Compelling Compositions: Do Photography Masters Follow Rules?

Become a better photographer with this science project from Science Buddies

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What helps make a good picture? Try this activity, and you'll find out how to take better photos yourself--in a snap!

Key conceptsVisual perceptionComposition

Introduction

You might wonder what makes some photos mesmerizing and gripping, whereas others look dull, empty or less appealing. It might be easier than you think to create those effective photographs. Some easy composition rules, such as the "rule of thirds" and the "golden mean" have been around for centuries. Do compelling photos follow these rules or does it take more than rules to create an impressive composition? Could applying these rules improve your photography? Do other art forms, such as drawing or painting, follow similar rules?

In this science activity you will browse through some famous works of photographic art and investigate how often these follow some basic rules of composition.

Background

A less famous but still practical rule of composition is referred to as golden mean. This rule puts more emphasis on the diagonal. To use this rule, mentally imagine a diagonal line drawn from one corner of the frame to the opposite corner and that two dots divide that diagonal line into three equal parts. Then connect these points to the remaining corners of the frame. Here again, you place the main elements along these lines or at the intersection of these lines (the dots).

Now that you know two main concepts for composition, you are ready to look at some published photos and investigate whether or not these follow some of the photography rules—and in what cases good photographs might stray from the rules.

Materials

• A photo book (Preferably use one that includes work by many different photographers using different styles; or if you would like to focus on a particular photographer, you can use a book of his or her collective work. You could also choose a particular theme, such as nature pictures or close-ups. If you cannot find a photo book, try magazine photos or a picture book, such as those by Mo Willems.)
• Two different-colored permanent markers
• Two transparency films or clear sheet protectors
• A ruler
• Paper and pen

Preparation

• Select a photo size that you would like to focus on. It should be smaller than the size of your transparencies and occur frequently in your book or in your selected photos.
• Use a permanent marker to draw the outline or frame of a photo with the selected size on the film.
• Draw two parallel, horizontal lines within your outline, such that they divide the frame in three equal horizontal strips. These lines will be used to test if the photo follows the horizontal rule of thirds.
• Add two equidistant, vertical lines to your outline, dividing the frame vertically in three equal strips. These vertical lines will be used to test if the photo follows the vertical rule of thirds.
• With a different-colored permanent marker, color the dots where the horizontal and vertical lines you just drew intersect. These dots will be used to test if the main elements are placed on one or more intersections of the vertical and horizontal thirds lines. This completes the template to test the rule of thirds.
• Now use a permanent marker to make a golden mean template on a different transparency film. First draw the outline or frame of a photo with the selected size on the film.
• Draw one diagonal line by connecting one corner of the outline with the opposite corner.
• Find the two points on the diagonal line that divide the diagonal line's length in three equal parts. Mark these points as dots with a different-colored permanent marker.
• Using the first color of permanent marker, connect the dots you just drew, each to the closest remaining corner of the frame. This completes the template to test the golden mean rule.
• Create a table in which to record your observations: Using a piece of paper, make a column for the following five categories: Horizontal Rule of Thirds; Vertical Rule of Thirds; Horizontal and Vertical Rule of Thirds; Golden Mean; No Rule.

Procedure

• Browse through the photo book. For each photo that is the size of your template frame, see if you can guess which rule it might follow. If so, the photo probably follows the rule of thirds. To see if the golden mean rule is used, look for a strong diagonal line.
• In the next steps you will classify each photo you analyze in one of the columns of your data table. Be sure to make clear references to your photos; you might want to come back to one of them later. A clear reference might include the page number in the book, the title, the date on which it was taken and the photographer.
• Lay the rule of thirds template over the photo. Note that it is enough if one strong horizontal or vertical third line is present to classify it as following the horizontal or vertical rule of thirds. If a main element in the photo is placed at an intersection of third lines, classify it as following both the horizontal and vertical rule of thirds. If you found that this picture follows a rule of thirds, note it in the appropriate column of your data table. Once a photo is classified, you can skip the next two steps and go to the next image.
• Lay the golden mean template over the photo. Do not forget you can flip this template to see if the diagonal matches in the other direction. If you found a match, note the photo down in the golden mean column of your data table. If you classified this photo, skip the next step and instantly go to the next one.
• If you conclude this photo did not follow one of the basic composition rules, classify it in the "No Rule" column of your data table.
• Look at more photographs, analyzing and classifying them as you go. Collect as much data as possible. More data will give you a more accurate idea of whether or not published photos follow one or more of the basic composition rules.
• Once you feel you have gathered enough data, count the number of photos listed in each column of your table and write the total at the end of the column.
• Add up the totals for all four columns, indicating a basic composition rule was followed. Maybe your data indicates that photos are creations of art that do not follow any rule.
• Extra: Make a bar graph or pie chart showing the total number of photos you classified as following a rule versus the number not following a rule. You can also make a bar graph or pie chart of the number of pictures that follow each different type of composition rule.
• Extra: Use a camera and try some of these rules for yourself. Do you think using one of these rules will change the way your photographs look? You can also use a photo-editing program and reframe your photos digitally using the crop function.
• Extra: This activity focuses on the main elements in the photos. Photographers can use different compositions for the background, the foreground and the subject of the picture. Can you find these composition rules applied to different subsections of some images?
• Extra: Study whether or not these rules are more often followed in particular styles of photos.
• Extra: The rule of thirds and the golden mean are well known in photography. Do you think other art forms use these rules to create balanced and pleasing compositions? Find out by browsing through some Web sites, picture books, paintings or drawings. You can even look at sculptures, architecture or objects in nature.

Observations and results

Proportion is an important element in composition, and an excellent tool to help create balanced, appealing photos. But it is not the only one; shape, texture and color are just a few other elements to consider. Knowing this, you can see that the rule of thirds and golden mean, although handy guidelines, are not unbreakable rules. It is always up to the photographer to decide what works for a particular case.

You might have noticed that these basic composition rules work very well in some types of photos, such as action shot and landscapes. These rules often do not work as well in other areas. Close-ups or photos where symmetry is important often work better with the subject placed in the center and often don't follow the same composition rules.

More advanced photographers might use a composition rule based on the golden ratio to lead the eye and create visually pleasing compositions. The golden ratio and golden spiral can be seen in many art forms, and even in nature—like the whorls of a shell. Search further and see if you can find the golden ratio in famous pictures or in other art forms.

More to exploreThe Golden Rules of Photography, from Science BuddiesVisual Design Theory and the Web, from Utah Valley UniversityGolden Section and Photography, from Photo Composition Articles

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