A surprisingly exciting story about composition and street photography in Paris
Have you ever thought about how composition can make or break an image or design?
Hi there,
Hope you’re well!
As I type this we’re in the car on the way back home from another weekend in Paris.
At first I thought to bring you into my sketchbook and photo-journal of the last few days.
But while editing some pictures I found myself contemplating on why I make certain decision.
Like, why does a particular street corner catch my eye?
Or, why do I frame the scenery a certain way?
At this point in my artistry, many of these important yet subtle decisions happen on autopilot.
I just snap the picture on the go and the final image is more or less already set in my mind.
Side-note: almost all my artworks, whether illustrations, embroidery or photo-art, start with a photograph. The more interesting the image, the more interesting the final art piece.
So, instead of a regular sketchbook-glimpse-post, here is a deep dive into my (crazy?) composition mind,
The first example is my favorite from the weekend.
It’s is a very spontaneous on-the-go picture of me and my youngest daughter (in the baby carrier) reflected in the window of a bistro.
I first saw the setup when we casually strolled the street next to Saint Sulpice.
The reflection stopped me in my tracks (literally), and I turned back only to walk the same street again to quickly take the photo while pretending I was checking my phone, (I didn’t want people inside of the restaurant to wonder why I was taking a picture of them… 😅🫣).
The editing process:
Step 1: I cut out everything that I didn’t want (basically space that I felt didn’t serve any purpose + took away from the composition I had spotted).
My decisions about composition are generally based on numerous reference points. I tend to look for lines that create interesting graphics “built into” the image…
For this example, I’ve highlighted the relevant ones below by drawing directly on the image in my phone … (thereof non-perfect lines, which fits perfectly with my non-perfect writing setup this afternoon).
First, the general grid helps to identify the balance between elements such as making sure that the green horizontal line is in the middle and that the majority of “things” (read; menu board, Interphone, me and the lamp) are within the middle “vertical zone”.
I don’t visualize the grid (white lines), but I do see the “connection points” when I look at a scene as if I’m wearing invisible glasses (yeah I’m strange like that?!).
My main goal was to make sure that I’m placed at the intersection of multiple lines in order to make me the focal point.
Ps. That’s a sentence I never thought I’d ever write in my life haha 🫣 this instantly gave a self-focused artsy vibe of sorts… sorry about that! Not intentional!
Considering the cool-ness of this particular image I also had to draw a vertical/horizontal-sketch-chart (I just made that name up), to better illustrate what I see when I look at the first photo.
There are just SO MANY cool lines “hidden” here. The purple lines also serve as examples for how I simplify seemingly detailed structures for illustration or embroidery patterns.
A lot of times you don’t need to draw everything (most times actually). Because our brains are so magnificently wired that it fills out the “empty spaces” itself.
As a result, to not make complete perfect lines can be an effective way to create style, intrigue and ultimately something more interesting for the eye!
I hope you enjoyed this breakdown! Please let me know if you did?!
A few extra examples to round off the weekend:
Below are a series of images from the weekend where I drew lines on top of them to more clearly illustrate the composition and focal points.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc243f02c-abdc-4545-9581-e1809e33d083_3808x3165.jpeg)
Here’s an example of a photo that can serve as a perfect base for an embroidery pattern…
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F76148f46-74f7-4c9b-acdd-5260d9f63c26_3795x2916.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa10708dd-bf72-4761-8568-052c66e5454f_1179x889.jpeg)
Last but not least, a vintage/antique market at Saint Sulpice the other day.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3b175235-aaa7-4452-ac21-2bb4d6f2acce_2016x1677.jpeg)
Thank you so much for reading!
Elin, xx
Want to learn more?
One of our bestselling embroidery classes “How to create your own embroidery patterns” has a full module on composition, which has received wonderful feedback.
Composition can be one of those aspects that are easily forgotten but can truly make or break a design.
You can check out the Create Your Own Embroidery Designs here
I learned about the grid with my photography. Very interesting about the lines. Something I'll have to delve deeper into.
Love this Elin! 😍
The way you lined things out makes my heart jump with joy because I learned to look through the same glasses back in my A-level / baccalaureate architecture & art studies at the end of Highschool. Of course I’m not artistic and hunting for the perfect scene daily so I’m not always paying attention now.
It brings so much nerdy joy to my day when I do spot a composition that just feels perfect in that sense. 😅