CompositionPerspective & Point of VueElements of ArtSubject MatterKYOTOGRAPHIE 2019 School Competition

Composition: the arrangement of subjects or elements in a photographs. It is a wayof guiding the viewer’s eye towards the most important elements of the image.
Rule of thirds: Rule of thirds: is one guidingprinciple for composing a photograph:The image is divided horizontally andvertically into thirds. It creates nine equalportions with 4 lines and intersections thatguide the placement of the subject matter.

See how the main subject is placed on each images.
Are your eyes drawn to a particular section of the image?

How are the photographs similar or different in composition?

Why do you think each artist has chosen this composition?

Igor Stravinsky, composer and conductor, New York, 1946 Arnold Newman / Getty Images. KYOTOGRAPHIE 2017

This line cuts the background two-thirds and flatten all the elements in the image. Thisphotograph looks like a collage without perspective. Stravinsky is represented in an abstractspace that refers to geometric painting, may be like his mental space of musical creation ?

Stravinsky isdominated by agrand pianosilhouetted againsta white wall.

The composer isconfined to thebottom left corner.

Igor Stravinsky, composer and conductor, New York, 1946 Arnold Newman / Getty Images. KYOTOGRAPHIE 2017

Eikoh Hosoe, Kamaitachi 8 (on a fence). KYOTOGRAPHIE 2013

Placement of the subject

Vanishing PointEikoh Hosoe, Kamaitachi 8 (on a fence). KYOTOGRAPHIE 2013

Torii on the Cliff, de la série Headland © Akiko TakizawaKYOTOGRAPHIE 2015

Look at the differentelements, tori,characters, tree,stone. Observe theirsize and how theyare positioned in theimages.

Torii on the Cliff, de la série Headland © Akiko TakizawaKYOTOGRAPHIE 2015© 2016 Izumi Miyazaki, riceball mountain. KYOTOGRAPHIE 2018

This picture is fictive and madeby digital collage.
Izumi plays with the scale ofthe objects to create an oniricspace.
The onigiri has the size of amountain and she has the sizeof little doll. (maybe aninterpretation of Alice inWonderland! ).

© 2016 Izumi Miyazaki, riceball mountain. KYOTOGRAPHIE 2018

The golden age of Japanese photography(1860-1875).
Collection Christian PolakKYOTOGRAPHIE 2013

The picture seems to besymmetric.
However, the line in thebackground is not straight,highlighting the imbalance ofthe bodies who can fall anytime.

The golden age of Japanese photography(1860-1875).
Collection Christian PolakKYOTOGRAPHIE 2013

Marc Riboud, Alaska 1958© Marc RiboudKYOTOGRAPHIE 2015

There are 2 men, 2 traces. Lookhow the characters are positionedon the top of the image. Snowoccupies more than ⅔ of theimage showing the weakness ofhumans in this environment.

Marc Riboud, Alaska 1958© Marc RiboudKYOTOGRAPHIE 2015

Take 5 pictures placing theobject or person in a differentsection of the composition.

Choose an object or a personas your subject.

Sit with 2 or 3 other peopleand share the photographsyou have taken.

Discuss:Which photograph is the strongest? Why?

To create perspective, depth and distance and suggest a three dimensional spacein a photograph, the photographers decide what point-of-view they would like theimage to be taken from:Sometime photographers prefer just to fillthe frame getting very close to their subject.

Depth of field :Photographers choose also what shouldbe in focus as well as the distance in frontof and behind the subject which appearsto be in focus.

where is the viewer positioned to look into the image?

Is he close or far from its subject ?

Why do you think each artist has chosen this point of view?
What is in focus in the photograph?

Qian Haifeng, 2013 February 27th, from Chengdu toShanghai, No. L1018 Spring Festival Travel Rush TemporaryTrain, 2013KYOTOGRAPHIE 2016

Note also the reflection ofthe men’s body that create asymmetry intensified by thetwo train in front of each other

Focus is on the boy : a shallow depth offield isolates the subject from hisenvironment.

Qian Haifeng, 2013 February 27th, from Chengdu toShanghai, No. L1018 Spring Festival Travel Rush TemporaryTrain, 2013KYOTOGRAPHIE 2016

Early morning train in Japan, 1964© Nicolas BouvierKYOTOGRAPHIE 2013

In this image the large depth offield puts all the subjects incontext by showing everythingaround them.

Early morning train in Japan, 1964© Nicolas BouvierKYOTOGRAPHIE 2013

Francis Wolff, John Coltrane at his “Blue Train”session of September 15, 1957. © MosaicImages LLC.
KYOTOGRAPHIE 2015

The viewer is positionedunder the scene.It invitesus to look up at themusician

Francis Wolff, John Coltrane at his “Blue Train”session of September 15, 1957. © MosaicImages LLC.
KYOTOGRAPHIE 2015

Emmy and Ben in bed, series Emmy'sWorld, 2013 © Hanne van der WoudeKYOTOGRAPHIE 2017

The viewer seems tofly above the scene,and is looking downat the couple frombirds-eye view.

