Now that you know the Basics of Photography, it’s time to talk about composition and maximizing the aesthetics of your photographs. Let’s face it – when the perfect moment arrives, whether it be sun rays passing through a misty forest or the smiles on children in a playground, it’s difficult to think about rules. All you want to do is snap a shot that conveys the same passion and inspiration you feel about the imagery. By mentally arranging photos using a set of broader guidelines, you can train your brain and eyes to naturally set up and take better photographs.
With that in mind, take a few shots using these eight basic “rules” of photographic composition:
- Background – Avoid clutter behind your subject. This doesn’t mean avoiding color or action. You can’t always control certain elements, and some actually add to your overall effect. However, simplicity is key when starting out. Consider changing positions or blurring the background with a closer lens focus.
- Patterns – Symmetry exists everywhere you look, and not all of it is man-made. Certain symmetry can provide intriguing composition, especially when the pattern is interrupted in a meaningful way. After all, the human mind follows patterns. In that way, it also notices and tries to analyze discrepancies.
- Rule of Thirds – Break your scene into thirds in both the horizontal and vertical directions with imaginary lines, creating nine sections of the photo. Set your composition up with the subject(s) along the lines and especially where the lines intersect. For some reason, filling these areas looks better in an image.
- Balance – The rule of thirds can be tricky when you have only one subject. You don’t want to leave the rest of your picture empty. There is no interest there. Instead, fill the background with a secondary subject. The rule of thirds will accent your primary subject and the composition will seem more balanced.
- Leading Lines – Diagonal or curvy lines made from objects or natural landmarks like rivers, mountain ranges, etc. can spice up a photo as well as lead your eyes into the image. When you utilize this rule, be sure that the lines are leading to a subject or some sort of conclusion.
- Viewpoint – Oftentimes an uninteresting subject matter can be transformed with a simple shift in viewpoint. Don’t be afraid to move around and take shots from alternate angles, especially changing the camera level. For instance, a photo of a statue or building from low to the ground can create a menacing or overwhelming feel.
- Framing – Another way to accent your subject is through composition framing. Try using trees, archways, window frames, etc. to draw the eye toward the main subject matter.
- Depth – Photography is a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional world. An actual scene may have a foreground, a middle ground, and a background. Convey this kind of depth by overlapping objects or setting similar objects at differing distances.
These rules are a great start to training your eyes and brain for better photographic composition, but remember that there are no real “rules.” In fact, many great artists have become great by breaking rules. Don’t be afraid to experiment and even purposefully ignore or do the opposite of any of these. It might just revolutionize modern photography!
When you’ve developed or downloaded your film, take your favorite shots into Frame Warehouse to finalize the collection!
