ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at ways in which photographers can organize compositional elements in space. All photographic imaging starts with selection, but before the photographer even thinks about a subject, he or she must give consideration to the proportions of the frame that will contain it. The frame of the image can be horizontal (landscape), vertical (portrait), square or panoramic, the latter offering the photographer a particular challenge with composition. In portraiture, it is essential to consider the space in front of and behind the head, especially with profiles, as the effect created can be dramatically different – the profile close to the frame appears argumentative, while space in front of the profile confers thoughtfulness. The horizontal format offers greater opportunity to include space in front of or behind a head in profile and can be used to create tension if the face is placed near a corner or edge and appears to be moving out of the frame.
