The 10 Principles of Photographic Composition How to take better photographs

Composition Composition is the start of the photographic process on the creative side. On the technical side we start with light which is the raw material for our image and work with the exposure controls. Composition is the placement of elements within the restriction of the frame of the photo. A photo has two main parts. First is the subject which is what we take a photo of. Second is treatment which is how that subject is arranged within the frame.

We use the Principles of Design in combination with the Principles of Composition: that of using the rule of thirds in creating a focal point that is placed not in the centre of an image but off-centre; using lines and movement so that the viewers’ eyes can travel across the image before resting on the centre of interest; of considering the background, or negative space within photographic composition to work with your centre of interest; and consideration of the frame and the edge of the frame, wherein you determine how your subject will fit within, and coordinate with, the edges of the frame of your camera and what elements will lead the viewer’s eye into and across the photograph.

1. Rule of Thirds Perhaps the most important guide for composition is called the Rule of Thirds. When the frame is divided into three parts horizontally and then again vertically we get the arrangement shown here. The lines of intersection are ideal placement points for the dominant element in our photo—the part of the photo that attracts our attention. We call that the center of interest or subject. Each photo should have such a point—if there is nothing that attracts your attention, then the photo does not communicate as well. Subject placement can also be placed along one of the thirds to be effective. The horizon line should be placed on the thirds line and never in the centre if it is visible.

The Rule of Thirds in Photography

The following photo is also an example of the Rule of Thirds as well as of Diagonal Lines in a photograph. Notice that the dot represents the part of the photo our eye comes to rest on—this part of the photo shows contrast in color and shape to the rest of the photo and thus attracts more attention.

2. Diagonal Lines Pay attention to lines in your photo. Lines can be actual lines from a road or fence, or from an arrangement of objects such as these cars. Lines that are horizontal or flat tend to be peaceful and reduce the excitement of a photo. Diagonal lines make a photo have a feeling of action or excitement. Here we have the larger truck placed on the diagonal lines to attract attention. Notice how it was placed using the Rule of Thirds.

3. Curved Lines CURVED lines also are important. ANY line in the photo adds to the composition feel, here we see curved lines made by the arms of the swimmer add to the feeling of peacefulness. Notice how the face is placed in the thirds line. This is also an example of a subject placed within the frame.

4. Leading Lines Objects in the composition that draw the viewer INTO the photo and perhaps to the center of interest are called Leading Lines. The lines made by the highway draw our eye INTO the photo and off toward the ending point where the white dot was placed. The white dot is our centre of interest. It is where the eye should stop as we view the photo. This is also an example of the subject breaking the frame at the top of the image, and leading beyond where we cannot see.

5. Background Simplified The aperture on your camera can be adjusted to around F2.8 to create a shallow depth of field. The result is loss of sharpness in the background which we call background simplified. The background is there to provide a context for your centre of interest, but is not the main focus of the image. 6. Background Included With the aperture set to its highest depth of field at F22, the focus gets sharper and the background becomes more clear. A photographer will do this when the objects in the background ADD to the story of her/his subject. In this case, the background is very important to the story of the photograph.

7. No Background No background at all makes for a complete focus of attention on the subject. An example of this would be most school portraits and a good deal of product photography, like cosmetics and such.

8. Foreground Creating a Frame In the cat photo, we find our eye drawn to the cat as it is has a strong attraction to the eyes plus the photo uses the Foreground Creating a Frame (out of focus foreground that frames the centre of interest) to add depth and help draw our attention to the cat. Foreground Creating a Frame is defined as some object in the FOREGROUND that surrounds or frames the center of interest. This is often a door, or as in this photo, a tree or bush. It adds depth to a photo.

9. Subject Breaking the Frame When the centre of interest of an image extends beyond the frame of the actual photo, this is considered as Subject Breaking the Frame. There is an urgency or intensity to a photograph where the main subject is cut off by the edge of the frame, is bursting from the edge of the frame or breaking the frame.

10. Subject Contained within the Frame When a subject is Contained within the Frame, this means that your entire centre of interest of your photograph is within the frame of the photograph. This has a much calmer feel than that of breaking the frame, but it also direct and focused in its intention.