Rules/Guidelines for strong photos No background Simplified background Included background Center of interest Rule of 1/3’s High camera angle Flat camera angle Low camera angle Leading lines Framing Posed portrait Candid portrait Landscape Cityscape Stop action Blurred action Silhouette theme

Compositional Guidelines or “rules” for strong photos

Your Goal as a photographer…. Grab attention “say” something

How can you do this? Through strong photos! Simple Clear uncluttered

BACKGROUND No background Simplified background Included background

No Background makes for complete focus on the subject

Simplified background main subject in focus background out of focus (blurry) Still want background to strengthen the overall theme

Included Background Subjects in the background add to the story

WHERE IS YOUR SUBJECT? Strong center of interest Rule of thirds

Strong center of interest (AKA Symmetrical) Main subject is centrally located

Rule of thirds (AKA asymmetrical) Main subject is either: Along the line or Where two lines intersect

CAMERA ANGLE High Flat Low

High camera angle “birds-eye view” Camera is up HIGH. You’re above subject looking down

Flat camera angle The view is neither up nor down, the view is looking directly out. You are eye level with your subject

Low camera angle “ants-eye view” Camera is low photo is shot looking up.

HOW TO DRAW VIEWERS EYE TO YOUR SUBJECT Leading lines Framing

Leading Lines Objects or subjects within an image which draws our eye into the composition and often to the center of interest.

Framing When an object in the foreground surrounds the center of interest. This is commonly seen as a doorway or window, similar to what a frame does for a picture.

PORTRAIT pictures of people Posed Candid

Posed photographer takes control of the subject directing them prior to taking the photograph. Many times this type of picture has a more stiff or rigid quality.

Candid People in their natural state. Person is unaware photograph is being taken

“SCAPE” To view Landscape Cityscape

Landscape Any picture of the land horizon line (where the sky meets the ground) is on, or near, the line of thirds.

Cityscape A photograph relating to architecture.

ACTION Blurred Stop

Blurred action Motion inside the frame which is not in focus. Either the subject or the background is blurred strengthening the theme of motion.

Stop Action Motion inside the frame which is in clear focus. Both the foreground and the background are in sharp focus.

SILHOUETTE The light source is behind the main subject causing the subject to be very dark, almost black.

THEME Very powerful Deliver a message “a picture is worth a thousand words”.

Scavenger Hunt Your job is to look through magazines and find strong examples of each guideline, or rule, that photographers use to create strong images.

Each guideline/rule is worth 2 points… which will add up quickly. Look for quality photos which truly display the characteristics of each. Any pictures which do not display the “rule” will not be awarded points. Good luck on your hunt!