Visual Communication: Composition

Elements of Design ( Part II )

Russ  Wills  
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The  previous  article  introduced  some  ways  line  can  communicate  within  an  image.  Horizontal  
lines,  like  the  horizon  or  a  person  lying  down,  can  represent  rest  and  stability.  Vertical  lines,  like  
a  pillar  or  a  person  standing,  can  represent  strength.  Diagonals  can  represent  instability  and  
often  create  visual  movement  throughout  an  image.    
Another  important  element  of  visual  communication  
is  shape.  If  a  horizontal  line  suggests  stability  and  a  
vertical  line  suggests  strength,  what  might  a  square  
represent?  In  many  cases  a  square  (or  rectangle)  
combines  stability  and  strength.  If  a  diagonal  breaks  
down  stability  and  creates  visual  movement,  a  
triangle  can  do  so  ever  more  powerfully.  An  upside-­‐‑
down  triangle  balanced  on  its  pinnacle  is  very  
unstable.  A  circle  is  a  constantly  moving  line  with  no  
beginning  and  no  end.  A  circle  is  not  necessarily  
unstable,  but  it  is  not  likely  to  stay  put.  Circles  create  movement.  In  some  cases  circles  can  also  
represent  eternity,  or  something  that  will  never  end,  as  a  wedding  ring  represents  never-­‐‑ending  
love.  
Two  other  important  elements  of  composition  are  found  in  the  following  photograph.    
First,  space  is  important  to  a  composition.  Space  is  often  referred  to  as  “positive  space”  and  
“negative  space”.  Positive  space  is  usually  what  is  in  “front,”  the  subject  maOer.  In  this  case,  the  
positive  space  includes  the  person,  the  bench,  and  the  rocks.  The  “negative  space,”  on  the  other  
hand,  is  the  background.  In  this  case,  the  negative  space  includes  the  sky  and  the  distant  
mountain  ranges.  Notice  here  how  large  the  negative  space  is  compared  to  the  positive  space.  
This  use  of  negative  space  is  vital  to  communication  in  this  photograph.  Whether  the  negative  
space  is  large  or  small,  noticeable  or  not,  the  use  of  negative  space  is  very  important  to  
composition.    
Along  with  negative  space,  one  of  the  most  noticeable  elements  in  this  photograph  is  that  the  
background  is  huge,  while  the  person  in  the  foreground  is  relatively  small.  Size  is  an  important  
element  of  visual  communication.  Size  in  this  photograph  contrasts  the  person  with  his  
surroundings.  One  possible  way  to  interpret  this  photograph  is  that  an  individual  is  very  small  
in  the  grand  scheme  of  things.  Compare  the  way  size  and  negative  space  are  used  in  this  image  
to  the  following  photograph:    
Here  the  child’s  face  takes  up  nearly  the  entire  frame.  Size  
here  communicates  a  very  different  idea.  Instead  of  
showing  how  small  we  are  in  a  large  world,  this  
photograph  suggests  that  this  child  is  larger  than  life.  Our  
lives  are  not  meaningless  in  this  world,  as  suggested  in  the  
first  photo;  rather,  the  world  seems  to  revolve  in  some  way  
around  this  child.    
As  you  view  images  (not  only  photographs,  but  
advertisements,  billboards,  television  and  movie  scenes,  
architecture,  or  even  nature  itself)  consider  the  way  line,  
space,  size  and  shape  all  work  together.  What  do  the  lines  
communicate?  The  use  of  space?  The  sizes  of  the  various  
elements  of  the  image?  The  shapes?  Is  the  image  relaxing  or  
energetic?  Is  the  subject  firm  and  strong  or  flexible  and  
constantly  changing  or  moving?    
The  next  article  will  add  color,  value  and  texture  to  the  
equation,  followed  by  examples  of  strategically  using  combinations  of  these  elements  of  
composition  to  communicate  messages  or  ideas.