Emmy and Ben in bed, series Emmy'sWorld, 2013 © Hanne van der WoudeKYOTOGRAPHIE 2017Thierry Bouët, Boy - 25 minutes old., 2008KYOTOGRAPHIE 2016

The the baby face fill theframe. There is nobackground.

Thierry Bouët, Boy - 25 minutes old., 2008KYOTOGRAPHIE 2016

Imagine you are a bird looking downat the object.
Imagine you are a worm lookingat the object.
Face your object at eye level.
Take the object from a long distanceChoose a person or an object andphotograph it from different point of vue.

Fill the frame

Sit with 2 or 3 other peopleand share the photographsyou have taken.

Discuss:Which do you think is the most interestingvue? Why?
How does the point of vue change the waywe see and understand the object?

Line, shape, form, colour, texture and light are the 'ingredients'used by the photograph to create balance, contrast, movement,emphasis, rhythm and unity in their image.

Observe the types of lines, colours, shapes, textures and patterns yousee in the photographs.
How have the photographers used these elements of art to create aparticular visual effect, feeling or mood?

Aladé, 2016. © Romuald Hazoumè. Courtesy October Gallery, London. KYOTOGRAPHIE 2018

The circular shape spiralling in thecentre - and thestriking contrast ofcolour against thedull tune of the sandand the sky, leadsour eye toward thedancer and givemovement to thepicture

The mantlelooks likewings and withhis diagonalmovementconnect thesky to the earthand peopleThe shadow onthe groundhighlights theflight movementof the dancer

The shadow of thepublic on the groundcloses the image.
Aladé, 2016. © Romuald Hazoumè. Courtesy October Gallery, London. KYOTOGRAPHIE 2018

Camp Leakey, Borneo, from the Primates series, 2015 © Isabel Muñoz.
KYOTOGRAPHIE 2017

The texture of the hairagainst the smooth, solidbackground bringsemphasis to the figures

High contrast is achievedby the use of light, whichdraws our attention to thecentre of the image.

Camp Leakey, Borneo, from the Primates series, 2015 © Isabel Muñoz.
KYOTOGRAPHIE 2017

Silk Drying 2, Kyoto, Japan 1951 © Werner Bischof /Magnum PhotosKYOTOGRAPHIE 2014

The repetition of long, flowinglines creates rhythm andmovement in the photographSilk Drying 2, Kyoto, Japan 1951 © Werner Bischof /Magnum PhotosKYOTOGRAPHIE 2014

Baudouin Mouanda , The ‘sapeurs’ of Bacongo, 2008 © Baudoin MouandaKYOTOGRAPHIE 2015

The brightcolours bringsemphasis to themen amongst thedull tones of thesetting.

The patterns onthe clothing andon the floorcreate energyand rhythm.

Dynamism andmovement arestrong becauseall the characterswalk and lookout of the framein differentdirections.
Baudouin Mouanda , The ‘sapeurs’ of Bacongo, 2008 © Baudoin MouandaKYOTOGRAPHIE 2015

RongRong & inri , Tsumari Story, 2014 © RongRong & inriKYOTOGRAPHIE 2015

A strong source oflight is used tocreate a distinctcontrast in tone.

The repetition ofstrong vertical anddiagonal lines dividesthe space and framesthe focal point nearthe centre of theimage.

RongRong & inri , Tsumari Story, 2014 © RongRong & inriKYOTOGRAPHIE 2015

Take 4 photographs, each focused on a different element :Sit with 2 or 3 other peopleand share the photographsyou have taken.

••

Isolate the elements of arts highlighted ineach photographs.
Choose 3 photographs that are the mostsuccessful and discuss the characteristicsthat make them the strongest.

Subject matter:the objects or imagery used to convey the subject and meaning of an artwork.

The same theme can be expressed using different subject matter.

Take time to observe the objects used in each photograph.
What is the main subject matter the artist has chosen to use?
Is it in close detail or far away? How have they chosen to position themain objects in the photograph?
Is there emphasis on a particular focal point or is the focus more general?
What do you think the artist want to express ? What is the theme andthe meaning of the photograph for you ?

From the 247th to 341st Day, Tohoku © TadashiOno. KYOTOGRAPHIE 2013

This photographs shows adestroyed bridge after theTohoku earthquake andtsunami.
What other subject mattercould be used by an artistto show the complexhuman-nature relationship.

