Visual Design and Composition

What you'll learn

• Identify the elements of visual design, measure value contrast, and apply Gestalt principles to separate subjects and group elements
• Analyze the lines, shapes, textures and patterns that structure an image, and use them to set mood, create focal points and simplify compositions
• Frame subjects with the rule of thirds, phi grids or central composition, and choose aspect ratios, shot sizes, lead room and crops for each delivery format
• Compose portraits, environmental portraits and groups with appropriate eye placement, crops, camera height, focal length and posing, and photograph people ethically
• Analyze visual weight, create symmetrical, asymmetrical and radial balance, and use diagonals, tilts, rhythm and pattern to control tension
• Use colour contrast, weight, schemes and grading to direct attention and set mood, and design colour choices that remain accessible
• Create depth with monocular cues, linear perspective, camera position, focal length, depth of field and layering
• Shape form, mood and attention with the direction, quality, ratio and key of light, and use shadows and natural and artificial light compositionally
• Guide the viewer's eye with focal points, visual hierarchy, leading lines, gaze and eye-trace, and compose effectively for small screens and sequences
• Set legible type, build typographic hierarchy with grids, alignment and white space, and combine text with images in posters, titles and thumbnails
• Compose for motion and sequence with the 180-degree rule, staging, camera movement, coverage, multi-format framing and storyboards
• Analyze and critique images, apply editing ethics, and plan, shoot, edit, sequence and present a cohesive portfolio project