Restrictions of using 1:1 aspect ratio and composing image to crop.

Compositional techniques and restrictions when shooting in a square:

Starting first with the basic properties of a square:

. A very stable shape, symmetrical and clear.

. Takes away dilemma of choosing between portrait and landscape.

. While placing subject in middle, with composition it only works well in square format

. Allows creativity

Things to look at when using composition:

. A frame within a frame

. Circles

. Side shot

. Rule of thirds

. Diagonals

. Rule of three

. Full landscape shots are often the hardest to achieve when restricted to a square

Examples of some of these techniques being used:

Some of my own pictures using these composition techniques:

1.)

This photo has suitable composition due to the two deer statues being evenly spaced out and creating a shape in between. There is the subject of the flowers first, then the subject of the deers and then the subject of the tree plants behind which can be considered rule of thirds. It’s satisfying to the eye due to the way things have been positioned, and the way the different colours contrast well together.

2.)

The bridge structure has many different framing points along the top which strike out as different shapes imprinted of the sunset behind. It also includes a leading line which is straight in the middle which also can be seen as rule of thirds. There is diagonal lines placed with the structure of the bridge.

3.)

This shot includes circles of the lamp and is framed by the banister beneath and the ceiling on top, lines and reflections are presented by the lamps on the ceiling which creates a surrealistic effect and and our eyes are drawn to the two lamps and then the reflection. The composition within this shot is somewhat good but could of been better improved by using rule of thirds properly and searching for diagonal lines and more shapes.

4)

I believe this can be seen as a frame within a frame. Although this shot isn’t the best in terms of lighting and not many subjects within, it is a suitable example of the “frame within a frame” technique, as Callum is placed in the middle of the doorway which does have another small doorway behind.

5)

The shapes formed upon the door, are placed in a way that the next rectangle gets lower and lower. It’s a good example to show how each shape when being put lower beneath one another, can lead our eyes to each and every single shape within the image. However, definitely could’ve been improved by using ‘rule of thirds’ better and making the image more straight so that you can see the whole of the last rectangle and leaving space underneath the shapes.

6)

I am drawn to how this one is framed, because due to the two ceiling windows together it looks like it’s two mirrors placed together and reflecting upon one another alongside the diagonal lines on the side of them and the lines along the top which lights them the first ceiling window closet more. The shot seems quite abstract and dark.

7)

Although this is a plain example of using composition within the image, it does still contain the circle which is lit up green and stands bright and strong compared to the darkened figure against the pitch black night sky. It draws in all attention and focus to the circle.

8)

Here the technique frame within a frame has been used, as the gate is framed by the wall and then the gate is framing the vehicles that is parked up behind the gate. It leads you onto each subject to notice. I wouldn’t say this is a very successful image of composition as I could’ve got more of the main wall in to frame the gate properly.

9)

I decided to take a shot of the keyboard in class, because it shows the constant repetition of squares next to each other. However; would of been better to take the shot going down from the side and including the whole keyboard in the shot leaving no negative space, so that the picture is full of nothing except the repetition of the same sized squares, which will give an effect on the viewer to be drawn to all the squares before them.

10)

So this is the last shot, I am including for experimenting with composition techniques. I created a circle shape with my hand, so that it’s a circle within a circle (Callum’s eye being the second circle) because of using this technique, it’s able to lead the viewer straight into the eye and nothing else, which allows them to focus on what I would first like them to notice as the photographer, so I am quite pleased with how this shot turned out due to those reasons.