The Rules of Composition, Part 1

Composition is more than just arranging the elements in a shot. It is the combining of these separate elements into a whole to create a pleasing image. Nor are these hard and fast rules, these should be considered guidelines used in pursuit of good photography.

Before you take the shot:

You should consider what you want your viewers to look at and how you want to display main points of interest. Examine the foreground and background before you shoot. Composition includes an awareness of your subject’s surroundings and how these surroundings affect the main subject. You should ask yourself, what is the main subject? What angle will the light be striking at on the subject in my picture? Is there anything that could bring the focus onto the main subject? Where should the main subject be in the frame? These are all important things you should consider, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to follow the rules exactly.

Rule of thirds:

The Rule of Thirds means that the frame can be divided into three horizontal sections and three vertical sections and therefore, where the horizontal and vertical lines intersect makes an ideal location for the more important parts of your picture. Using the rule of thirds doesn’t mean you have to put the point of interest on the right hand side and the bottom of the image.

Rule of Thirds

The Golden Mean/Ratio/Harmonic Triangle :

Loosely related to the rule of thirds, is the Golden Mean or Golden Ratio it includes the Golden Triangle or the Golden Spiral or the Golden Rectangle and the Harmonic Triangle. The lines that divide an image in the Golden Ratio are also known as harmonic dividing lines. Our eye perceives such a division as especially pleasant because it likes to move back and forth between two different sizes, but at the same time also loves the harmony. No one knows why the human brain likes this division so much, simply said “It just looks good”. Taking pictures using the Golden Mean is a more fluid and visually compelling way to compose your shots. Notice how the petals follow the curved line of the Golden Spiral around to form a pleasing arc and the center of the flower is in the Golden Rectangle. In the image of the bird, notice how the diagonal line (this is called the Harmonic Triangle) dividing the image runs through the middle of the bird’s head and down along the main part of the body, allowing the eye to run along the diagonal line.

The Golden Spiral/Section

Harmonic Triangle

 
Keeping things simple:

Avoid distractions in your background if your subject is close. Not everything is important to the overall image, decide on the main subject and try to keep everything else less interesting. Try to avoid lines or objects that distract or lead away from the subject. In the image below are three elements, the color, green and blue, the curved lines leading to the tree and the tree itself a very simple image. This particular image also follows the Rule of Thirds.

Keep it Simple

 
Framing the Main Subject:

Door frames, window frames, tree branches arches and leaves can be used. Try not to focus on the frame itself, instead use it to lead the viewer to your main subject. Look into the corners of the viewfinder, what do you see? Do you really need all of that background or foreground? Can you move closer to the subject, either physically or by zooming in closer? Does the subject look better framed in a portrait orientation or a landscape orientation?

Frame the Subject

In this case I used the natural curve of the area in which the subject was living to create a frame for the subject.

 
Texture and Patterns:

Texture creates interest and repeating patterns, both natural and man-made, create a visual rhythm. Keep it simple, too much of a good thing can be very distracting.

Texture and Patterns

Texture, the skin of the snake provides both texture and pattern repetition giving interest to the image.

Color adds interest and emotion to an image. It’s another good way to draw the eye, complimentary colors (opposite of one another on the color wheel), analogous colors (next to one another on the color wheel) or monochromatic colors (colors based on the same hue but that are different in tint or tone) can enhance an image and can make a dull picture sparkle. Again, too much of a good thing can lead to the exact opposite of what you are aiming for in the composition. Keep the subject’s color dominant and the others more subdued to create harmony.

Color

Color, the background color mimics the color in the frog, but is subdued, which creates a nice harmony between the background and the main focal point.

Leading Lines:

Vertical and horizontal, curved and diagonal lines are all good at pulling the viewer into image as long as they lead to the main subject and not away from it. Roads, rivers, streams, bridges, branches, fences, and telephone poles are all good examples of leading lines, but there are many more. Watch for leading lines that cut the image in half instead of leading the viewer or leading lines that lead to nowhere.

Leading Lines

Leading Lines, the road in the image invites the viewer into the scene.

Diagonal Leading Lines

Leading Lines, Diagonal, the subject itself is sitting on a diagonal angle, the angle of the leaves repeat this diagonal line and therefore, reinforce the strength of the line.

 
Geometric Shapes:

Using a triangle shape to intersect three objects, one being the central subject is a good way to lead the eye. This can help create a balanced composition. There are several other geometric shapes, the S-Curve and it is compositional gold, if you see one there is a good shot in there somewhere. The Arc is another. An open arc can draw the viewer toward the focal point. An arc can also be used to frame a subject, or as a spatial divider or a connector, but don’t just include an arc, search for ways to use it to it’s best advantage.

Triangle 1

Geometric Shape, Triangle, the three points of interest in this shot are the curve of the man bending over the table, the far edge of the table on the right and the weapons in the center of the table, which create a triangle pulling the viewer into the scene.

Triangles in Landscape Photography

The second example is a landscape, the crumbling bridge supports create the point of the triangle, while the edges of the Canadian River on both sides finish the triangle. As you can see, the possibilities are limitless, they can be used in any type of photography.

 
Eye Level:

Get eye level with your subject or in eye contact. This is especially important when shooting people, birds and animals.

Eye Level

Eye Contact holds a viewer’s attention and invites people into the shot.

 
Negative Space:

This works well in portrait studies, but can also be used in other areas such as wildlife and landscapes to great effect. It can simplify your shot and draw attention the main subject.

Negative Space

Negative Space, helps create simplicity and draws the eye toward the main focal point. The negative space in this image is the gray sky above the trees, it helps create a mood for the picture.

 
Fill the Frame:

A good compositional tool is to fill the frame with the subject, this is an in your face, bold way to draw attention to your subject. And you don’t have to shoot in macro mode to achieve this type of composition.

Filling the Frame

Fill the Frame means also keeping it simple, and keeps the viewer’s eye from wandering anywhere else.

Breaking the Rules, in this shot I created my own orientation, I tilted the camera and made the horizon line wacky, and I centered the image, but got in closer to the subject and used the natural lines of the parked vehicle to my advantage.

Breaking the Rules