CompositionalElements
Introduction
A synergetic combination of compositional elements produces images that
communicate volumes without written words. Images that fail to elicit
appropriate responses usually lack some element of composition. Although
there are no absolute rules on composition, we can generalize regarding
psychophysiological reactions of perception to combinations of compositional
elements.
Compositional
The basic elements of good composition include the picture area, picture
elements
depth, line movement, value, proportion, balance, unity, and clarity.
Picture area or
The picture area or picture plane is the amount of surface available to hold an
picture plane
image. The picture area is also synonymous with image area, the area
enclosed by the edges of the paper or substrate surface.
The size of the
picture area influences the size of the objects you depict in the image.
You
can use size or relative size and location, as well as the overlapping of
objects in the picture area to emphasize or subdue importance.
Large objects
or objects placed in the foreground tend to become more important.
Similarly sized and placed objects become monotonous. Overlapping
emphasizes main objects while partially obscuring secondary objects.
Figure 1-2 shows three objects in three different compositions.
Figure 1-2.—Three objects in three
different compositions.
Continued on next page
1-5
