How to Compose Compelling Photographs
Some of the best photos are those with a unique composition that captures your eye, inspires your imagination, or communicates something clearly about the subject. You certainly don’t have to be a professional photographer to take photos like this. Here are 12 basic rules that anyone can try.
Use the rule of thirds
A popular approach is to think of the frame in three parts and imagine that your photo is split into thirds horizontally and also vertically. You now have nine rectangles of equal size, three down and three across. Have your subject appear where any two lines intersect or along one or several lines. This off-center placement adds a bit of intrigue.
2. Pack the frame
While some negative space can be effective, a close-up shot that fills the frame can also work well. With very little or no space to detract from the subject, viewers have no choice but to zero in on it. Minimizing the unused space around what you’re shooting is one way to fill the frame, while another method is to entirely crop out portions of your subject altogether.
3. Think on the diagonal
Heighten interest by using diagonals in your composition. We’re more accustomed to vertical and horizontal lines in our day-to-day lives; think about buildings, road signs, utility poles, and the like. Therefore, when a diagonal appears in a photograph, it can throw us off. The impact is a sort of dynamic tension that draws us in.
4. Shoot from above
Standing above your subject and taking the shot can be a fascinating experiment. This is an angle that we don’t often consider when composing a photograph. Positioning yourself higher than the image you want to capture can make your subject appear small, situate them in their surroundings, or even convey a sense of detachment, as if the viewer is observing a scene from above.
5. Shoot upwards
Similarly, choosing to shoot upwards can also be effective. As with shooting from above, this is an unfamiliar and unexpected vantage point that can result in a heightened sense of drama and make your subject loom large, from what amounts to a bug’s eye view.
6. Incorporate negative space
On the flip side of filling the frame is making strategic use of negative space. This opposite technique can work wonders, too, in a composition. Choose a background that’s fairly uniform, like an uninterrupted view of the sky or an open field. The simplicity will force viewers to really see the center of attention in your shot. Incorporating negative space into a shot can also convey calmness or loneliness or emphasize the subject’s solitary strength.
7. Focus on foreground
Having a foreground area in your shot has the effect of adding depth to what otherwise might be a flat image. This can captivate the viewer and add interest. They’re apt to wonder about the story you’re telling as they take in the whole scene. It doesn’t have to be much; a tree, rock, or clump of flowers posed at the front of the frame in an outside environment will convey this sense of depth, inviting viewers into the photo.
8. Stay with simplicity
Getting a great composition can be as easy as keeping the scene simple. Select a background that’s uncluttered to emphasize your subject. Such use of minimalism will bring the subject of your photo to the forefront, making it stand out. This gives the viewer’s eye a break from any potentially distracting content that’s not relevant to your message or the emotional response you want to provoke.
9. Give background context
Further to the above advice, there are times where you might want to have a somewhat busy background. In these instances, the aim is to offer context to help communicate something about the subject. It can also be quite powerful to have the background blurred enough to emphasize the subject while still retaining sufficient detail so the backdrop is understood.
10. Juxtapose various elements
Another way to add appeal to your photograph is to juxtapose two elements that seem to either be at odds with each other. For instance, a contrasting effect could mean having a very large structure next to something small, in order to create a sense of scale. You can also juxtapose colors, textures, animate and inanimate objects, the many and the few, shadow and light, and so on. The possibilities are nearly limitless.
11. Remember the rule of odds
Here’s a concept that’s often used by professional photographers: the rule of odds. Basically, it refers to the number of individual items in a picture and the fact that an odd number is generally more visually attractive. The viewer is invited into an image that can seem more natural and less rigid, and will not divide their attention as an even number of objects might.
12. Employ black and white
Finally, using black and white film can result in some incredibly stunning photographs. Onlookers are left to observe the shapes and textures in the shot as well as how light and shadows are employed to add dimension and emotion.
Get creative
Spend time playing around with your camera to see what works for you—pick a subject and have fun exploring different ways to compose your shots. Don’t be afraid to use several of these techniques together and see what develops. Remember that the “right” techniques depend on your subject and what you’re trying to say.