Composition
By Jule Ebert posted 23/07/08
It doesn’t really matter if you have an SLR, a mid-priced digital or a disposable camera- what makes your pictures stand out is your ingenuity and creativity. There are various decisions you have to make before taking each picture- normally this happens automatically but let’s have a closer look at the most common composition rules.Whether you want to follow them or not is your own decision but it can’t be wrong to know them, don’t you think?
The Rule of Thirds
Your pictures normally have a focal point or an area of interest (it might be the eyes in a portrait or a tree in a landscape shot). Placing this in the center of your image can be rather dull and not very interesting but the composition becomes more dynamic as soon as you choose an off-center position. Some cameras can show you a grid pattern in your view finder to make it more easy but if you don’t have that function just imagine your image being divided into 9 equal squares. Simply place your point of interest outside the center square or along the grid lines and see the difference.
Diagonal Lines
Diagonal lines are dynamic and can help to lead the viewer’s eyes through the picture and to the main focus. This could be anything- a fence, road, shadow, tree branches, a river or legs and arms. Where these leading lines are not available try and find a different angle or if possible move your subject. Placing your area of interest on a diagonal line will help to get a better picture.
Forget the Rules!
In most cases photographic rules make sense but not always- don’t follow to them too closely. Why not take a landscape shot and place the horizon along the imaginery grid and then directly in the center and compare the results? Sometimes using the center of the image can be powerful- for example when photographing symmetric scenery or portraits.
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Photos by users Nikonmule, telfer_fl, yellowsunday and Steven Lochrie.
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hunthobart said...
Posted on 26/07/2008 19:41
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J de B said...
Posted on 30/07/2008 11:05
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