Year 7 Media Arts · Making Media — Produce and Present · 8m read

Photography and Composition

Phones make everyone a photographer — but composition makes photos powerful.

Learning objective: Use composition techniques to create strong photographs.

By the end of this lesson you can:

• I can apply the rule of thirds.
• I can use leading lines and framing.
• I can control lighting.

A photographer is a painter with light. Photography literally means "drawing with light". Instead of brushes, photographers use framing, angles and light to compose a picture.

Making great images

COMPOSITION:
• RULE OF THIRDS — place subjects on grid lines.
• LEADING LINES — lines guide the eye.
• FRAMING — use doorways, branches.
• SYMMETRY and PATTERN.
• NEGATIVE SPACE.

LIGHT:
• Natural light, golden hour, backlighting, shadows.

EDITING:
• Crop, adjust exposure, contrast, colour.

| Composition technique | Effect |
|---|---|
| Rule of thirds | Balanced, interesting |
| Leading lines | Guide the eye to the subject |
| Framing | Natural frames (doorways, branches) focus attention |
| Symmetry | Calm, formal |
| Negative space | Isolation, simplicity |
| Depth of field | Blurred background isolates subject |

Key ideas at a glance

• Light is everything: Golden hour is soft and warm.
• Get closer: Fill the frame.
• Change perspective: Crouch, climb.
• Check the background: Avoid distractions.

Worked example (Easy)

How can you make a portrait more interesting using the rule of thirds?

1. Placement. Place the eyes on the top third line, subject off-centre.

Answer: Position the subject on the thirds grid instead of dead centre.

Worked example (Medium)

Photograph a friend to show loneliness.

1. Negative space. Friend small in a big empty frame.
2. Light. Overcast, muted.
3. Angle. High angle looking down.
4. Placement. On a third line, facing out of frame.

Answer: Negative space, muted light and high angle convey loneliness.

Common mistakes

• Always centring subjects Can look static. Fix: Try the rule of thirds.
• Subject always dead centre Static images. Fix: Use the rule of thirds.

Golden hour and blue hour

Photographers love golden hour — shortly after sunrise and before sunset — when light is soft, warm and casts long shadows.

Blue hour, just before sunrise or after sunset, gives cool, moody tones. Harsh midday sun creates strong shadows and squinting subjects.

Practice questions

1. Lines that guide the viewer's eye are:

   1. Leading lines
   2. Gridlines
   3. Captions
   4. Borders

   (1 marks)

2. What is golden hour?

   (2 marks)

3. Leading lines:

   1. Distract the viewer
   2. Guide the eye towards the subject
   3. Are always vertical
   4. Blur the image

   (1 marks)

4. Golden hour light is:

   1. Harsh and blue
   2. Soft and warm
   3. Pure white
   4. Dark

   (1 marks)

5. Explain how negative space creates meaning.

   (2 marks)

Summary

• Rule of thirds, leading lines, framing.
• Use light well.
• Edit thoughtfully.
• Compose with light, lines and space.