Self Study Online-Course “Fundamentals of Composition”

From the many pictures that regularly surround us, some photos stand out while others do not appeal to us at all. Why is this so? Which characteristics make a picture a real “eye-catcher”? And why do we hardly notice others? In this course, we want to look at the different aspects that play a role in this and turn them into exciting photos.

What you can expect

You can expect six lessons of intensive online photo workshop. For each lesson, you will receive course materials individually created for this course by Rainer Hoffmann with sample photos and a photo assignment. The topics will be discussed via e-mail. Of course you will also receive feedback on your questions at any time.

Lesson 1

Whether we immediately like or are impressed by a picture, whether we look a little longer or not, often depends on how quickly and easily the actual motif can be recognized. And the recognizability of a motif is very much determined by the so-called “figure-ground relationship”. The question here is what the actual object and what the background is. Another topic of this lesson are distracting elements in the picture and the background which can make or break a picture.

Lesson 2

The rule of thirds is possibly the most important orientation aid for the photographer per se. It is the simplified rule derived from the Golden Ratio for an image composition that most people perceive as pleasing. In this lesson we will also discuss discuss symmetry and asymmetry.

Lesson 3

Lines, curves, patterns and repetitions are the topics of this lesson. Lines in the image often fulfill the important task of directing the viewer’s gaze to elements that are important to the image. Basically, we distinguish between horizontal and vertical lines, diagonals and (S)-curves. Just like lines, patterns and repetitions can be a good way to add visual interest to an image. With a little practice, these regular elements can be found almost everywhere, though mostly in man-made environments and less often in nature.

Lessson 4

Good graphic design can enhance many pictures. Therefor we will discuss what good graphic design is and how it can be used for photographs. Also the differences between static and dynamic compositions will be discussed in this lesson.

Lesson 5

Dead space and negative space are the topics of this lesson. The term “dead space” undoubtedly evokes negative associations. In fact, in most cases it is not desirable. Therefore the not very friendly name is quite justified. However, you should not confuse a dead space with a negative space. In contrast to negative space, dead space has no recognizable purpose. It is a large, empty and largely unstructured area in the picture, which does not add anything noteworthy to the motif or the message of the picture. It is generally boring, sterile and lifeless.

Another topic in this lesson is the “classic landscape technique”, a technique not only suitable for landscape photography.

Lesson 6

In this lesson you’ll learn how aperture and shutter speed affect the composition of our images and that breaking established rules can result in interesting images.