Transform Your Photography with These Must-Know Composition Techniques
“There is no better time to crop a bad composition than just before you press the shutter release.”
~ Bryan Peterson
As a photographer, one of the most important skills to master is composition. Early in my photographer journey, I was always advised to “practice good composition”, but I didn’t really understand what that meant. So I continued to take bad photographs for awhile, until I began studying the aspects of photographs I was drawn to.
Good composition involves knowing how to arrange the elements in a photo to create a visually appealing image, which is essential for creating memorable and impactful photographs. In this article, we'll explore some of the most important compositional techniques that every photographer should know, and provide specific examples and actionable steps to apply to your own photographs.
*Note: There are many other compositional techniques beyond the ones discussed below, but let this be article be a foundation for your compositional toolkit.
1) Leading Lines
One of the most effective ways to draw the viewer's eye into a photo is to use leading lines. These can be any kind of lines, whether they are actual lines in the scene or implied lines created by the arrangement of objects in the frame. Leading lines can create a sense of movement and guide the viewer's eye to the subject of the photo.
In this photo, the leading lines of the pier/road create a sense of depth and literally “lead” the viewer's eye towards the subject, the lighthouse in the distance. The empty road acts as a pathway to the most important part of the image (the lighthouse) as the rocks at the base of the island also point towards the lighthouse in an upward direction. Lastly, take a look at the horizon line. It is uninterrupted until it is intersected by the lighthouse in the center of the image, which essentially turns the horizon line into arrows that point towards the lighthouse from both sides.
Tips for applying this to your photography:
Look for leading lines in the scene you want to photograph. These can be anything from a road, a fence, a building, or even the shape of the subject itself.
Try to position yourself so that the leading line starts at the edge of the frame and leads the viewer's eye towards the subject.
2) Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds is a classic compositional technique that involves dividing the frame into thirds both vertically and horizontally. The idea is to place the subject of the photo at one of the four intersection points, rather than in the center of the frame. This creates a more dynamic and visually interesting image.
In this photo, the photographer has used the rule of thirds to position the subject, the church, at the intersection of two gridlines. This creates a more dynamic and visually interesting composition than if the church had been placed in the center of the frame. The leading lines of the trees also draw the viewer's eye towards the subject.
When I first learned about the rule of thirds, I thought it was hot garbage. I thought to myself, “how could grid lines dictate what is most pleasing to the human eye?” However, it turns out that the rule of thirds grid is actually a simplification of a much more widely researched mathematical concept called the ‘golden ratio”.
Originally expanded upon by the research of a greek Mathematician, Euclid, the golden ratio was brought to Europe and made popular by Fibonacci. This ratio, mathematically represented as 1.618:1, is found in both modern and ancient architecture, and art. It is also present amongst a large majority of natural life including snail shells, flower petals, animal flight patterns, the cochlea of the human ear, and even DNA molecules.
Don’t worry too much about the golden ratio for now, I just wanted to explain why the rule of the thirds works and where it came from rather than just telling you to blindly accept it as truth.
Tips for applying this to your photography:
Use the gridlines in your camera's viewfinder or LCD screen to help you visualize the rule of thirds (most DSLRs and Mirrorless cameras have a grid option in settings)
Position the subject at one of the four intersection points of the grid, or along one of the lines.
Experiment with different placements of your subject to create different moods and effects. For example, placing the subject off-center can create a sense of tension or movement, while placing the subject in the center can create a more static and balanced composition.
3) Symmetry and Patterns
Symmetry and patterns can add a sense of harmony and balance to a photo. Symmetry is achieved when two almost identical halves of an image seem equal in balance and importance. Patterns are defined by capturing elements in which there are repeating shapes, lines, or colors. Look for repeating shapes or patterns in the scene, and try to arrange the elements of the photo to create a balanced and pleasing composition. The repetition of objects or shapes in geometric patterns usually shows up in architecture and landscape photography.
In this photo, the photographer has captured the symmetrical reflection of the trees in the water. By positioning the horizon line at the lower third of the frame, the photographer has also used the rule of thirds to create a more dynamic composition. The leading lines of the water and the trees also draw the viewer's eye towards the subject. Start to notice how the combination of multiple compositional techniques will help you craft more beautiful images.
