Understanding the Rules of Composition in Photography: A Beginner’s Guide
If you’ve been dabbling in photography in any way, you’ve probably heard someone mention the rules of composition. It’s a fundamental concept that every photographer should understand. But don’t worry, we’re going to break it down in a simple, easy-to-understand way. Let’s dive into understanding the rules of composition in photography.
While these are called ‘rules’ they’re more just visual guidelines that will help things just *look* better. You may not immediately understand why one composition looks better than another, but they probably apply these ‘rules’ in some way.
Visual composition is a form of scientific art. Our eyes are naturally drawn to certain shapes, forms and flow. It’s called “aesthetics” of design. Aesthetics is the pretty girl at the dance, ergonomics is the applied engineering that makes things work well. It’s applied in everything we use or see around us. A lot of these rules come from design in nature itself and we’ve just stolen the concepts.
What is Composition in Photography?
In the simplest terms, composition in photography is the arrangement of elements in a photograph. It’s how you place and balance the different parts of your scene to create a visually pleasing image. Good composition guides the viewer’s eye to the main subject of your photo, telling a story or conveying a certain mood or idea. Composition is designed. You need to look for it when you’re looking at your scene/subject. It’s one of the strongest ways to differentiate yourself: it’s how YOU see composition.
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The Basic Rules of Composition
While there are many different rules of composition, here are some of the most important ones that every photographer should at least think about or get familiar with:
1. Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds is one of the most well-known composition rules. It involves dividing your frame into nine equal sections by a set of horizontal and vertical lines. The idea is to place the important elements of your scene along these lines, or at the points where they intersect. This can create a more balanced and engaging photo.
2. Leading Lines
Leading lines are very obvious lines that guide the viewer’s eye towards the main subject of your photo. They can also be used to guide the viewers eye around your frame. These can be anything from a road or a river to a row of trees or a fence. Leading lines can create a sense of depth and make your photo more dynamic. I’ll add that leading lines can also give your frame balance.
3. Frame Within a Frame
This rule involves using elements in your scene (often something in the foreground) to create a frame around your main subject. This can help draw the viewer’s eye towards your subject, and add depth and context to your photo.
4. Symmetry and Patterns
Symmetry and patterns can create a visually pleasing image. When you’re working something man-made like a building, it’s often easier to find and see. It can also be a reflection in a lake, a row of trees, or a repeating pattern in something, symmetry and patterns can add interest to your photo and guide the viewer’s eye.
5. Fill the Frame
Sometimes, the best way to capture your subject is to fill the frame with it. This can eliminate distracting elements in the background and make your subject the sole focus of the photo. You’d be surprised how effective this type of composition can be. Our eyes love simple images and filling the frame, often simplifies what the viewer is looking at. I’d recommend even trying to crop in tighter on existing shots you have and see how a tighter crop can dramatically change a frame.
6. Negative Space
Negative space is the empty space around your subject. It’s doing the exact opposite of the previous rule. Instead of filling the frame with your subject, you ensure it has *more* breathing room. The effect can be just as striking. Using negative space effectively can create a more balanced image and draw more attention to your subject.
PRO TIP: Negative space works well when your subject is smaller than the environment. A very minimal environment often creates the most effective negative space.
7. Depth
A photograph is always a 2D (2 dimensional) frame, but we can create a sense of depth (3rd dimension) by layering what is in our frame. Our eyes understand depth: some things being closer to us and some being further away. Creating a sense of depth with layers can make your photo more three-dimensional and engaging. You create depth by including elements in the foreground, middle ground, and background of your photo. Ultimately this depth ‘rule’ is a way to make your viewer look exactly where you want them to.
Breaking the Rules
While these rules can be very helpful, remember that we said at the outset they’re not set in stone. Sometimes, breaking the rules can result in a more interesting and unique photo. There’s that saying, “know the rules so you can break them”. Learn and practice the rules and see how much of a difference it can make to your photography.
Most importantly, don’t be afraid to experiment and find something you can call your style.
FAQs
What is basic photography composition rules?
The basic photography composition rules include the rule of thirds, leading lines, frame within a frame, symmetry and patterns, fill the frame, negative space, and depth.
What is the basic rule of composition?
The most basic rule of composition is the rule of thirds. It involves dividing your frame into nine equal sections and placing the important elements of your scene along these lines or at the points where they intersect.
How do you analyze composition in photography?
To analyze composition in photography, look at how the elements in the photo are arranged and balanced. Consider how the photographer used the rules of composition, and how they guided the viewer’s eye to the main subject.
Why is it important to learn composition rules as a photographer?
Learning the rules of composition is important because it helps you create more visually pleasing photos. Good composition guides the viewer’s eye to the main subject of your photo, telling a story or conveying a certain mood or idea.
Understanding the rules of composition is a fundamental part of photography. It might seem a bit complicated at first, but with practice, you’ll be able to manipulate these rules to create stunning images. So, grab your camera and start experimenting!