Top 10 Photography Composition Rules
Rule of Thirds
The most important elements (the horizon and
the haystack) are placed on or around the lines
and points of intersection. Image by Cayusa.
Imagine that your image is divided into nine equal segments
by two vertical and two horizontal lines. Try to position the
most important elements in your scene along these lines, or
at the points where they intersect. Doing so will add balance
and interest to your photo. Some cameras even offer an option
to superimpose a rule of thirds grid over the LCD screen, making
it even easier to use.
Balancing Elements
The figure in this scene is balanced
by the rocks in the foreground. Image
by manipula.
Placing your main subject off-centre, as with the rule of
thirds, creates a more interesting photo, but it can leave
a void in the scene which can make it feel empty. You
should balance the 'weight' of your subject by including
another object of lesser importance to fill the space.
Leading Lines
The line of the chain leads the eye
into the scene towards the boat.
When we look at a photo our eye is naturally drawn
along lines. By thinking about how you place lines in
your composition, you can affect the way we view
the image, pulling us into the picture, towards the
subject, or on a journey 'through' the scene. There
are many different types of line - straight, diagonal,
curvy, zigzag, radial etc - and each can be used to
enhance our photo's composition.
Symmetry and Patterns
The symmetry of this scene is broken by
the uneven staircase and the closed
curtain. Image by B G.
We are surrounded by symmetry and patterns,
both natural and man-made, and they can make
for very eye-catching compositions, particularly
in situations where they are not expected.
Another great way to use them is to break the
symmetry or pattern in some way, introducing
tension and a focal point to the scene.
Viewpoint
The unusual viewpoint of this photo
makes for an interesting composition.
Image by dollie_mixtures.
Before photographing your subject, take time to think
about where you will shoot it from. Our viewpoint has
a massive impact on the composition of our photo,
and as a result it can greatly affect the message that
the shot conveys. Rather than just shooting from eye
level, consider photographing from high above, down
at ground level, from the side, from the back, from
a long way away, from very close up, and so on.
Background
The plain background in this composition
ensures nothing distracts from the woman's
face. Image by Triotex.
How many times have you taken what you thought
would be a great shot, only to find that the final
image lacks impact because the subject blends into
a busy background? The human eye is excellent at
distinguishing between different elements in a scene,
whereas a camera has a tendency to flatten the
foreground and background, and this can often ruin
an otherwise great photo. Thankfully this problem is
usually easy to overcome at the time of shooting - look
around for a plain and unobtrusive background and
compose your shot so that it doesn't distract or detract
from the subject.
Create Depth
The tree stump in the foreground adds depth
to what might otherwise be a flat scene.
Image by spodzone.
Because photography is a two-dimensional medium,
we have to choose our composition carefully to conveys
the sense of depth that was present in the actual scene.
You can create depth in a photo by including objects in
the foreground, middle ground and background. Another
useful composition technique is overlapping, where you
deliberately partially obscure one object with another.
The human eye naturally recognises these layers and
mentally separates them out, creating an image with
more depth.
Framing
The archway in this scene provides a natural
frame for the ruin in the background.
Image by Les Bessant.
The world is full of objects which make perfect natural
frames, such as trees, archways and holes. By placing
these around the edge of the composition you help to
isolate the main subject from the outside world. The
result is a more focussed image which draws your eye
naturally to the main point of interest.
Cropping
By cropping in tightly on the eye, the viewer's
attention is focussed fully on it. Image
by m00by.
Often a photo will lack impact because the main subject
is so small it becomes lost among the clutter of its
surroundings. By cropping tight around the subject you
eliminate the background 'noise', ensuring the subject
gets the viewer's undivided attention.
Experimentation
With the dawn of the digital age in photography we no longer have to worry about film processing costs or running out of shots. As a result, experimenting with our photos' composition has become a real possibility; we can fire off tons of shots and delete the unwanted ones later at absolutely no extra cost. Take advantage of this fact and experiment with your composition - you never know whether an idea will work until you try it.
Composition in photography is far from a science, and as a result all of the 'rules' above should be taken with a pinch of salt. If they don't work in your scene, ignore them; if you find a great composition that contradicts them, then go ahead and shoot it anyway. But they can often prove to be spot on, and are worth at least considering whenever you are out and about with your camera.
Reference: http://www.amateursnapper.com/photog...position-rules
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