Pre-composition #2, Week 2 (7/9/2022)

Fig. 2.3 Pre-composition #3, Week 2 (7/9/2022)

Final Composition - Project 1: Physical Collage

Mr Fauzi gave us feedback on our pre-compositions and chose the best composition for our final physical collage design. Mr Fauzi has chosen my pre-composition #3 as the final physical collage design.

Fig. 2.4 Final Physical Collage - PDF, Week 3 (12/9/2022)