Composition & Visual Design — 60 Terms Defined

High Angle Composition & Visual Design degrees A viewpoint above the subject, looking downward.

Horizon Line Composition & Visual Design The line where sky meets land or sea, which in a photograph always sits at the camera's own eye level.

Implied Motion Composition & Visual Design The suggestion of movement within a still image, created by blur, gesture, position or direction.

Isolation Composition & Visual Design Separating a subject from its surroundings so it reads alone, using depth of field, framing, tone or timing.

Juxtaposition Composition & Visual Design Placing two contrasting or unexpectedly related elements together in a frame so each comments on the other.

Law of Closure Composition & Visual Design The gestalt principle that the mind completes incomplete shapes, perceiving a whole where only parts are shown.

Law of Continuity Composition & Visual Design The gestalt principle that the eye follows a line or curve and continues along it even where it is interrupted.

Law of Proximity Composition & Visual Design The gestalt principle that elements placed close together are perceived as belonging to one group.

Law of Similarity Composition & Visual Design The gestalt principle that elements sharing shape, colour, size or texture are perceived as related.

Layering Composition & Visual Design Building a composition from distinct planes at different distances, so the eye moves through the frame from near to far.

Lead Room Composition & Visual Design The space left in front of a subject in the direction they face or move.

Leading Lines Composition & Visual Design Lines within a scene that guide the viewer's eye from one part of the frame toward the subject.

Linear Perspective Composition & Visual Design The geometric effect by which parallel lines receding from the viewer appear to converge toward a point.

Low Angle Composition & Visual Design degrees A viewpoint below the subject, looking upward.

Minimalism Composition & Visual Design A compositional approach built on very few elements, large areas of empty space and simple graphic forms.

Negative Space Composition & Visual Design The empty or unoccupied area surrounding the subject, which gives it room and defines its shape.

Pattern Composition & Visual Design A repeating arrangement of shapes, lines, colours or objects across the frame.

Perspective Compression Composition & Visual Design The apparent flattening of distance between near and far elements when photographing from far away with a long lens.

Perspective Distortion Composition & Visual Design The exaggeration of relative size between near and far objects when photographing from very close with a wide lens.

Point of View Composition & Visual Design The position from which a photograph is taken, encompassing height, angle, distance and orientation.

Positive Space Composition & Visual Design The area of the frame occupied by the subject itself.

Rule of Odds Composition & Visual Design count The observation that an odd number of subjects in a frame usually reads as more settled than an even number.

Rule of Space Composition & Visual Design The guideline that a subject which is moving or looking in a direction should have space in front of it within the frame.

Rule of Thirds Composition & Visual Design A guideline that divides the frame into nine equal parts and suggests placing key elements along those lines or at their intersections. Frame ÷ 3 horizontally and vertically