Photo Composition

Photo composition is really very simple. There are probably many theories but here’s the rule I was taught that has always worked for me.

Photographic Composition – The Rule:

For whatever reason, when looking at an image the human eye travels from the bottom right-hand corner diagonally towards the top left hand corner unless something interrupts it.

Take a look at the fruit and vegetables picture:

There’s a tricky little shadow . . . → Read More: Photo Composition

Photo Composition p.2

Not convinced yet? Okay, then, now lets flip the images right to left.

To do this with your own pix you need a photo editing program that can flip the image horizontally. In just about any photo editing software it’s under the Image tab. (Watch out for any signs or numbers in the pix as they will be reversed and your friends will call you a hoax and a fraud.)

We’ll do the fruit and veges first.

. . . → Read More: Photo Composition p.2

Photo Composition Tips p.3

In this one reversed (bottom), the dark rock formation in the lower R/H corner holds the eye and then throws it up to the big rock. In the original the eye sweeps up unobstructed to take in the curling waves and also the big rock.

Portraits follow the same rule.

In this color portrait, the original framing lets the eye slide up the folds of the robe to the face and rest there, . . . → Read More: Photo Composition Tips p.3

Composition Tips – The Rule of Thirds

The Rule of Thirds

This sounds like the title of an espionage novel but it is one of the most popular rules for composition.

It’s been around since 1797 so there must be something in it, although personally, for better or worse, I don’t usually remember to follow it. (My personal rule is the one covered on this page: Photo Composition Tips.) But you can.

Here it is as simply as possible:

The rule says that an . . . → Read More: Composition Tips – The Rule of Thirds