Lesson 6 Quiz

Composition is the arrangement of visual elements within the frame. Without a considered arrangement, even technically perfect exposure and sharp focus produce an image that fails to hold attention.

Composition is how you arrange elements within the frame. Where you place your subject, horizon, or leading lines affects how the viewer moves through the image. There are guidelines (like rule of thirds) that often work, but the real goal is to arrange your scene so it tells a clear story.

Tall vertical elements echo the way humans stand, and our brains associate that orientation with strength and elevation. Buildings, trees, and columns photographed with vertical emphasis naturally feel imposing.

The S-curve, or Line of Beauty, is a flowing reverse curve through the frame. Because it mirrors natural organic shapes, the eye follows it smoothly rather than stopping at hard angles.

RAW is the sensor's raw output before any camera processing. It contains more color and tonal information than JPEG, giving you flexibility in post-processing. RAW files require software to view and process, but they preserve detail that a JPEG would discard.

Light is the foundation of every image. Hard light creates sharp shadows and contrast; soft light wraps around and minimizes wrinkles. Knowing how to read light and position yourself or modify it is more important than any technical setting.

Irrelevant elements divide the viewer's attention and weaken the main subject. Reframing to exclude them before pressing the shutter is faster and cleaner than trying to fix the problem in post-processing.

Placing the subject at one of the four intersections created by dividing the frame into thirds creates natural tension between subject and space, which is more dynamic than dead-center placement.

The golden ratio, roughly 1.618:1, appears in natural growth patterns and classical architecture. Photographers use it as a guide for proportioning compositional divisions that feel inherently pleasing to the eye.

Cutting a limb or recognizable element at the frame edge draws attention to the absence. Intentional amputation can create tension; accidental amputation usually just looks like a careless crop.