Geometry in photography
Written by: Nate Torres
Last updated: July 30, 2024
Knowing how to use geometric shapes and implementing them in your photos can make you either specialize or even widen out your skill as a photographer...
What is geometry in photography?
Geometric photography emphasizes capturing unique shapes, lines, and other forms to create a particular perspective within the photo.
They are not always about houses or architecture, although geometric photography ideas can also come from buildings. Knowing how to use geometric shapes and implementing them in your photos can make you either specialize or even widen your skill as a photographer.
Geometric photography can also be found in a particular genre of photography, such as:
1. Architectural photography
Maybe you spot geometric photography ideas by looking at the shapes and unique flows of concrete upon buildings that could make a particular shape from a specific perspective; that combination could count as geometric photography
2. Abstract expressionism & minimalism
Abstract Expressionists like Jackson Pollock-like to do abstract works that mean something within a particular context. Photography can highlight certain emotions and feelings from shapes, lines, or patterns.
3. Fashion photography
Geometric photography ideas can be found in fashion from high-end fashion designs. Fashion designers want photographers who understand what to focus on. Geometric photography here is about emphasizing patterns, the right posture, composition, etc.
How is shape used in photography?
So how is shape used in geometric photography or any of geometric photography ideas? Geometry formation is one of the photography techniques used to produce suitable, good, dynamic photo compositions.
Shapes such as squares, circles, triangles, and others can be used as benchmarks when taking a photo. Different shapes can give the resulting photo a different feel.
The photo can also give the impression of symmetry, rhythm, and focal points, making people who see it feel more easily connected to it by referring to geometric shapes.
For further implementation, you can use geometric shapes as a benchmark for arranging several objects in your photos so that they look more dynamic and organized.
Suppose you have to photograph three people at once in one photo. If you set all three of them to stand the same height, you will get a stiff and unsightly photo. If you arrange them to form a triangle, your overall photo will look more dynamic, balanced, and engaging.
Why incorporate geometry in photography?
Okay, how is geometry used in photography? And why? This is actually related to positioning and composition.
Using geometry in photography can enhance our compositions by creating visually pleasing structures, they can guide our viewer's eyes to points of emphasis, add a sense of order and balance, and make it more engaging and aesthetically pleasing overall.
10 Tips to incorporate geometry in your photography
1. The rule of thirds
The Rule of Thirds is one of the most basic photo compositions and must be known by photographers.
In the rule of thirds, the photographer simply divides the area of the photo into nine equal squares and puts the POI (point of interest) on the point or line on the plane that is divided into 3 x 3.
Most people look at the rule of thirds as just intersecting lines, but you can also view it as a 3 rows and 3 columns of squares.
There are four intersecting points, while intersecting lines consist of 2 horizontal and vertical lines. The principle of ROT is to place the POI on the point or line. The photo will look more attractive than any other point/line.
The Point of Interest placed on the four points or lines above can be an object or part of the photo object’s eye. Today, many digital cameras have the rules of thirds (grid) feature, either on the live view mode screen or in the viewfinder.
2. Golden shape
Using the golden ratio in photography incorporates geometry by creating a natural and harmonious composition.
Golden Shape, also referred to as the Golden Ratio is a Geometric photography composition by dividing the area of the photo, either edged with real lines or virtual edges, into positive-negative.
It appears as if there is a contrast between the two fields, which forms a harmonious unity. The principle of the Golden Shape is to divide the positive-negative areas properly. In a balanced way, the photo will look well-composed.
3. Symmetrical
Using symmetry in photography incorporates geometry by creating a balanced and harmonious composition where elements on either side of a central axis mirror each other.
Symmetry places the object and divides the photo area equally right and left to look remarkably symmetrical.
4. Pattern and repetition
Using patterns in photography incorporates geometry by repeating shapes, lines, or forms to create a structured and rhythmic composition.
Instinctively humans are instinctively interested in patterns or patterns that are harmonious. Therefore, a photo with a patterned or looped composition can make a great photo work. Pattern (pattern) and repetition (repetition) can be obtained by selecting the right photo angle and choosing the distance between the lens and the object in such a way.
5. Frame within a frame
Using a frame within a frame in photography incorporates geometry by utilizing elements within the scene, such as windows, doorways, or arches, to create a secondary frame around the main subject.
With the frame-in-frame technique, we create a geometric photography composition by directing or guiding the eye to pay attention to what is inside a “frame” by ignoring what is outside the “frame.”
The frame here is not a photo frame in physical form, but you are looking for an object that can be used as a “frame,” either in the form of real or virtual lines. Look for elements such as windows, doors, corridors, mirrors, building pillars, arches, or any object that is generally a closed geometric shape to frame the POI.
The frame also does not have to surround the entire POI.
6. Leading lines
Using leading lines in photography incorporates geometry by employing lines, such as roads, pathways, or architectural features, to guide the viewer's eye through the image toward a focal point.
Another alternate answer to how geometry is used in photography is through leading lines. One of the most exciting photo compositions, in my opinion, is Leading Lines.
Lines can be virtual or real. They lead our eyes to the object that becomes the POI, or the line itself becomes the POI in the photo. Look for objects such as roads, walls, bridges, or anything that can form a virtual queue and direct the eye to the actual item (POI).
7. Negative space composition
Using negative space in photography incorporates geometry by balancing the composition through the strategic placement of empty or minimal areas around the subject.
Negative Space Composition is a creative composition that leaves much or negative space in the photo. The area here can be a sky, a vast expanse of desert, a meadow, or anything that can give a “free space” to a photo. By providing the right blank space, your photos can look very interesting and creative.
8. Reflection
Using a reflection in photography incorporates geometry by creating symmetrical or mirrored compositions that double the elements in the scene.
Reflection on a photo can be the main element (point of interest) or explored only as a compliment. If photo reflection is the main element, it must provide a photo that tells a story, even though it is only a reflection.
Reflection is usually familiar to photographers who like abstract beauty or minimalism, with the composition of reflection as the main POI. Various objects can be used for reflection, such as puddles, calm lakes, unplanted rice fields, rivers, windows, mirrors, and even glasses.
Meanwhile, the objects that can be used are objects, living things, humans, and others.
9. Capturing texture
Using texture in photography incorporates geometry by emphasizing the repetitive patterns, lines, and shapes that make up the surface details of a subject
The texture is a photo composition that displays the texture of the photographed object. With the presence of texture, the details of objects will be more visible, especially if it is aided by good lighting.
Examples of objects commonly used for texture compositions are rocks, asphalt, bone streaks on leaves, wood, skin, eyes, cloth, and many more. The technique used is simple to get the texture, and photograph the object at close range using a telephoto lens or 50mm and above.
10. Depth of field
Using depth of field in photography incorporates geometry by selectively focusing on certain planes within the image while blurring others, creating a sense of spatial depth.
Composition isolating objects by making the background blurry is usually used to photograph humans or portrayals or any item aiming to make photo audiences only focus on the highlighted object.
In conclusion, those are ten alternative answers and techniques for using geometry in photography that you can apply to make your photos more creative and interesting.
Photographic composition – like composition in any art field – is like a taste for food.
It all comes down to one’s own preference. So, there are no standard rules in composition techniques in the field of photography. Even Steve McCurry said that to get something creative, the existing rules must be broken. Please be creative so that your photos look not careless, but have studied the theory of composition techniques in photography. And if you want to learn more about being creative in photography, we have a guide on that.