Use of structures in photo composition

In photo composition the four structural elements shape, form, pattern and texture is important. Images where one or more of these structural elements are used tend to be of an abstract nature. In this kind of photo composition you will find many of the images to be close ups or macro shots.

Your ability to identify and see the potential in shapes, forms, textures and patterns can be very important if you want to shoot different images standing out from the crowd. By using different shooting angles or by changing the lighting, the subjects structures can change dramatically and produce very different images.

Shape and form in photo composition

Shape

Shape is an element having only two-dimensions. Many subjects can be identified by their shape. You don’t actually need to see the surface and colors to know what the subject is. A silhouette of a cat or car even if they are completely black is identifiable because we have learned how the outline of these subjects is.

It is however important which angle you are shooting from. The cat shot from behind might not be as identifiable as the cat shot from the side. These types of motive is often shot with backlight and correctly exposed you get a silhouette outlining the subject.

It is if course not only silhouettes that can be used effectively as shapes in images. Actually anything from buildings, still life can be used in images to show different shapes. It is however an advantage the background is clean without to much noise to get the best out of a subjects shape.

Form

Form is when you see the subject three dimensional. Form gives us the depth of a subject. The form of an orange makes us see it is a sphere and not a disk. To emphasize the form of a subject in photography, the use of light and shadows is very important.

It is the different tones and in particular the mid-tones of the surface that makes us outline the edges of the subject. The ideal light is sidelight which is not too strong or direct. Diffused light on a partly cloudy day when clouds covers the sun is fine when shooting images emphasizing form.

Pattern and texture in photo composition

Pattern

The use of pattern is a powerful tool in photography. Every day we are surrounded by patterns without thinking of it. For most of us unless we learn to see it, patterns are just chaotic. When talking about patterns in photography we mean repeated shapes, forms or textures of any kind of subject.

The repeating windows on the front of this house in Amsterdam, Holland is an example of a pattern

The subject can actually be anything from windows of the exterior of a big building, a field of trees or brick wall. It is endless and you will find the subject wherever you look. You can shoot patterns with both a telephoto lens and a macro lens.

Texture

We can think of the texture as a pattern that has been scaled down. It is easier to define texture as something you can put your finger on a feel. Texture as a part of your composition often involves moving close to the subject so you can isolate just a small part in the frame. The shape and form is no longer important. These types of images are maybe the most abstract type of images you can shot. Often they are macro shots and a macro lens would be the best lens to use.

The old painting and concrete on the wall of this old house is an example of texture

When shooting such images the light is important because you most often need shadows to visualize the dips and furrows of the surface. Low angle side lighting is the best lighting when you shoot texture. This type of light is found early morning and late afternoon when the sun is low on the sky.


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