photo composition basic

Photo composition

Composition

• When looking for a photograph, these are the key aspects to look at through your viewfinder.

• Photos can be a combination of multiple rules of composition or just one.

• Regardless, following each rule will bring out a better, or more unique, photo.

Rule of Thirds• The most basic of

all composition, yet the most important.

• Is simply breaking up your viewfinder into nine squares, three horizontal and three vertical.

Leading Lines

• Our eyes are naturally drawn to line and skim start to finish.

• The lines can direct us to a subject or on a journey.

• Lines can consist of straight, diagonal, curvy, zigzag or radial/spiral lines.

Symmetry and patterns

• Symmetry-either both the left and right sides are identical or top and bottom.

• Symmetry can bring our focus to a specific point.

• Patterns-a repeated subject; can be circular, linear, etc.

• Both may be the only time the middle part of the rule of thirds is the most interesting.

Foreground/Middle/Background

• Used to bring focus to particular subjects, in the front, middle and/or back of the photo.

• Goal is to avoid having busy, unnecessary elements in a photo.

• Can be done in two ways:

FMB

Framing

• A combination of almost every composition.

• Similar to FMB as it puts focus on a particular subject.

• Also, similar to the symmetry/pattern, is a point of emphasis, surrounded by a symmetrical, or patterned, background.

• If done right, your eye will be naturally drawn to the subject.

• Is a natural frame.