1

Comment

For me, photography is perhaps the sincerest form of expression to how I view the world around me. My senses are awakened when my camera is in tow and my eye finds its way to the viewfinder. Before I begin thinking about the technical aspects of creating an image, I tend to give thought to “how” I want to shoot the photograph. When considering the “how”, I instinctively hone in on…composition.

Proper utilization of various compositional elements can directly impact the way your image will be perceived. Whether you are trying to convey a thought, feeling or otherwise, close attention to composition can assist you in effectively getting your point across. While there are many things to consider when entering the world of compositional awareness, what I would like to do is offer a few simple tips that can be easily applied and mastered with a bit of practice.

Tips for Better Composition

1. The Rule of 3rds: If you want to maximize the subject’s impact you sometimes have to go beyond centering the focal point within the frame. When framing the shot, take a moment to mentally divide the frame into thirds both horizontally and diagonally (as illustrated below) which will give you 9 equal-sized parts. The strongest points in which to place the feature you are looking to emphasize is where those lines intersect.

2. Move Around: An effective way to make images more pleasing to the eye is to change the perspective that you are shooting from. Alternating your point of view can impact many aspects of your image, for instance, crouching in front of your subject can emphasis or exaggerate its size. You could also try lying down on the ground or climbing above the subject — given there is a safe way to do so. Remember, the variety of perspectives is limited only by your imagination.

3. Fill the Frame: Don’t be afraid to get in close. Doing so can reveal hidden details that would otherwise go unnoticed.

4. Isolate the Subject: Be sure to pay close attention to the background when framing a shot. Doing a quick scan will give you the opportunity to eliminate distracting background elements. Alternatively, if you own a DSLR or the like, you can shoot with a shallow depth of field (f3) to blur the background a bit.

5. Lead with Lines: Keep an eye out for diagonal, horizontal, vertical, and converging lines because these powerful focal points have the ability to draw the viewer into your image.

6. Foreground interest: Objects found surrounding the main subject you are attempting to shoot can give landscape shots a greater sense of depth. Seeking out these elements to incorporate in your image can also be a way of looking for other perspectives to shoot from as we discussed in #2. If you use a DSLR, I would recommend a small aperture (f11) to keep the entire scene in focus.

[All photos by author]