Take a look at some more examples of symmetry and patterns present in the photographs below. Combining symmetry and patterns in your photographs often produces very powerful results:
Symmetry is a fundamental part of geometry, nature, and shapes. It creates patterns that help us organize our world conceptually. In fact, psychologist believe that symmetry within human facial structure is a huge proponent of what dictates an objectively beautiful and attractive looking face. Humans are wired to recognize symmetry and patterns throughout daily life - take this into account when you’re on your next outdoor photoshoot!
Tips to apply this technique to your photography:
Consciously look out for opportunities to to photograph symmetry and patterns in the scene
Experiment with different angles and perspectives to find the most visually interesting way to capture the symmetry or pattern. A zoom lens may capture the pattern of windows on a skyscraper, but a wide lens may instead capture an entirely different pattern created by a row of continuous skyscrapers.
Use the other compositional techniques mentioned above, such as the rule of thirds or leading lines, to enhance the sense of balance and harmony in the photo.
4) Depth of Field
Depth of field refers to the area of the photo that is in focus. By controlling the depth of field, you can draw the viewer's eye to the subject and create a sense of depth and dimension in the photo. Sometimes this is as simple as setting your camera to a high aperture (f/1.4 for example) and deciding which object your want to be in focus.
In this photo, the shallow depth of field created by the large aperture (f/1.4) blurs the background and draws the viewer's eye to the subject, the flower. It also creates these beautiful circle refractions we refer to as “bokeh” in the background and foreground. The blurriness of the foliage that surrounds the flower makes this photograph feel dreamlike and cinematic because it creates an image that the human eye can’t quite replicate on its own.
Take a look at some more examples of this technique:
From personal experience, I’ve found that this technique is used most within portraits and product photography where the goal of the photograph is to highlight a specific feature, object, or person and separate it from the background.
Tips to apply this to your photography:
Begin experimenting with how depth of field changes the mood of a photograph. For example, how can you blur certain parts of the image to create a feeling of mystery or suspense?
Test out different aperture settings when taking photographs, sometimes the lowest aperture setting on your lens is not the most ideal.
*Note: If you’d like to learn more about controlling your camera’s aperture/depth of field, read a past article I’ve written titled, “How to Take Properly Exposed Photographs”
5) Negative Space
Negative space refers to the empty space around the subject in a photo. By using negative space effectively, you can create a sense of balance and draw attention to the subject. Often used in minimalist photography, negative space is one of the most underutilized compositional techniques. While doing research on the concept of negative space, I came across a quote that beautifully summarizes its purpose:
“If everything yells for the viewer’s attention, nothing is heard.”
Sometimes you need to let your photographs breath - less is more! Allow yourself as the artist to emphasize the subject by removing distracting objects in the frame. Capturing a concentration of subject matter in one place that is otherwise remote will create a beautiful contrast. The photograph above forces the viewer to ask questions like:
where was this photo taken?
what is the purpose of this structure?
who built this structure?
This adds a layer of depth to your photograph that extends beyond what is explicitly captured by the camera.
Tips to apply this technique to your photography:
Direct sunlight makes this effect difficult to achieve, so be sure to shoot in overcast conditions or use an ND filter!
Try shooting downward onto large bodies of water or angle your camera upwards towards the sky.
Experiment with using shadows as negative space in situations where you can’t avoid direct sunlight.
Final Thoughts
Mastering the art of composition is essential for creating visually appealing and impactful photographs. By using leading lines, the rule of thirds, symmetry and patterns, depth of field, and negative space effectively, you can create photos that tell a story, capture a mood, and evoke emotions in the viewer.
Consciously remember and refer back to these techniques before you take your next photograph. Over time, these techniques will become second nature and you will find yourself taking beautiful photographs without even noticing that you’ve applied these rules. At a certain point, you will begin to frame photos in a way that just “feels right”.
Photography becomes much more fun when you’ve learned to combine all of these techniques naturally. Experiment and follow the rules (and then break them occasionally).
Thanks for reading, I hope you’ve learned something useful!