From the 247th to 341st Day, Tohoku © TadashiOno. KYOTOGRAPHIE 2013

Chris Jordan, Unaltered stomachcontents of a Laysan albatrossfledgling, Midway Island, 2009.
KYOTOGRAPHIE 2015

The dead body ofthis albatros fill theframe. Centered inthe middle we cansee colorfull piecesof plastic thatcontrast with thecolor of the bird’sfeathers.

Chris Jordan, Unaltered stomachcontents of a Laysan albatrossfledgling, Midway Island, 2009.
KYOTOGRAPHIE 2015

Série Primates, 2015La Vallée des Singes, Romagne, France© Isabel MuñozKYOTOGRAPHIE 2017

This zoo Gorilla looksstraight to us. He seems tobe deeply thinking, just asa human would do

Série Primates, 2015La Vallée des Singes, Romagne, France© Isabel MuñozKYOTOGRAPHIE 2017

19 August 1993 Mihama fukui Pref.
© Taishi HirokawaKYOTOGRAPHIE 2014

Children plays in the water withcentered in the background thenuclear plant of Mihama

19 August 1993 Mihama fukui Pref.
© Taishi HirokawaKYOTOGRAPHIE 2014

Chris Steele-Perkins, Refugees in thedesert, Jordan, 1990The Sha-alaan One camp, is the worstcamp. They have orderly food lines withthousands of refugees waiting calmly forfood distribution from the “Charitas” charityorganization.
KYOTOGRAPHIE 2016

In this photograph and thetwo following the theme isrefugees.
This photographhighlights the highnumber of men. We canhardly distinguished facesand we don’t know wherethe line ends or starts.
Chris Steele-Perkins, Refugees in thedesert, Jordan, 1990The Sha-alaan One camp, is the worstcamp. They have orderly food lines withthousands of refugees waiting calmly forfood distribution from the “Charitas” charityorganization.
KYOTOGRAPHIE 2016

Civilians returning home, Pont L'Abbé,France, June 15th, 1944© Robert Capa / International Center ofPhotography / Magnum Photos.
KYOTOGRAPHIE 2016

The light is on twodisemboweled shoes. Thephotographs also doesn’tshow the men’s face.

Civilians returning home, Pont L'Abbé,France, June 15th, 1944© Robert Capa / International Center ofPhotography / Magnum Photos.
KYOTOGRAPHIE 2016

Volunteers help refugees come ashore near the village of Skala Sikamineas, after travelling on an inflatable raft from Turkey.
Lesbos, Greece, August 2015© Paolo Pellegrin / Magnum PhotosKYOTOGRAPHIE 2016

In contrast to theprevious images thisphotograph choosesto focus on thecharacter’s faces, aswell as on the handthat stretches to helpthe refugees, forcingus to identify to thescene.

Volunteers help refugees come ashore near the village of Skala Sikamineas, after travelling on an inflatable raft from Turkey.
Lesbos, Greece, August 2015© Paolo Pellegrin / Magnum PhotosKYOTOGRAPHIE 2016

Immigrants emerge from the camp for another attempt to cross the Channel and enter in Britain illegally.
Sangatte, France, February 29th, 2001© Patrick Zachmann / Magnum Photos . KYOTOGRAPHIE 2016

Gloomy lights andblurry shapesexpress the distressof these refugeeswhile they are tryingto reach the land oftheir dream.

Immigrants emerge from the camp for another attempt to cross the Channel and enter in Britain illegally.
Sangatte, France, February 29th, 2001© Patrick Zachmann / Magnum Photos . KYOTOGRAPHIE 2016

Select 2 subject matters thatwill convey that concept andtake different photographs.

Choose a subject/concept(school, peace, growth, friendship etc.)

Sit with 2 or 3 other peopleand share the photographsyou have taken.

• Look at each subject matter of thephotographs: what theme/concept wasexplored?
• Has the theme/subject been conveyedclearly? why?

The KYOTOGRAPHIE International Photography Festival is held every year in Kyotoin various traditional and modern spaces during the spring season.
(April 13th - May 12th 2019). The festival brings people together of all ages, cultures andbackgrounds through photography.
In 2019, the theme is VIBE.
What makes you VIBE ?

Writing / conceptionMarguerite Paget (KYOTOGRAPHIE Audience Development Director)Laura Dormans (Canadian Academy of Fine Arts)DesignJacky TongTranslation / editingSayaka Sameshima (KYOTOGRAPHIE Editor in Chief )Special thanks toRotary ClubMr Arita ( Superintendent of Eduction, Kyoto city)Sae shimai (KG+ Director)Lauren Hadler (KYOTOGRAPHIE Education Program Director)Riko Kishida (Takakura Elementary School Principal )Louise Mutrel (photographer)© KYOTOGRAPHIE 2019