Course info

Composition affects both the visual impact and message of an image or photograph. The spatial relationships within an image and what a photographer includes or omits from the frame influence how work is interpreted and received. In this course, students examine the various aspects of composition. Through lectures, assignments, self-directed projects and critiques, student explore photographic representations of line, shape, colour, texture, depth, and surface. This course does not include darkroom or computer lab access.

SECTION SUMMARY
Composition refers to the artistic way various elements in a scene are arranged within the frame to create a final image. There are no fixed rules in photography, but there are guidelines which can help enhance the impact of a photographic image. How an image is composed, is a vital part of creating a visual story. This course will take a close look at the who, what, where, when, why and how of photographic composition.

Each week we will explore a new guideline of composition through in-class and out of class assignments. We will have a weekly Critique of the previous week’s assignment with the goal of assembling a final portfolio. Through sharing and discussion we can learn from our fellow peers. And through the exploration of photographic composition we can discover the different aspects to creating a desired composition with meaning.