The Best Basic Rules of Composition

Why is photography composition important?

The rules of composition is the story of your photo, as you guide the viewers eye and reaction, into your photo, emphasising on the bits you want to. The truth is that the most successful compositions are simple, with no doubt of what the subject actually is.

What does composition mean in photography?

The principles of composition in photography is the arrangement of the elements. It’s the conscious choice of what to include and exclude, and how you position the subjects within the frame. This means you need to train your eye to see all the different possibilities and then you can choose the one that suits your story.

Why are there so many rules of composition in photography?

There are so many rules of composition; all of which can help you create a more appealing image for your audience. However, as you can imagine they don’t all work in every situation and luckily photographer’s use the term rules very loosely. Most of these are great starting guidelines. The art of a great photo or image is learning which elements and composition rules do what and how it can help you tell your story for a particular moment. In particular which composition techniques work well together. Let’s be honest we don’t want the same photo on repeat.

9 ESSENTIAL RULES OF PHOTOGRAPHY COMPOSITION

The most common question about composition is: What are photography composition techniques? Simply put, it’s applying a rule of composition or composition technique to your image that has already been proven to work and some photography compositions are easier for beginners. There are two main types of compositions; framing in photography and lines in photography.

Fill the frame photography

What is Fill the Frame?

The Frame refers to the edges of the photo. So the concept behind the fill the frame rule is simply that you get close enough to the subject that you fill the majority of the photo with your subject. 

Why is this important? 

By filling your frame with your subject you avoid any background distractions, you also emphasise the subject

How to fill your frame?

1. Zoom in! Yes, It really is that simple. By zooming in you can fill the frame with your subject. 
2. Use your legs- Run out of zoom, your legs are an amazing backup. Simply move closer. 
3. Crop them after. The magic of being able to edit afterwards. 

Rule of thirds

Here’s some rule of thirds examples:

What is the Rule of Thirds?

The Rule of thirds is one of the most well known photography composition rule and a great composition rule for beginners. It’s a use of 2 vertical and 2 horizontal lines to produce a 3 by 3 grid of your image as you can see below. The trick now is when you place your subject within the grid that makes better compositions. 

How to use it?

Simple line up the important part of your photo either at the intersections or along the lines, using the rule of thirds grid. This will give your photo the balance it needs. Like all rules in life, there are times to break it. But I’ll explore that another day. All you need to do this week is take a photo of anything using the  rule of thirds technique. 

Frame within a frame

What’s Exactly is a Frame Within a Frame?

Create another frame within the photos with the main subject within it. The best bit is that you can use just about anything to frame your subject, but the most common frames include doors, windows, cave, tunnel, foliages, clouds or even light. It beautifully adds depth and simplicity to your image. SmallLargeCopy LinkRemove embedDelete

Pro Tip: Try using Multiple Frames Within the Frame

Depth of focus

Showing some foreground details creates depth to your image. This is great for both landscape and portrait photography. Think about the depth of your image and how you would create more depth when needed. Choosing where you want to focus while using a wide aperture will blur the other sections.

Symmetry photography

Central but simple is the go to point for everyone at the start. They think I want to photo of my coffee, it’s the main subject put it in the middle, and while it can work there are a few things to consider. 

LESS IS MORE!!!

It can be incredibly powerful, the subject is open and the photo has a calming effect. But in my experience I’ve found the most powerful centred photo’s have had a simplicity to them. That doesn’t mean they are easy. Sometimes the rule of thirds works better and sometimes it doesn’t. You have to just try both and see which ones better. Once you start thinking about it  more often you’ll know which is better. 

Pattern and texture

We are naturally drawn to both patterns and textures!

The repetitions work in a way similar to leading lines and the Rule of Odds. We naturally on a biologically level are drawn to repeated patterns.

Leading Lines

What is Leading Lines? 

Leading lines, are lines within the photo that you naturally/ subconsciously follow. These naturally occur and we are most likely to do this type of composition unknowingly. However, that doesn’t mean we should be aware of them and look for them. What I will say is that once you learn this simple rule of composition – you can never unsee them again. It’s a great composition rule for beginners.

How do I achieve it?

There are many different types of leading lines, curves, horizontal, vertical or diagonal, each representing different things. However, the most important part of leading lines, is that it leads the view into the scene, giving meaning to the photo or to make the subject obvious. Diagonal lines are very powerful because they create a dynamic composition and help create depth within the photo. Horizon lines should always be straight, even you you aren’t. Where you place them will be dependent on what you are emphasising. This is a good moment to think about the rule of thirds. 

Negative space

What is Negative Space ? 

Negative Space is empty simple space around your subject. It can be incredibly powerful in isolating and emphasising your subject. 

How do I achieve it?

Ensure your background in plain and simple. The more minimalistic the better. Try different angles using plain backgrounds like the sky, walls, nature.

Triangle Composition

Triangles create dynamic tension, while leading the viewers eye. The diagonal lines Triangles are present, in one way or another, in almost everything we see – it’s just a case of distinguishing them and knowing what to do with them. Triangle have the ability to make a photo more stable or unstable depending on how they are used, they are also cause dynamic tension and evoke emotions within the viewer. It’s a popular and very effective food photography composition.

Where can you find them?

Triangle’s can be found in various ways: Implied, Converging, Unstable, three subjects, 

How to use Triangles and Diagonals? 

Sometimes its easier to see. Can you find the triangles?

Final thoughts on the rules of photography composition

Balancing your composition is about choosing your right photographic elements for your story.

Try thinking about the different elements that make up a good photo; and how can you choose which ones will help you tell your story and which will hinder.