Photographic Composition

One of the first composition rules we learn in photography is the rule-of-thirds. But once you’ve understood this concept, what else can you do to improve the composition of your photos? It will get you started, but there’s more to composition than where you place your subject in the frame.

1. Guidelines

In this spirit, here are seven guidelines for improving your composition. Think of them as signposts on the route to becoming an accomplished photographer. They’ll help you get there, but you have the freedom to wander off by yourself at any time.

2.Challenge Yourself

Here’s a challenge for you. For each point in this article, set yourself a goal of putting it into practice. Go out and take some photos. The information will become much more valuable, you’ll learn a lot about composition, and your photos will be better.

3. Lines

Lines guide the viewer’s eye from one point to another through the photo. Look for lines that lead towards your main subject. Avoid lines that lead the viewer’s eye out of the photo. Remember, lines can be curved as well as straight.

4. Foreground Interest

Don’t neglect the foreground in your photos. Make the foreground work for you. How do you do this? The best way is to make sure that there is something interesting to look at. The tricky part is finding something that’s interesting, but doesn’t compete with or distract attention from your main subject.

Your subject is the visual centre of your photo (it may not be positioned physically in the centre of the photo, but it’s the most important part of it). The elements around your subject, such as the foreground, should play a supporting role.

5. Lens Choice

What type of lens is best for the photo? There are three basic choices: wide angle, standard and telephoto. Each has its own unique characteristics.

6. Negative Space

Negative space is the area around your subject. If this area is empty, like in the photo of the shell below, it’s called negative space because there’s very little in it. Negative space gives the subject room to breathe. It can also convey a sense of the subject’s environment.

7. Shapes and Patterns

Look for interesting shapes and patterns. They can be patterns in nature for example, or the shapes of buildings against a clear sky. Once you’ve found something interesting, get in close and concentrate on the shape or pattern that caught your eye.

8. Contrast

Contrast is an important compositional element. There are contrasts all around you. Once you become aware of how effective contrast is in your photos you can deliberately seek it out. Some types of contrast that work well in photos are the contrasts between old and new, light and dark, rough and smooth, solid and blurred or warm and cold.

9. Keep it Simple

Now it’s time to put all these guidelines together. If there’s one overriding principle that will guide you well it’s this – keep it simple. Decide what the most important elements of the photo are, and eliminate anything that doesn’t contribute. Every part of your photo should be earning its keep. If it’s not needed, leave it out. Your compositions will become simpler, bolder and more effective. Your photos will have more impact and your message will be communicated to the viewer with clarity.

10.Conclusion

If you take one thing away from this article, remember that composition means so much more than a basic “thirds” grid. Appreciating the theory of what makes a good image is incredibly important, and will serve you well in countless different situations.

reference:

http://photo.tutsplus.com/tutorials/composition/master-the-art-of-photographic-composition/