Composition
Poor photo composition can make a fantastic subject dull, but a well-set scene can create a wonderful image from the most ordinary of situations. With that in mind, here are the top 9 photo composition 'rules' to show you how to transform your images:
Rule 1: Keep the Scene Simple!
When you look at a scene with your naked eye, your brain quickly picks out subjects of interest. But the camera doesn't discriminate - it captures everything in front of it, which can lead to a cluttered, messy picture with no clear focal point.
What you need to do is choose your subject, then select a focal length or camera viewpoint that makes it the center of attention in the frame. You can't always keep other objects out of the picture, so try to keep them in the background or make them part of the story.
The simpler the shot the bigger the impact
- Move in close to cut out other parts of the scene
- Silhouettes and shapes make strong subjects
- The balloons radial lines draw you into the frame
Rule 2: Fill the Frame!
Leaving too much empty space in a scene is the most widespread compositional mistake. It makes your subject smaller than it needs to be and can also leave viewers confused about what they're supposed to be looking at. To avoid these problems you should zoom in to fill the frame, or get closer to the subject in question.
Rule 3: Play with your Image Set Up- Landscape AND Portrait!
It's easy to get stuck in a rut and take every picture with the camera held horizontally. Try turning it to get a vertical shot instead, adjusting your position or the zoom setting as you experiment with the new style. You can often improve on both horizontal and vertical shots by cropping the photo later.
Rule 4: Avoid the Middle!
When you're just starting out, it's tempting to put whatever you're shooting right in the center of the frame. However, this produces rather static, boring pictures. One of the ways to counteract this is to use the Rule of Thirds, where you split the image up into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, and try to place your subject on one of these imaginary lines or intersections.
Try moving your subject away from the center and get a feel for how it can be balanced with everything else in the scene, including any areas of contrasting color or light.
Rule 5: Use your Lines!
A poorly composed photograph will leave your viewers unsure about where to look, and their attention might drift aimlessly around the scene without finding a clear focal point. However, you can use lines to control the way people's eyes move around the picture.
Rule 6: Use Diagonal Lines!
To introduce a feeling of drama, movement or uncertainty, look for diagonal lines.
Rule 7: Pay Attention to the Background!
Don't just concentrate on your subject - look at what's happening in the background, too. This ties in with simplifying the scene and filling the frame. You can't usually exclude the background completely, of course, but you can control it (blur it out, etc.).
Rule 8: Pay Attention to Your Colors!
Bright primary colors really attract the eye, especially when they're contrasted with a complementary hue. But there are other ways of creating color contrasts - by including a bright splash of color against a monochromatic background, for example. You don't need strong color contrasts to create striking pictures, though.
Scenes consisting almost entirely of a single hue can be very effective. And those with a limited palette of harmonious shades, such as softly lit landscapes, often make great pictures.
The key is to be really selective about how you isolate and frame your subjects to exclude unwanted colors.
Rule 9: HAVE FUN!!
Rules can only get you so far-- use your own artists' eye to see things in a different way or to get a really cool shot. Enjoy it!
Images and Tips courtesy of: TechRadar