Visual Composition

     Composition is essentially the arrangement of objects within both two dimensional and three dimensional scenes. When these rules of composition are used to help draw the viewer into a painting and when an artist has applied them effectively create a much more dynamic and visually interesting piece. While that sounds simple enough due to the number of combinations of compositional layouts and they’re, at times, contradictory manner make it quite a tricky skill to master.  

    Let’s then begin our more in depth look into composition by looking at the major techniques and how they can be applied to a photograph, sketch or painting. First up we have the rule of thirds which is perhaps the most common method used, at least it is personally. From the example below it doesn’t take much more explaining to get the idea a cross but as you can see the image is divided into a 3x3 grid. Where the lines meet are focal points and the idea is to have the focal point of what you want to create align with them. Simple enough.

Rule of Thirds

     In a similar vein as the previous rule we also have the cross, iconic and the L compositional styles which use line to divide the page into grids. The former is very simply a cross dividing the page into four with the horizontal line leading the viewers eyes with the horizontal acting as a stopper. The cross also has religious connotations something it shares with the iconic composition. For iconic the page is divided as you can see below with the focal placed near the centre and although it may not be directly in the centre of the page all lines should lead the eye towards it. As I just mentioned this composition has religious connotations but it is also used for heroic scenes or for subjects with symbolic meaning. The L or otherwise known as the rectangle is used to help emphasis a subject by creating a “frame” around it as you can see in the picture on the right.

  

Cross 

Iconic

L/Frame

 

      Two other methods are the circular, pyramidal and radii composition and as you can probably imagine from the name the circular technique uses circles (gold star to those who got it right!) to lead the eye towards the focal point focal point. For example you could create a circular tunnel to achieve this. Pyramidal is very similar to this but instead uses triangular forms instead. It also creates a stable and reliable feel to a painting. Radii is very similar to a vocal point and while it can be used with one another to help emphasis the perspective and depth (leading lines would also be very useful here), one does not require the other to be implemented.  

 

Circular

Triangular

Radii

     Other factors to take into account for composition are

            -Balance

             How elements appear in the frame together and how they're weighted effects  their importance. Depending on hot this is used pictures can be centre balanced, weighted to the right, or the left to name a few.

            -Line

             These are used to draw the eye through the scene or towards the subject and can be achieved trough a number of ways such as with existing or natural lines, such as a road or by creating them. 

            -Symmetry & Patterns

             When used they can create an eye catching composition or, when broken by other elements, a sense of tension.

            -Viewpoint

             The viewpoint as you imagine is incredibly important towards the composition of a picture. Depending on where the viewer is seeing the subject from can create a variety of effects such as when a picture is taken lower down a more dramatic and stronger image is creating, this can be seen with car adverts which when this is applied transfers these qualities to the car. 

            -Background

              Having the correct background is vital in defining your subject, if it's to busy or obtrusive your focal will struggle to stand out and compete against the background.

            -Depth

              This can be achieved by placing objects in the fore, middle and backgrounds and by having objects overlap within the scene will help to emphasis this.

            -Framing

              By using elements on the fringe of the scene to isolate the focal point helps to draw the eye towards it while also helping the subject to stand out more within the picture. 

            -Dynamism

              Within the scene one can use diagonal or off balance viewpoint to create a more dynamic or fast paced scene.

            -Shape

              Different shapes have different connotations, for example a square is very reliable and strong, a circle more feminine and friendly which is in direct contrast with triangles which are a very aggressive and dangerous shape. When shapes are combined together they also create different feelings within the scene, for instance if you have a circular shape within a triangular environment you create a sense of dissonance and from this tension. When a shape is placed within a similarly shaped environment it is a harmonious composition.

            -Colour

              Colours act much the same as shapes as in they all have their own meanings but this in its self is a whole other kettle of fish but as an example red is a very dangerous colour where as blue is seen as very loyal. The way shapes contrast and harmonise as well also helps to set type scene again very similar to how shapes work as well.             

     So while that information dump is all well and good but we have to see how these principles can be applied to really begin to see what the effects of applying these are. To begin with I will look at a traditional 2D piece of work before moving onto to how this works in 3D and touch upon composition in 4D ie when a player interacts with a playable space in a game.

 

                

     Here on the right is John Howe's Fingolfin's challenge based on Tolkien's writings which was painted in '92 and as you can see on the right I've painted over pointing out some of the immediate principles I found. So to begin with the paining follows the rule of thirds with the main point of interest being in the bottom and centre left of the grid but as well as this the two figures also create a triangular composition. Triangular shapes are used throughout the painting and give it a sense of danger adding to this is the shape contrast in the foreground between the round details of the edgy rock . The use of red combined with the darker values used throughout the majority of the scene also adds to this. Howe has also implemented a great use of framing as the mountains on either side of the two subjects sweep down leading the eye towards the focal point the sweeping effect also adds a level of dynamism into the painting which is built upon by the poses of the subjects. He also uses the edge of the clouds and dust to converge on the point of interest again leading the viewers eye. In regards to the subjects the most immediate point to notice is the contrast between the two. Morgoroth, the larger of the two figures, is clad all in black which completely contrasts with the titular Fingolfin who is dressed in white, the rounder form used for him also helps to stand him out against the rest of the painting. The use of colour makes it very easy to understand who the good guy is utilising the very basic symbolism of black=evil and white=good and again adds to the tension of the piece. Anyway, I'll stop my breakdown there, I'm very conscious of how much of an essay this is becoming.

 

     With the introduction of another dimension, while it complicates the compositional process, the principles remain identical in 3D to what they are in 2D. This stays true when the player begins to interact with the environment but additional points need to be considered such as how the player explores the environment and how the character moves, that is their animations. For instance it's no good having a rounder, softer character have sharp and sudden movement. This idea of movement can be extended to the player as well, in areas where they are safer slower, softer gestures can be used to reinforce the idea of safety but once they begin to fight the antagonist or general enemies harsher and sharper movements could be applied contrasting against what I mentioned before.

 

     I'll bring this post to a close the now after, hopefully, being a tad insightful into composition, I know I've learned a lot. Composition has always been a weaker point in my work so it's been good to break it down on paper and really look at what goes in to building a painting. Sorry it's been a bit of a wall of words and probably a bit dry but I'll aim to make the next entry a little bit closer to the 500 word mark.

 

     More then likely I'll be eating those words but we'll find out next time. Till then.

 

Sources:

http://www.photographymad.com/pages/view/10-top-photography-composition-rules

http://www.cgsociety.org/index.php/CGSFeatures/CGSFeatureSpecial/phil_straub_composition_tutorial
http://willkempartschool.com/the-secret-of-good-composition/
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/185676/the_aesthetics_of_game_art_and_.php
http://www.elementsofcinema.com/cinematography/composition.html
 

Image Source:
http://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=964