Photography Composition Rules

composition: means "putting together"The arrangement, placement or putting together of the visual parts of a piece of art or a photograph. There should be a plan how the photo will look.

Elements of Art: composition’s individual parts

Principles of Design: composition’s  organizing ideas

Rules of Third: Divide your image into 9 equal sections by 2 vertical and 2 horizontal lines. The rules of third says that you should position the most important elements in your scene along these lines, or at the points where they intersect. This will add balance and interest to your photo

Notice how the building and horizon are aligned along rule-of-thirds lines.

Rules of Third Divide your image into 9 equal sections by 2 vertical

and 2 horizontal lines.

Visual Balance: A feeling of equal weight, attention, or attraction of the different objects

in a photograph.

Here, the visual "weight" of the road sign is balanced by the building on the other side of the shot.

Guiding Lines or Leading Lines

The road in this photo guides or leads your eye through the scene.

Each of these compositions has a leading line to bring or direct

your eye to the subject.

ViewpointTaking a picture from different positions - photographing from high above, down at ground level, from the side, from the back, from a long way away, from very close up. Also using different with camera angles.

The unusual viewpoint chosen here creates an interesting and abstract photo

Vary your angles

Background: The scenery or area behind the main object in a picture. Look for a plain background so that it doesn't take away the focus from the main subject and story you are telling.

Watch the edges of your photograph and remove

distractions.

Depth of FieldThe distance between the nearest and farthest object in a scene that are in focus. You create depth in a photo by showing objects in the foreground, middle ground & background.

Emphasize your scene's depth by including interesting subjects at varying distances from the camera.

FramingUse natural frames, like trees, walls, buildings and mountains. By placing these around the edge of the photo you focus your eye to the main point of interest.

Here, the surrounding hills form a natural frame, and the piece of wood provides a focal point.