Gallery: Please visit the gallery to view images in full size. From the gallery, you will be able to add the images to the shopping cart and checkout. YouTube: I have a YouTube Channel (Hari PHL) where I post videos once a week. Please subscribe to my channel and share my videos. I appreciate your support. Thank you for visiting my site.
Composition is one of the most important aspects of photography that sets the scene for the interplay between the subject, the background and the viewer of the image. The way that a photograph is composed entirely changes the impact that it has on audiences and even the most subtle differences can have a huge impact!
Composition in photography refers to the way that the elements within the frame are put together to create the whole image. There are two main types of general composition that you can use in your photography.
What is Closed Composition?
A closed composition, in photography, refers to an image which is static in nature. The subject of the photo exists within the borders of the frame. The image is complete and fully encapsulated in a single, well defined border.
- The photo has a clearly defined border and is static, not dynamic.
- The main subjects, or elements, of the image do not touch the edges of the frame.
- The main focus of the subject remains within the boundaries of the frame.
What is Open Composition?
A composition which is ‘open’ uses elements within the frame to lead the viewer’s eye from one place to another. The shapes, lines, colors and patterns are all used to help generate this effect. An open composition is a photo that has a dynamic element and the image itself does not have a strict border. It’s easy for the viewer to imagine the scene continuing outside of the frame.
- The picture does not have a strictly defined border.
- The subjects, or main elements, of the photo often touch the borders, even extending beyond the frame of the image.
- You can visualize the scene continuing past the edges of the photo.
Exploring The Closed Composition.
In a photograph that has a closed composition all of the elements, subjects and objects of the image are arranged within the frame. The image does lead the viewer’s gaze outside of the frame and in fact, it draws them inwards, towards the subject of the photo.
A classic example of a closed composition photo is a traditional portrait. The subject is central to the image and is usually set before a background that is not distracting and focuses the eye on the figure in the portrait. Often, the background of a portrait photo is a single color so as to keep the focus of the viewer entirely on the subject of the image.
Closed compositions keep the subject of the photo clearly distinguished from anything outside of the frame. This doesn’t mean that the photo has to exclude everything in the background. For instance, a photograph of a dog in a park could be a closed composition even though the scenery behind the dog clearly extends beyond the frame of the photo. As long as the dog is the central focus of the image and the dog is not looking outside of the frame – if the dog were looking beyond the frame this would draw the viewer’s attention outside of the frame and would make it an open composition!
Usually, in a closed composition, the main subject and elements of the photo are positioned fairly centrally in the frame. This helps to keep the focus on the subject and within the frame of the image. Closed compositions do not contain dynamic elements. The subjects are static, or posed, in a fixed position.
Fundamentally, closed compositions direct the attention of the audience inwards and towards the main subject of the image – and therefore away from the edges of the frame. These types of compositions create a feeling of stability, calm and completeness when they are viewed.
In the portrait photograph, the model is the central subject and the white background creates a strong boundary to the image. This is a good example of a closed composition.
Closed Compositions Are Commonly Used in Many Genres of Photography.
There are many occasions when a closed composition is most likely to be the best choice for a photographer to use. Some of the most common genres in which closed compositions are frequently used include, but are not limited to:
- Portraiture.
- Still Life Photography.
- Product Photography.
- Fashion Photography.
- Street Photography.
- Landscape Photography.
Of course, in each of these genres it is possible to use open compositions as well however closed compositions are fairly common. Many genres in photography use both types of composition; for example, landscape photography is usually done with open compositions however in some cases the trend is reversed and a closed composition is used. A good example of a landscape photo that is a closed composition would be an image of the sea taken through the mouth of a cave which frames the horizon in the distance.
For example, in the image below, which is a closed composition , the island out in the lake is the primary subject of the photo and the cave mouth closes off the frame and keeps the attention focused inwardly.
If, one the other hand, the same photo were taken from outside of the cave then the viewer would see the entire horizon behind the island and it would therefore be an open composition.
Exploring The Open Composition.
An open composition is the exact opposite of a closed composition; so whereas a closed composition is static and enclosed an open composition is dynamic and expansive.
Open compositions draw the eye around the image using leading lines, colors and the placement of subjects at cross sections of the Rule of Thirds. This makes the photo feel like there is motion within it and the viewer is often encouraged to imagine what lies beyond the boundaries of the frame.
Subjects in open compositions are often moving, looking outside of the frame or indicating in some way that they are connected with what’s happening beyond what the viewer of the image can see. This makes the images exciting and interesting as the elements of the photo seem to run over the edges of the photo. There is no feeling of restraint or confinement in an open composition and there are often focal points near to or overlapping the edges of the photo.
However, you can also create an open composition when all the elements are contained within the frame as long as the subject is dynamic and feels like they are connected to things or concepts outside of the frame. An open composition can make use of depth and space to create the feeling of ‘openness’ as in the example of a landscape photo. The vast empty spaces of the sky and the scenery all create interconnectedness that makes the composition open out beyond the frame.
In the example, the horses running through the center of the image with the empty sky and landscape make this an open composition. The horses are running from right to left and encourage the viewer to imagine where they are going and what lies beyond the edge of the frame. Open compositions don’t usually have a strict, or formal, boundary which gives them a feeling of fluidity.
Open Compositions Are Commonly Used in Many Genres of Photography.
Open compositions are a huge category of photography and almost any genre of can make use of the technique, including:
- Landscape Photography.
- Street Photography.
- Wildlife Photography.
- Sports Photography.
- Fashion and Editorial Photography.
- Portraits (when the subject is moving, jumping, running etc).
Are All Photos Either Open Or Closed Compositions?
As with all ‘rules’ in photography there are always going to be exceptions that don’t quite fit into any category. This applies equally to the distinction between open and closed compositions and it can often be difficult to differentiate the two!
For instance, a landscape photo that has powerful perspectives that focus the viewer’s attention within the frame while having no specific border is an example of such an image that straddles the two definitions.
In the landscape below the strong leading lines of the road interact with rays of light and although there is no formal boundary the focus of attention remains firmly within the frame. The image has a good sense of dynamic movement, due to the leading lines of the road and the light flooding into the upper section of the frame however it has a feelings of containment and enclosure that are characteristic of a closed composition.
This is a great example of why it’s not always possible to say for sure whether an image is entirely an open or closed composition; however, you shouldn’t let the definitions put you off trying images that combine the two because the tension between the elements creates a highly impactful image.
Open And Closed Composition – Experiment With The Concepts.
When you’re taking a photo the way that you compose it will define the entire mood of the image. If you use a closed composition you can give your viewers an impression of stability and static presence however if you open it up more then you create a lovely dynamic scene which lets their imagination run wild!
Incorporating elements from both open and closed compositions throughout your work will add interest, diversity and a narrative tension to your images. Naturally, in certain situations, such as a formal portrait photoshoot, you will have to stick to traditions and use a fairly predetermined compositional approach; but while working on your own projects you have far more freedom to experiment and explore the concepts in a deeper way.
Do you think about open and closed composition when you are trying to compose a shot?
Gallery: Please visit the gallery to view images in full size. From the gallery, you will be able to add the images to the shopping cart and checkout. YouTube: I have a YouTube Channel (Hari PHL) where I post videos once a week. Please subscribe to my channel and share my videos. I appreciate your support. Thank you for visiting my site.
Leave a Reply