Composition
- 1. COMPOSITION
- 2. Composition is the way your subject is framed inside the image. Did you place your subject in the center, or off the the right? In the frame, or partially out of the frame?
- 4. Keep the viewer’s attention on the main subject by removing empty space from the background of your photo. Rule 1: Fill the frame When the background isn’t adding anything meaningful or interesting to the picture, crop it out to focus on the subject.
- 5. Keep the viewer’s attention on the main subject by removing distracting elements from the photo. Rule 2: Eliminate distractions Ugly half balloon … you aren’t adding anything to the photo’s composition! Position your camera so distracting objects aren’t behind your subject! Position your camera so distracting objects aren’t behind your subject!
- 6. The human eye tends to be more interested in images that are divided into thirds, with the subject falling at or along one of those divisions. Rule 3: RULE OF THIRDS Position key points of the subject on the intersections of the grid.
- 7. The rule of thirds is the most famous composition rule because it creates a feeling of movement, visual interest, and balance. Rule 3: RULE OF THIRDS Without the rule of thirds, images seem more “static” and less dynamic.
- 8. Rule 3: RULE OF THIRDS The rule of thirds is the most famous composition rule because it creates a feeling of movement, visual interest, and balance.
- 9. Another way to achieve balance in your image is to center the subject. Centering creates symmetry. Rule 4: CENTER YOUR IMAGE
- 10. While the rule of thirds creates visual interest and often conveys a sense of motion, centering an image creates a feeling of balance and stillness. Rule 4: CENTER YOUR IMAGE
- 11. Notice lines that appear naturally in your scene and frame them in your shot. Look for spirals and lines that move from the foreground to the background. Rule 5: LEADING LINES
- 12. Rule 5: LEADING LINES
- 13. If the subject is not looking forward into the camera lens, there should be enough space in the photo for your subject to look. In the same way, if your subject is moving, they should be moving toward the empty space. Rule 6: Rule of Space
- 14. Rule 6: Rule of Space
- 15. Rule 6: Rule of Space Movement toward the empty space.
- 16. Rule 6: Rule of Space Remember to give your subject space to breathe! Cropping too tightly feels claustrophobic and can make your image look like an icon.
- 17. Include objects in the foreground, middle, and background of the image. Rule 7: CREATE DEPTH
- 18. Rule 7: CREATE DEPTH Don’t just shoot the mountains in the distance: including something in the foreground (stones) adds visual interest and depth. Our eyes naturally follow the scene from the stones to the sunset in the distance.
- 19. Rule 7: CREATE DEPTH
- 20. Rule 8: CONSIDEr ANGLe Create more visual interest by choosing a camera angle other than “straight on.” Eye-levelLow-angle High-angle
- 21. Rule 8: CONSIDEr ANGLe
- 22. BONUS TIPS! Don’t cut off people’s limbs at the joints. You should also stay away from cropping the little appendages like fingers, toes or even ears. Use simple backgrounds to help the viewer focus entirely on the subject. Busy backgrounds will cause distraction.