10 Rules of Photography Composition and Framing

By Nabil Oumimoun

• All of my pictures are taken using my phone. I am not a photographer, just a guy with a camera phone.

• In most of these pictures, I am not going to restate the rules because we can find them written everywhere. Instead, I will try to show how I used these rules to take a shot, and maybe inspire you to take a better shot.

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Close Up

Whether you focus on a tiny insect or bring the camera too close to the subject, the main objective is to fill the frame with the subject.There are so many things in life that we don’t pay attention to. Use this rule to bring them to life.

Another example of close ups

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SimplicitySimple is sometimes better. Don’t put too much into your picture because your subject might get lost in the picture.This picture here is an example of how one fork can fill the space in the picture.

Different Camera Angles

Showing a subject from below makes them look very powerful and dominant. This technique is used a lot in movies. It works with video and pictures the same way.

Different Camera Angles

Showing a subject from above makes them look weak and helpless.Including other rules in one picture give an enhanced effect.

Frame within a FrameUsing objects in the foreground as frames is a great way to enhance the background.This is where I went to school in Morocco.

Frame within a Frame

Frame within a FrameThis is where I went to school in Morocco.

Frame within a Frame

Patterns and Textures

Patterns and Textures

Depth

Unlike our eyes, the camera takes flat images. So creating depth can take so many shapes but the goal is the same (giving a simulation of what the scene looks like in real life) In this picture the trees in the foreground, middle, and background give that impression.

Depth

DepthSo many examples

Rule of Thirds

Divide your picture into thirds, both horizontally and vertically.This is an example of horizontal division.The clouds take up 2/3 of the picture leaving 1/3 to the trees to complete the image. If I took the clouds only it would be hard to distinguish what it is.

Rule of Thirds

This is an example of the vertical division.Give space to your subjectThe subject here fills 2/3 of the space with a 1/3 free nose space.

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Leading linesUsing lines in a photograph creates the feel of movement. Naturally our eyes follow the line to the horizon.Use this technique to give the feel of going towards a goal.

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Leading lines

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Leading lines

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Leading lines

Size illusion

Depending on where objects are located in a photograph, the human eye can be messed with through illusion.In this picture, my hand is in the foreground of the picture holding nothing, but the bottle is carefully placed to create the illusion.

Size illusion

Breaking the Rules• Other shots that don’t really follow the rules, can

be very artistic.• Sometimes breaking the rule is the whole point of

the picture.

Silhouette At Lake Dardanelle

This is the opposite of simplicity. Putting too much information in the picture is sometimes a bad idea. But there are times when you have to take the shot. Like in here where the orange soldiers are invading the yellow. (My imagination is a little crazy sometimes)

This one is a special kind of “a Frame within a Frame”.Because the subject itself makes up the frame.

LightLight is the most important aspect in a photograph. Sometimes it is fun to just omit everything else, and leave only the light.(This is Riley, he is my model in my many of my shots)

Light Source

If you shoot the source of the light, make sure to avoid this.

Light Source

But instead use something like this.

Don’t make the light blind the view, make it part of the elements in the picture.

I hope you enjoyed my presentation