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This was one of the photos  I took for this project. In this picture I tried to give an ants eye view of a museum ceiling. Showing a picture from a different perspective can give it a  different look and appeal and in this case it gave a big difference being the holes between the pillars. From a normal perspective you wouldn't be able to see these holes through the pillars, you would just assume its a normal wall which is why I chose this picture. Also I cropped the photo so that I to increase contrast. Overall the served its purpose and I'm really happy with the way it turned out.

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This was one of the photos  I took for this project. In this picture I tried to make the trees and more specifically the tree on the right of the picture as an example of a rule of thirds where the subject of the image isn't focused and located in the center, and is instead located more towards the edges. I altered it in Photoshop to make the color seem less boring and slightly more vibrant. I finally decided on these colors because they made the photo more appealing to the viewer. I believe that I should have cropped the photo more so that the rule of thirds effect can be more properly seen by the viewer. Overall Im really happy with this photo and how it turned out.

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Good tips on this website on why Rules of composition is important

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Good tips on this website on why Rules of composition is important

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'It's not wise to violate rules until you know how to observe them'

- T.S. Eliot, interview with The Paris Review (Issue 21, 1959)

A number of 'rules of composition' or guidelines exist that we can use to improve our images. The most commonly known ones have been formulated over the centuries by artists working in a variety of visual mediums, from architecture to painting and photography. And while we all know the saying, 'rules were meant to be broken', there's clear benefit to understanding just what it is you're 'breaking' in the first place.

In this article, we'll go over three of these established compositional rules, with examples that illustrate their concepts, and discuss why they are useful creative tools.

Rule of Thirds

Perhaps the most popular technique with which visual artists are familiar is the 'Rule of Thirds'. Simply put, the idea is that significant compositional elements be placed along imaginary lines that break the image into thirds, both horizontally and vertically. Elements of particular interest can be placed at the intersection of these lines, for a more expressive and dynamic composition, as demonstrated in the pair of images below.

The rule of thirds was first formalized in literature by painter John Thomas Smith in 1797. However, examples of art using this type of composition can be found in artistic traditions dating back to antiquity. East Asian art is particularly well-known for its use of asymmetrical compositions.

So why does using the rule of thirds help to create interesting images?

Asymmetry

With any of the compositional techniques discussed in this article, we are are seeking to highlight certain elements in the image and create a compelling balance between elements.

Creating a 'thirds' composition often introduces asymmetry into an image which helps to create a sense of drama that can be lacking in perfectly symmetrical images.

In the image below, you can see that the eyes of both the model and the horse rest along the imaginary grid. And the horse's right eye is located at the intersection of two gridlines. Eyes are obviously strong compositional elements. Our gaze is naturally drawn to the eyes of others. Placing important elements like these - whether a body part or a product for sale - along the thirds grid helps to draw attention to them.

Before we continue, I should point out that while there are obvious benefits to framing your image with the rule of thirds in mind, you can still reap its compositional benefits post-capture by cropping. In fact, the fastest way to train yourself to 'see' in thirds is to spend some time experimenting with crops of your existing images and compare both versions.

Dynamic balance

In addition to being useful for determining placement of fine-grained features such as a model's eye, the Rule of Thirds can be used with coarse-grained features that affect that overall balance of the composition. The landscape image at the beginning of the article is an example of this, where the Rule of Thirds was used to determine placement of the horizon line and major geological features.

Here is another example where this rule is used to create balance in a dynamic composition. In this image, the model occupies only the center and right-most thirds of the image. The left-most third of the image is negative space, providing a strong sense of movement through contrast and the progression of tonal values in the image.

Try to visualize how the image would look if instead, the model was positioned squarely in the center of the frame. The composition would lose not only much of its drama but also its sense of motion.
Click here to continue reading our Compositional Rules article

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'It's not wise to violate rules until you know how to observe them' - T.S. Eliot, interview with The Paris Review (Issue 21, 1959) A number of 'rules of composition' or guidelines exist that we can use to improve our images.

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Good website for good tips on Rules of composition

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Good website for good tips on Rules of composition

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There are no fixed rules in photography, but there are guidelines which can often help you to enhance the impact of your photos.

It may sound clichéd, but the only rule in photography is that there are no rules. However, there are are number of established composition guidelines which can be applied in almost any situation, to enhance the impact of a scene.

These guidelines will help you take more compelling photographs, lending them a natural balance, drawing attention to the important parts of the scene, or leading the viewer's eye through the image.

Once you are familiar with these composition tips, you'll be surprised at just how universal most of them are. You'll spot them everywhere, and you'll find it easy to see why some photos "work" while others feel like simple snapshots.

Rule of Thirds

Imagine that your image is divided into 9 equal segments by 2 vertical and 2 horizontal lines. The rule of thirds says that you should position the most important elements in your scene along these lines, or at the points where they intersect.

