Chapter 3
Composition for the Close-Up

When photographers discuss composition, they are often referring to how they work with landscape photography. There is a long tradition of discussion about how to compose a landscape image that started way before photography. Landscapes have long been a great subject for talking about composition because the landscape stays in place and allows the photographer to consider many things about how to organize the image within the photograph. This is not so true for close-ups.

Composition is about organization of your photograph. Composition is not talked about as much for close-up and macro photography simply because the subject is often so dramatic. Having beautiful subjects enlarge before your eyes as you get in close to them is definitely a great part of the experience. However, that can also be a distraction. That good-looking subject is not a photograph and it cannot be physically put into the photograph. A photograph is an interpretation of the subject and because of that, composition is very important.

Composition can be seen as three things, as shown in Figure 3.1:

Arrangement. Composition is how you arrange the visual elements of your photograph, from the subject to the foreground and background to the edges to the corners and so forth.

Definition. A composition defines what we see of the subject and how it is presented to the viewer.

Communication. Ultimately, composition is about communicating something about your subject to the viewer of your image. Good composition is clear and direct communication.

Figure 3.1 Composition is about organizing the picture elements of your photo so that they are arranged attractively, they define the subject and the photo, and they communicate something about the subject.