The top 9 rules for photography composition

It is vital to understand the basic rules of photographic composition for travel photography or any other photography type.   They are used all the time in my profession as a resort photographer. When just learning, having a grasp of these rules will help you to compose photographs that are more visually appealing, hold attention and evoke emotion in the viewer.   They will undoubtedly make your photos stand out from the spur-of-the-moment ‘snap-shots’ that many of us are guilty of capturing.

As you learn these rules of composition and start to understand how they will affect your final shot’s quality, you can then consider having fun with breaking these rules!  Photography is, after all, an art-form where rules are often not relevant.  But to break the composition rules, it is best to understand them first, implement them, and then assess when they apply to your shot. Indeed, as a beginner, understanding these nine rules will help you create compelling images that capture what you see through your lens perfectly.

Composition refers to the way that the many different elements in a scene are arranged within the frame.   None of these rules are hard and fast’ but rather to be used as guidelines that will genuinely help you create appealing and compelling compositions.

Don’t be afraid to get close to your subjects and to fill the frame.   By getting close to your main subject, you avoid the issue of your focus being lost in busy backgrounds or surroundings that threaten to steal attention.   By cropping in tightly, you eliminate background noise and ensure that the viewer’s eye falls where it should.

It is essential to be aware of natural frames that are already present in your scene.  Natural frames can range from human-made items such as doorways, window-frames, and bridges to more organic frames such as tree branches and rocks or any other structures that create some framework around your subject.  Frames can draw attention to the subject; they can create context, hide unwanted items or give a depth of field.

Symmetry can be pleasing to the eye and guide the eye to an integral point of the shot.  Symmetry can lead to very eye-catching compositions and lend a certain elegance to your images.   Symmetry refers to a line that splits an object in half, and if both sides of the object are similar, then we see that as being symmetrical.   There are two main types of symmetry: vertical and horizontal when it comes to symmetry in photography.  Understanding these two symmetrical lines when it comes to photographic composition can add unexpected impact to your photography.

Our eyes are automatically drawn to lines in images, so it is essential to think about how, where, and why you could use lines in your pictures.  For example, a road that begins at one end of the shot and winds its way through the scene will draw the viewer’s eye through the image.  A fence line leading to the subject will reinforce the main area of focus.  Use lines to lead the viewer to where you want them to look.

One of the most basic rules of composition is the rules of thirds.  Basically, it involves dividing your scene with two horizontal lines and two vertical lines to create nine squares.  Where these lines meet is an ideal guideline as to where to put your main points of interest.   You will note that none of these intersection points is located in the center of the frame, so by using the rule of thirds, you are already composing photos differently from what most of us are instinctively inclined to do.

Diagonal lines create great movement and generally work well to draw the viewer’s eye through the photograph.  Diagonal lines are also great at creating areas of interest at points of intersection with other lines.  They are also quite useful in suggesting different perspectives.

‘Figure to Ground’ in photography is all about finding a contrast between your subject and its background.   It is usually about having the main subject in contrast, such as light on dark or dark on light. Find a contrast between your subject and the background.  The most obvious example of ‘figure to the ground’ in photography is the silhouette.

This is a great rule to follow when photographing people.  By placing the dominant eye in the center of your photo, the image will have an added allure as this placement will make it appear that the subject’s eyes are following the viewer.

There is something so pleasing about patterns, and they can be aesthetically appealing.   They also offer the photographer the opportunity to include an unexpected element by breaking or interrupting a pattern.

When I first started as a luxury resort photographer, these composition rules were vital when trying to compose my shots.  My experience has taught me when these rules needed to be applied and when the actual act of breaking them would help with my composition.   As artists, we know that rules are meant to be broken.  Most importantly, as photographers, you need to allow your personal style to flourish and develop your own aesthetics and vision.  By working with the rules of composition, you will easily enable these things to improve.