Doing so will add balance and interest to your photo. Some cameras even offer an option to superimpose a rule of thirds grid over the LCD screen, making it even easier to use.

Balancing Elements

Placing your main subject off-centre, as with the rule of thirds, creates a more interesting photo, but it can leave a void in the scene which can make it feel empty. You should balance the "weight" of your subject by including another object of lesser importance to fill the space.

Leading Lines

When we look at a photo our eye is naturally drawn along lines. By thinking about how you place lines in your composition, you can affect the way we view the image, pulling us into the picture, towards the subject, or on a journey "through" the scene. There are many different types of line - straight, diagonal, curvy, zigzag, radial etc - and each can be used to enhance our photo's composition.

Symmetry and Patterns

We are surrounded by symmetry and patterns, both natural and man-made., They can make for very eye-catching compositions, particularly in situations where they are not expected. Another great way to use them is to break the symmetry or pattern in some way, introducing tension and a focal point to the scene.

Viewpoint

Before photographing your subject, take time to think about where you will shoot it from. Our viewpoint has a massive impact on the composition of our photo, and as a result it can greatly affect the message that the shot conveys. Rather than just shooting from eye level, consider photographing from high above, down at ground level, from the side, from the back, from a long way away, from very close up, and so on.

Background

How many times have you taken what you thought would be a great shot, only to find that the final image lacks impact because the subject blends into a busy background? The human eye is excellent at distinguishing between different elements in a scene, whereas a camera has a tendency to flatten the foreground and background, and this can often ruin an otherwise great photo. Thankfully this problem is usually easy to overcome at the time of shooting - look around for a plain and unobtrusive background and compose your shot so that it doesn't distract or detract from the subject.

Depth

Because photography is a two-dimensional medium, we have to choose our composition carefully to conveys the sense of depth that was present in the actual scene. You can create depth in a photo by including objects in the foreground, middle ground and background. Another useful composition technique is overlapping, where you deliberately partially obscure one object with another. The human eye naturally recognises these layers and mentally separates them out, creating an image with more depth.

Framing

The world is full of objects which make perfect natural frames, such as trees, archways and holes. By placing these around the edge of the composition you help to isolate the main subject from the outside world. The result is a more focused image which draws your eye naturally to the main point of interest.

Cropping

Often a photo will lack impact because the main subject is so small it becomes lost among the clutter of its surroundings. By cropping tight around the subject you eliminate the background "noise", ensuring the subject gets the viewer's undivided attention.

Experimentation

With the dawn of the digital age in photography we no longer have to worry about film processing costs or running out of shots. As a result, experimenting with our photos' composition has become a real possibility; we can fire off tons of shots and delete the unwanted ones later at absolutely no extra cost. Take advantage of this fact and experiment with your composition - you never know whether an idea will work until you try it.

Composition in photography is far from a science, and as a result all of the "rules" above should be taken with a pinch of salt. If they don't work in your scene, ignore them; if you find a great composition that contradicts them, then go ahead and shoot it anyway. But they can often prove to be spot on, and are worth at least considering whenever you are out and about with your camera.
Did you enjoy this article? Please share it!

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There are no fixed rules in photography, but there are guidelines which can often help you to enhance the impact of your photos. It may sound clichéd, but the only rule in photography is that there are no rules.

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I like the way the light splits his face to half black half white

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The Rule of Thirds: How to Use it to Improve Your Photography

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Discover the secret to creating compelling compositions with the rule of thirds and practice this design principal with this helpful guideline. On Craftsy!

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I like how the photo follows the rule of thirds and it's color

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Tips for Taking Great Photos: Rule of Thirds & Angle of View

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Due to its extreme close up nature, macro photography results in simple, minimalistic images. You can add visual interest to macro photos by following the rule of thirds and adjusting the angle of your camera. Rule of Thirds To apply the rule of thirds to your photograph, break an image down into thirds (both horizontally and vertically)...

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I think its a good example of leading lines

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The Letter by Emanuelesi #webcomic.      Could be and interesting lesson I'm here... And have them draw different things happening in the windows.

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I think its a good  example of perspective

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I'm Inspired to take a photo in this type of perspective

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Leading Lines: photography's most underrated composition device

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Learn how leading lines in photography can work in different ways to convey movement, depth and a number of other creative effects.

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I'm Inspired to take a photo in this type of perspective

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I'm Inspired to take a photo in this type of perspective

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This picture is an example of leading lines because the boardwalk is leading further into the picture.

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I like how its a good example of how the rule of thirds should be

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this is an example of rule of thirds because it shows the bottle with its surrounding

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I like the good use in the rule of thirds

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Gorgeous lines... A perfect example of why to follow the 'Rule of Thirds.' I love the way this bird sits perfectly in the rule of third square.

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I like the color in the photo and the good use in the rule of thirds

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The head of the bird and it's head feathers nicely fits in the upper two sections, while the neck and background fit in the bottom two. The background puts emphasis on the bird, since it stands out.