Composing Through Chaos: Finding Order in the Raptors Celebration 🏆
Street celebrations during the Raptors’ 2019 championship run were pure controlled chaos—waves of fans, honking cars, and nonstop action. Yet even in the mayhem, you can craft compelling, cohesive images by relying on solid compositional principles. Here are the compositional techniques I leaned on during the mayhem, plus tips you can try at your own street celebrations.
Identify Leading Lines
Look for natural pathways—road markings, barricades, or even rows of celebrants—to guide the viewer’s eye toward your main subject. During the onrush of the crowd, a slight zig-zag of people or a glimmering row of confetti can become a dynamic line that tethers your frame.
Frame Your Subject
Use environmental elements—lampposts, storefront windows, or the CN Tower in the background—as frames within your frame. Position your subject (a jubilant fan, a group high-fiving) in that “window” to isolate them from the surrounding chaos.
Embrace Selective Focus
Switch to a wide aperture (f/2.8–f/4) and focus on a single face or detail—painted cheeks, a raised jersey number, or a fist pumping in the air. Let the surrounding revelers blur softly, turning a busy scene into a beautifully layered portrait.
Layer Foreground, Midground, and Background
Stack elements to build depth: a confetti-covered street in the foreground, your subject in the midground, and city landmarks or marching bands in the background. This three-plane approach transforms noise into narrative.
