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Content vs. Composition

  • Writer: George Figueroa
    George Figueroa
  • Jul 26, 2017
  • 2 min read

What’s more important? Content or composition? Of course, like many other things in art, this is subjective but I think it is a question worth considering. Your answer today may be content but it may very well be composition tomorrow and I believe that’s okay. It’s one of those interchangeable things that vary depending on your intent. As of today, my opinion tends to lean towards more on the composition side of things. Content is extremely important but if it is not visually appealing in some sense, that content can lose its impact. For example, below are two simple images of the same subject matter, (The High-Level Bridge), but shot at two different points of view. The image on the right works more strongly than the other and I believe because the image was taken literally a few steps over and in a different orientation at different times. There is more dynamic, scale and life in the right image while the other seems to be flat and dull in comparison. Both are decent images but one conveys a stronger message of aesthetics and will likely attract more viewers.

High-Level Bridge-After
High-Level Bridge-Before

There are times where the content may not be fully fleshed out but can be born out of the composition after examining your image. Shapes, color, negative space etc. can create content if it is composed in such a way. As writers, performers, cooks, artists etc. we usually may be attacking one piece of subject matter but we have multiple angles to capture and convey that matter. We have to work the scene and find the sweet spot to fully grasp the content and communicate that visually. In a world of constant visual distractions, composition is always critical in order to attract attention to your message. Of course, there are many other factors that play a role in overall composition like the time of day, the season of the year, post-processing, choice of words, color palette, and so forth but I think geometrically we need to be aware of placement first and foremost and maneuver accordingly. With that being said, patience is key, especially in photography. You may have found the content you want to shoot but the composition may work better on a cloudy day or perhaps at night with a clear sky. It all depends on what you want the content to say. I encourage you to revisit those locations and make the artistic choice that suits you! Do what is best for you and what makes you happy!

Do you agree or disagree with me? Don’t be shy and let me know! What tips or suggestions do you have to help create great pieces of work?

 
 
 

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