Research Services Georgia Baptist Convention Photography Basics - Composition Techniques to Becoming a Better Photographer

Have you ever wondered why some pictures are more appealing than others? One of the main reasons is because of their strong composition.

Simplicity Look for ways to eliminate “clutter” and draw attention to the center of interest. Move close to your subject and look for a background that does not detract from the primary subject.

Simplicity Isolate your subject.

Rule of Thirds Use this as a guide for the off-center placement of your subjects. Before you snap a picture, imagine your image divided into thirds both horizontally and vertically. Use the intersections of these lines to place the greatest center of interest.

Rule of Thirds Use this as a guide for the off-center placement of your subjects. Before you snap a picture, imagine your image divided into thirds both horizontally and vertically. Use the intersections of these lines to place the greatest center of interest.

Rule of Thirds Use this as a guide for the off-center placement of your subjects. Before you snap a picture, imagine your image divided into thirds both horizontally and vertically. Use the intersections of these lines to place the greatest center of interest.

Rule of Thirds Off-center placement applies to many different subjects.

Rule of Thirds Off-center placement applies to many different subjects.

Rule of Thirds This same principle applies to vertical “thirds.”

Rule of Thirds This same principle applies to vertical “thirds.”

Rule of Thirds “Thirds” also applies in the relative placement or position of objects in your photograph.

Rule of Thirds “Thirds” also applies in the relative placement or position of objects in your photograph.

Rule of Thirds This particularly applies with respect to the horizon.

Rule of Thirds This particularly applies with respect to the horizon.

Rule of Odds Odd numbers are more pleasing to the eyes than evens.

Lines This is an example of using Vertical lines.

Lines This is an example of using Horizontal lines.

Lines This is an example of using Diagonal lines.

Lines These are examples of using both Diagonal and Horizontal lines.

Curves Curves make an image “flow” and makes your eyes move through the photo.

S-Curves S-curves are another great pattern to capture that direct your attention thru a picture.

Circles

Geometric Shapes Look for opportunities to capture combinations of shapes together.

Leading Lines Like s-curves, leading lines guide your eye through the picture…

Leading Lines They can be roads, fences, lights, bridges, water, whatever…

Depth The feeling of distance is created naturally or by small aperture settings on the camera.

Balance Balance helps keep the photo from being too “weighted” on one side – but not cluttered either.

Symmetry Photos using symmetry are like a mirrored image where left and right are nearly identical.

Patterns Look for interesting patterns in nature and architecture.

Black/White and Sepia Black-and-white and Sepia give that “old time” feel, and also hide poor color quality.

Monotonous Images Look for repetitive patterns, shapes, colors, etc.

Fill Frame Fill the whole picture from top-to-bottom and side-to-side with the image.

Viewpoint Don’t always shoot from the same perspective – move around. Shoot from below, above, beside…

Background The driftwood photo is enhanced by the background while the red honeysuckle has a “busy” and distracting background.

Framing Framing places your subject “inside” or between other objects like a picture frame.

More Framing Other ideas… be creative.

Panoramic Photos The top photo is 5 pictures “stitched” together. The bottom one is 4 photos combined.

Cropping Move in very close or crop the photo to get more detail.

Long Shutter Speeds They make firework trails.

Long Shutter Speeds You can capture night scenes without a flash.

Long Shutter Speeds They make water look silky smooth.

Long Shutter Speeds Painting with Light Abstracts

Long Shutter Speeds Blurry Roads Ghosting

Long Shutter Speeds Streaming Automobile Lights Amusement Park Rides

Fast Shutter Speeds Stop Action on Birds in Flight Water Droplets

Reflections Reflection photos do not have to follow the Rule of Thirds. They can have a top and bottom half.

Textures Soft, fluffy, brittle, smooth, rough, etc – capture texture.

Fresh Angles Walk around your subject and shoot from many different angles.

Perspective Include people of other familiar objects to help viewers understand dimension.

Capture Motion Seldom are your subjects completely still. Capture that sense of motion in your photos.

Capture Personality People and animals have “personality.” Allow that to show through in your photographs.

Capture Feeling Cold, sleepy, happy, lonely, hungry… capture a sense of “feeling” in your photos.

Environment Place your subjects in their natural environment or context. Capture meaningful foreground and background.

Have Fun

More Multiplicity

Cut and Paste from Two Photos

Bubble Planets Here’s a little fun you can have with soap bubbles.

Questions