COMPOSITION is the organization of visual elements used in a picture to communicate visual harmony. They are the ingredients arranged in a photograph to create order and say what you want to say in an effective aesthetically pleasing way
The so-called rules of photographic composition are, in my opinion, invalid, irrelevant and immaterial” – Ansel Adams
- 1. Intention: Know what you are photographing. Make your choice for a reason for photographing. Have a focal point. Contemplate Your Images. Think. Slow down.
- 2. Simplicity: Keep it Simple. Simplify the scene to your subject/most interesting visual element. Leave out clutter that takes away from what you want to say.
- 3. Rule of Thirds (vertical and horizontal) compose at a cross point in your frame. Avoid the middle!
- 4. Horizons: use rule of thirds and avoid centering horizons
- 5. Balance: keep the visual weight of your pictures equalized.
- 6. Leading Lines: lines and curves draw you into the photograph
- 7. Geometry: S-Curves, Cirles, Lines, Triangles. Use Shapes to draw your viewer in.
- 8. Patterns: repeating visual patterns created in the natural and unnatural world.
- 9. Symmetry: geometrical balance and harmony.
- 10. Point of View: eye-level; worm’s eye; birds eye; side view; back view; close-up; distant. Look for the best, most interesting point of view..
- 11. Framing: finding a visual frame in the scene: window, arch, hole and frames within frames.
- 12. Backgrounds: clean unobtrusive or interesting backgrounds. Avoid Mergers (things growing out of subject’s head). Look and See!
- 13. Avoid Mergers: Watch Background and things growing out of your subject.
- 14. Rule of Odds Use an odd number of elements in your composition for more compelling photographs.
- 15. Silhouettes and Shapes
- 16. Scale: show the size and create impact by showing the size contrasts between elements in your picture. Compare and contrast large and small objects.
- 17. Lead Room: Leave space to move in the direction your subject is moving either in front or behind showing where they’re going or have been.
- 18. Space: Positive and negative space can be used for strong impact.
- 19. Color: use strong contrasting colors to communicate.
- 20. Texture: communicate how if feels (rough, smooth, bumby, scaley, leathery, etc.)
- 21. Depth of Field: Use selective focus and blur the background to convey your intention.
- 22. Fill the Frame: Think, compose and include only essential photo elements.
- 23. Layering: create depth and dimension by layering elements in your photos.
- 24. Recapitulation: use elements to draw viewer’s eye around picture like a pinball machine.
- 25. Break the Rules After you know and understand the rules, break them.