DPI - WEEK 2
Nicole Ng Ying Yan 0382412
GCD61204 Digital Photography & Imaging
1.0 LECTURE
WEEK 2: Introduction to Composition
- Basics of Composition
1. Focal Point
A key element to any good composition is a strong focal point, as it helps viewers’ eyes naturally settle on the important pieces of the design first.
2. Scale & Hierarchy
Scale is often used to help communicate hierarchy by drawing attention toward and away from certain elements, thus signifying their importance to the communication.
3. Balance the Elements
A good technique for mastering asymmetrical balance is to think of each element as having a ‘weight’ to it. Smaller objects might ‘weigh’ less than larger objects, and heavily textured elements might ‘weigh’ more than flatly coloured elements.
4. White Space
White space is mostly known as “empty space” to balance up the main focus of a composition. White space when used strategically can help boost your design’s clarity and overall look by balancing out the more complicated and busy parts of your composition with space that helps your design to breathe.
- Rule of Thirds
The Rule of Thirds is the process of dividing an image into thirds, using two horizontal and two vertical lines. This imaginary grid yields nine parts with four intersection points.
When you position the most important elements of your image at these intersection points, you produce a much more natural image, creatively uses negative space, and create conversation between the subject and background.
Figure 1.0 Example of Rule of Thirds (Week 2, 30/4/25)
- Golden Ratio
The Golden Ratio is a mathematical ratio. It fosters organic and natural-looking compositions that are aesthetically pleasing to the eye. It boils down to aesthetics — creating and appreciating a sense of beauty through harmony and proportion. It is a useful guideline for determining dimensions of the layout. A very simple way to apply the Golden Ratio is to set your dimensions to 1:1.618.
Figure 1.2 Example of Golden Ratio in posters (Week 2, 30/4/25)
Figure 1.3 Example of Golden Ratio in posters (Week 2, 30/4/25)
Figure 1.4 Example of Golden Ratio in posters (Week 2, 30/4/25)
Figure 1.5 Example of Golden Ratio in posters (Week 2, 30/4/2025)
- Framing & Cropping
Camera framing and cropping all have their place in visual storytelling and can change the dynamic of the moment in photography and cinematography.
Figure 1.6 Most commonly used framing options in cinematography (Week 2, 30/4/25)
Reference link provided during lecture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQNiqzuXjoM
2.0 TUTORIAL
WEEK 2: Basic Composition Exercise
For this tutorial class, Mr. Fauzi showed us a video of basic collage tutorial. And at the end of the class, he wanted us to make 3 different collage with the materials we had prepared, and take photos of them using Camscanner to submit in Google Classroom.
Collage tutorial video provided: Composition Studies: Collage
3.0 PRACTICAL
WEEK 2: Collage Design Elements
- Choose and identify your collage's design elements to be cut out and compose it into your own concept & story.
- Pre-composition your collage's design elements into a composition.
- Pre-compositions
Figure 3.0 Pre-composition #1 (Week 2, 28/4/25)
Figure 3.1 Pre-composition #2 (Week 2, 3/5/25)
Figure 3.2 Pre-composition #3 (Week 2, 3/5/25)
My collage series doesn't follow a storyline but maintains a cohesive theme inspired by NCT Dream's 'Hot Sauce' album. Working with the album's three distinct concepts—crazy ver. (red), chilling ver. (yellow), and boring ver. (green)—I incorporated members cut from various photobook versions as the central subjects. By chance, I discovered a "Condiments" page in an old word search book that perfectly complemented the album's title. This fortunate find allowed me to integrate an interactive element that enhances the viewer's engagement with the design.
4.0 REFLECTION
This week's lecture about composition is very helpful when arranging the collage elements. By applying composition techniques, it helps to provide more depth and guides the attention of the viewer from one subject to another. I had fun cutting down elements and grouping them together for the physical collage as well, it helps me to learn more about composition and improve myself for upcoming tasks.
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