AIMS

• THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPOSITION IN YOUR COURSEWORK

• HOW TO SELF ASSESS AND EVALUATE COMPOSITION IN YOUR OWN WORK
• HOW TO IMPROVE EXISTING ART WORK

OBJECTIVES
• DECONSTRUCT THE WORK OF PHOTOGRAPHERS TO SEE HOW
COMPOSITION HAS BEEN USED FOR EFFECTIVE
IMAGES/COMPOSITIONS
• USE OF CONSTRUCTION LINES TO ORGANISE AND CREATE
COMPOSITION
• REVIEW AND ASSESS EXAM DRAWINGS
• PRODUCE IMPROVED DRAWING EXAM
 READ THROUGH THE NEXT 3 SLIDES CAREFULLY:

The horizontal line. The least dynamic out of

all three lines. It is stable, secure.

The vertical line. Far less secure than the

horizontal line, and thus more dynamic.
Imagine a tree about to topple over, or a man
standing straight up.
The diagonal line. The most dynamic out of all
three lines. Imagine like the line just got
pushed over, and is about to fall down.
Eric Kim. Tokyo, 2012

Reciprocal diagonal: This means, you draw a

diagonal line and then draw a line that is
perpendicular to it and creates a 90 degree
angle
The Curved Line:
curves are some of the most
dynamic lines that exist - curves are
natural they are elegant, have
energy, movement, and force.
 HOW TO DECONSTRUCT COMPOSITION

TASK
• Draw THE MAIN construction lines over the photographs you have been
handed out (see the example - diagonals slide)
 Henri Cartier-Bresson /
Magnum Photos. ROMANIA.
Charles Sheeler
1975. In a train.

Arnold Newman
 © Rene Burri /
Magnum Photos.
BRAZIL. 1960. Rio
de Janeiro.
Richard Avedon Ministry of Health
TASK
• Trace the lines you have created in task 1 to create an abstract piece of work
comprising of shapes

• What can you say about the lines and shapes you have created? Which type of lines
predominate?
• How has the page been cut / divided up using line?
• Can you apply any rules or conclusions?
• How have the lines and shapes helped emphasize or enhanced the image and subject
matter?
 Charles Sheeler

Arnold Newman
 © Rene Burri /
Magnum Photos.
BRAZIL. 1960. Rio
de Janeiro.
Richard Avedon Ministry of Health
 APPLYING THE TECHNIQUES TO YOUR DRAWING:
Take your drawing - carry out the same tasks on your own drawing:
• use tracing paper to draw construction line composition
• Observe how lines cut up the page
• What shapes have been created and consider their arrangement

SELF ASSESSMENT:
• Does your composition include any of the line compositional devices you
have seen so far?
• In the light of what you have done so far how successful do you think you
have been in your exam composition?
• What would you change or do to improve your exam piece?

FOLLOWING THE LINKS BELOW TO EXTEND AND SEE ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES

http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2013/10/03/street-photography-compositio
n-lesson-1-triangles/

http://compositionstudy.com/
 http://compositionstudy.com/
http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2013/10/03/street-photography-compositio
n-lesson-1-triangles/

TASK

Take a camera / viewfinder and ensure you have 2 visual examples for each
one of those listed below:

• Vertical
• Horizontal
• Diagonal
• Reciprocal diagonal
• Positive negative space
• Rule of thirds

Print out or sketch the 2 examples you have for each above
 NOW TO WORK IN REVERSE!
Can you upgrade / improve your composition and
drawing?
Could you have done better?
Find a viewpoint / composition – use a camera or viewfinder - select 1 of those from
the previous task
• zoom in / out
• Move around
• Low or high positions?

Task
• Draw the main construction lines as you did over the photos earlier, cutting up the
page into shapes and lines.
• Rule of thirds?
• Get them in the right place / angle - Where do they meet each other and hit the
edge of the page?

Task
• LIGHTLY map out where the objects and NEGATIVE space shapes are positioned on
the lines
• CHECK PLACEMENTS – ANGLES AND PROPORTIONS - see following slides