The arrangement of elements and their relationship
to the background of an image.
Compose pictures that get attention and deliver your
message.
In general, good pictures result from careful attention to some basic elements of
composition, together with appropriate lighting and an interesting subject. There is,
however, no "right" way to take a picture. Three photographers recording the
same scene may create equally appealing photographs with entirely different composition.
The important question to ask is -
"What message do I want my picture to deliver?" |
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Here are a few basic guidelines to get you
started:
Point of Interest
Identify a primary point of interest before taking the picture. When you’ve
determined which area is the most important to you, you can compose to emphasize it.
(Studying advertising photographs is a good way to get acquainted with emphasis in
composition.) |
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Simplicity
Be sure that only the things you want the viewer to see appear in the picture. If there
are numerous objects cluttering up the background, your message will be lost. If you can’t
find an angle or framing to isolate your subject, consider using depth of field control to keep
the background out of focus. |
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Contrast
A light subject will have more impact if placed against a dark background and vice versa.
Contrasting colors may be used for emphasis, but can become distracting if not considered
carefully. |
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Balance
Generally, asymmetric or informal balance is considered more pleasing
in a photograph than symmetric (formal) balance. In other words, placing the main subject
off-center and balancing the "weight" with other objects (smaller or lower
impact) will be more effective than placing the subject in the center. |
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Framing
A "frame" in a photograph is something in the
foreground that leads you into the picture or gives you a sense of where the viewer is.
For example, a branch and some leaves framing a shot of rolling hills and a valley, or the
edge of an imposing rock face leading into a shot of a canyon. Framing can usually improve
a picture. The "frame" doesn’t need to be sharply focused. In fact if it is
too sharply detailed, it could be a distraction. |
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Viewpoint
You can often change a picture dramatically by moving the camera up or
down or, stepping to one side. One of the best ways to come up with a prize-winning
photograph is to find an "unusual" point of view.
Direction of movement
When the subject is capable of movement, such as an animal or person, it
is best to leave space in front of the subject so it appears to be moving into, rather
than out of, the photograph. |
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Diagonals
Linear elements such as roads, waterways, and fences placed diagonally are
generally perceived as more dynamic than horizontals. |
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Rule of Thirds
Last, but not least, is something called the "rule of thirds." This is a
principle taught in graphic design and photography and is based on the theory that the eye
goes naturally to a point about two-thirds up the page. Also, by visually dividing the
image into thirds (either vertically or horizontally) you achieve the informal or
asymmetric balance mentioned above. |
Although there are
many ways a photograph can be composed effectively by basing it on the use of
"thirds," the most common example is the placement of the horizon line in
landscape photography.
If the area of interest is land or water, the horizon line will usually
be two-thirds up from the bottom. On the other hand, if the sky is the area of emphasis,
the horizon line may be one-third up from the bottom, leaving the sky to occupy the top
two-thirds. |
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Remember that these are only guidelines, not hard and
fast "rules." While a novice can achieve quality output quickly with these
guidelines, experienced photographers who know the rules often find very creative ways to
break them, with excellent results |
