Learn Digital Photography - Top Ten Composition Guidelines

So what is composition? The dictionary defines it as “the act of mixing parts or elements to form a whole”. What you need to do in composing an image is to take the essential parts of the settingand combine them in such a manner, so as to create a photo very pleasing to the eye. That is all well and good, but, how can we do that most effectively? Listed below are ten top tips.

1. Clearly establish your subject.

This is what the non-negotiable of taking photos is all about. Composing an image. If you can’t compose an image you can’t. that’s the bottom line. this is where your photography journey starts as a newbie. Learning to put the elements within the photograph is natural for some but, for the rest of us we have to learn. Unless your subject is the point of interest of the image you don’t have a photo. When looking at the picture a person should be able to clearly determine the subject. So ensure you give sufficient attention to the object of your focus.

2. Fill your frame

One of the most frequent errors made by budding photographers is that they do not fill the frame with their subject or the key components of the image. Get in closer and exclude the elements that you simply don’t want. Open space serves no purpose when the subject is simply too small or can't be identified.

3. Don’t amputate

This means that you shouldn’t cut off part of your subject unless it's intentional to create an effect. Lacking parts of individuals or objects irritatethe person viewing itand create an incomplete image. It distracts the eye. So watch the perimeters of your picture.

4. Horizontal vs vertical

Digicam producers are guilty of for this situation because all cameras are intended to be held in a horizontal format. It should not be an either or scenario but rather a both and’. Try to take the photo 50% of the time in both formats. There is no law which is best and the secret is to experiment.

5. Dramatic angles

Shoot from high up or low down. Use your feet and move round the subject in search of a better angle. Do not be afraid to get down on your stomach or climb a tree. Search for completely different and different angles that can make your photos more attractive.

6. The rule of thirds

Think of a tic tac toe grid or noughts and crosses lines running across your photograph separating it into thirds horizontally and vertically. Where the lines cross or crisscross are the most effective placement points for your subjects or objects. Do not position the horizon of a landscape shot in the centre of your shot. Always place it on a horizontal thirds line. Subjects like lighthouses can be positioned down one of the vertical thirds lines.

7. Seek out frames

These come in two types, natural or man-made. Natural can be a gap in vegetation or a rock formation with a gap in it. Man-made frames are doorways, windows or arches. All of these help include focal point or location in a form that is very pleasing to the eye.

8. Simplify

Making an attempt to include a lot in a picture usually spoils it. A photo that is cluttered will cause the attention of the person viewing it to zip around the shot trying to make sense of it. Less is more as the old proverb goes. Get rid of anything that may distract the eye or is pointless to the memory you are attempting to produce.

9. Watch your background

Make sure that there is nothing present that would detract from the subject. Things like chimneys rising out of heads and different subjects diverting the attention from the principle subject. You want balance by not going in too near but incorporating enough of the background of the focal point or object to contextualise it.

10. Lines, patterns and shapes

Look for attention-grabbing patterns, lines and shapes. Lines direct the attention to focal points. A river, road, fence or path in a basic ‘s’ contour attracts the eye all along the path into your frame. Strong verticals provide height to your photograph and diagonals add depth. Turn your viewfinder allowing straight lines to move from corner to corner in the image.

Fundamentalto outstanding composing is thought. Deliberate before you depress the shutter button and take into account all of those points. Create a mental check list to help you combine these elements and produce that great composition.

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Wayne Turner studied with the New York Institute of Photography and has been teaching photography for 25 years. CLICK HERE to learn digital photography with him by subscribing to his FREE 10 PART PHOTOGRAPHY E-COURSE, emailed daily to your INBOX - To dramatically improve your photography here is his latest ebook, 21 STEPS TO PERFECT PHOTOS - CLICK HERE

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