COMPOSITION IN PHOTOGRAPHY

LESSON OBJECTIVE

We will look at various photographers and their approach, and personal style of composing their photographs. We will explore their subjects, their props or background but mainly the environment in which they compose their photographs and how these photographers use their immediate environments as a backdrop for their work.

We will then do a practical session taking our own photographs using our immediate environment as a background for compositions.

First, I would like you to do a 5 minute brainstorm on COMPOSITION.

Draw a spider diagram in your books, and write at least five words on composition and what it means within photography.You could write about what is most important in terms of composition; focus, size, colour

Duane Micheals

Duane Micheals ‘A chance meeting’

Duane Micheals ‘Dreams Duane Micheals ‘Dreams’

Francesca Woodman

Francesca Woodman

Wallpaper Snake-like

Francesca Woodman

Quote on Woodman’s work

‘…Even though Woodman's nude self-portraiture is clearly about the female form, I cannot help but feel that the mental aspects of the overall composition transcend the rawness of the physical presentation. Woodman's portraits are often described as ghostly apparitions and perhaps it is this allusion to the spirit that ultimately dematerializes the body and immerses her work into the realm of psychology…’

Yang Fudong for Prada

Working in pairs, you will now use the school ground to take photographs which you will compose.

Use the artists work, which you have just viewed, as inspiration.

Think carefully about the following:

1. Background2. Focus (What is your main focus) and what is out of focus3. How the subject and background relate, or not as the case may be.Each group must produce a series of 6 photos, which we will view next lesson.