Forum 1: Compositions of High Point University

Aiming for Perfect Angles

From reading and watching the articles and videos about Composition provided for the class, I decided to try applying my newly learned techniques to photos of High Point University. I walked around our beautiful campus and took pictures of the buildings, landscapes, and sights, attempting to add elements of composition to capture stunning photos.

Symmetry & Pattern

When working with subjects such as architecture, symmetry and pattern make for a powerful shot. This picture I took of the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication displays elements of symmetry and pattern because of the two sides of the picture mirror each other, and the windows of the building display a pattern. To ensure that the two sides of the photo mirrored each other, I stood towards the center of the building while taking the picture and aimed the camera straight forward. 

Landscape Composition

When taking a landscape shot, it is essential to focus on the composition and structure. I wanted my landscape shot to be about the red brick path and the gloomy sky. I feel that these elements of my shot are emphasized by the angle I snapped the photo at. I feel that the red brick path that stretches to the end of the picture adds a sense of depth and scale within the image, which is exactly what I was going for. 

Layering

When working with subject matter in landscape shots, it is important to create a sense of depth within the layers on the picture. I took this picture from the bottom of the stairs on the side of the Nido R. Qubein School of Communications building, and I angled my camera slightly upward in order to include the building in the shot. The stairs are the first layer, and they lead up to the next layers, the building and sky. 

Working the Shot

It is extremely helpful, when taking pictures of anything, to remember to work the shot. Working the shot means to move around and attempt at shooting the subject matter from every angle possible to ensure that you are going to capture the very best picture you can. I took these pictures of a High Point University banner on campus and made sure to get many different angles of it. 

Simplicity

Although there is sometimes a temptation to fill a shot with multiple subjects and points of interest, when focusing on the composition of a picture, it is often better to be selective about what you include in the photo. Focusing on a single subject matter can really provide a dramatic element to the photo. I took this picture to focus on the clock along the brick path I was walking on. Since the clock is the main and only focus point, the photo is a clear and effective shot and shows the composition of simplicity.