Choices: Photographic Composition

Feeling inadequate? Asking yourself, how did they get that great picture? Are you posting pictures but you feel like your work will never get noticed? Don't give up because the answer is a matter of choice. The most popular photographers on DA have something in common, they are masters at choosing a winning composition.

Composition is the arrangement of elements and their relationship to the background in an image. A good composition will immediately grab the viewer’s attention and deliver your message. Good pictures are not a matter of luck; they are the result of careful attention to the basic elements of composition, appropriate lighting, and an interesting subject. There is no formula for composing an interesting image. Three photographers may approach the same scene with entirely different compositions and create equally appealing photographs. The important question to ask is: "What message do I want my picture to deliver?"

The universal elements of composition are: point of interest, simplicity, contrast, balance, framing, viewpoint, diagonals, and “The Rule of Thirds”. An interesting photograph need not have all of these elements present; however, there are at least three of these elements in every outstanding image. The elements of composition are not rules, but guidelines.

To illustrate each element of composition, I have selected images by some my friends that I watch at DA. I have posed the elements of composition in a series of questions. When you take a shot, the questions form an internal dialogue that guides your choices. Remember, a good photograph does not happen; it is the result of a conscious choice dictated by the elements of composition, the conditions of the shoot, and your technical expertise.

(Of course, some images will demonstrate more than one element of composition… they should!)

Point of Interest: What is it that will immediately grab and hold the viewers attention? Does the composition emphasize the message you want to convey?



Simplicity: Is your point of interest clear? Is the background clear of distractions and clutter? If your image does not have a clean background, can you use depth of field to focus only on your subject?



Contrast: Do I have a light subject placed against a dark background and vice versa? Can I use contrasting colors for emphasis or will it be distracting? Will contrast emphasize my point?



Balance: Are the relationship of the elements in my image asymmetric or symmetrical?
Asymmetric, or informal, balance may be more pleasing in a photograph than symmetric, or formal, balance. Can I place the main subject off-center and balance the "weight" with other objects?



On the other hand, will a formal balance enhance the effect?

Framing: Do I have a "frame" in a photograph? Is there something in the foreground that leads the viewer into picture or gives viewer a sense of place?



Is the frame too sharply focused? If it is too sharply detailed, it could be a distraction.

Viewpoint: Is there an unusual way to aim my camera? Can aiming higher or lower, left or right change the image?



Direction of movement: Do I have enough space in front of my subject if the subject is moving, or I want to suggest movement?



Diagonals: Can I make my image more dynamic by finding linear elements that cut diagonally across the frame?



Rule of Thirds: The eye naturally focuses at a point about two-thirds up the page. Employing the rule of thirds will immediately affect the balance and the framing of the image. When applying the Rule of Thirds, ask yourself: “What is my point of interest?”



The difference between a mediocre snap and a compelling image is a matter of choice. A novice can improve the consistency of their images by consciously applying the elements of composition for every image. Expert photographers create extraordinary images by finding creative ways to bend or break the “rules”... The choice is yours.