Rules of Composition in Photography by Rebecca Kinnee

Split your camera screen into a grid...

rkinnee — 2020-04-28 21:58:33 UTC

...place important elements along those lines for visual appeal. This asymmetric composition works well for any genre including landscapes, still-life photography, and portraits.

Differentiates from the rule of thirds by the balance...

rkinnee — 2020-04-28 22:01:39 UTC

...the focus of the photograph is more in the center (with more details).

Take advantage of the structures and the lines of natural landscapes.

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Use them in proportion to your subjects to lead the eye into the picture.

Diagonal lines help create movement even when the subject is still.

rkinnee — 2020-04-28 22:06:21 UTC

This is a great tip for photographers that want to step outside of perfect compositions.

Consider that outside structures can serve as natural frames.

rkinnee — 2020-04-28 22:08:35 UTC

Photographs like this interesting are soothing to an eye with a neat frame that is already part of the shot.

Try to focus on your subjects and make them stand out...

rkinnee — 2020-04-28 22:10:49 UTC

...by narrowing in on the contrast between the subject and the background.

Get up close and personal with your subjects.

rkinnee — 2020-04-28 22:12:19 UTC

Have them fill in the frame so that they are the focus and the dominant feature of the photograph.

Place the dominant eye in the center of the photograph

rkinnee — 2020-04-28 22:14:39 UTC

This makes the photograph more luring as it appears that the subject’s eyes are following the viewer.

Patterns are aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

rkinnee — 2020-04-28 22:17:18 UTC

Another aspect to explore is including something in your photograph that interrupts a pattern as a way of including an element of surprise.

There is beauty in symmetry.

rkinnee — 2020-04-28 22:20:40 UTC

It’s pleasing to the eye and a sure way to catch the attention of many. The same goes for a slight variation of the style; asymmetrical shots that include empty space for visual interest.

Balance your subject’s “weight”

rkinnee — 2024-06-09 18:42:03 UTC

Following the rules of thirds makes the photo interesting but at times, it can also create a void and make the scene feel empty. This is why you need to balance your subject’s “weight”. Include another element of lesser significance to fill the void.

Where you shoot the subject from affects the composition and the message

rkinnee — 2024-06-09 18:44:31 UTC

Figure out the viewpoint before you shoot a subject. Where you shoot the subject from affects the composition significantly and the message that your image conveys depends on it. Think of more ways to photograph a subject besides eye level. Think of shooting your subject from the ground level, or from a high point, from the back or side, up close or from a long distance away.

Compose your shot in such a manner that there is nothing to distract from it

rkinnee — 2024-06-09 18:45:29 UTC

While your eye might excellently view a scene and all the elements in it, the camera, more often than not, tends to flatten the background and foreground, thereby ruining a photo. So always compose your shot in such a manner that your subject is against a plain background and there is nothing to distract from it.

Use the overlapping technique to create depth

rkinnee — 2024-06-09 18:46:28 UTC

Since we shoot photos in 2D, we need to compose shots in a way that portrays the actual depth of a scene. This can be achieved by including objects in the background, middle ground and foreground. Another way to show depth of field is by using the overlapping technique in which you can obscure an object partially with another object. When there are multiple layers, the eye can recognize them and separate the layers to perceive depth in the image.

After you understand these rules there is a lot of room for experimentation

rkinnee — 2024-06-09 18:47:11 UTC

After you understand these rules there is a lot of room for experimentation. Vary your shots in a number of these ways: shoot from different perspectives – up high, down low, etc; getting in close or step back for a wider angle shot; moving around your subject to shoot from different sides.

The idea of the photograph and the message in opposition creates tension

rkinnee — 2024-06-10 00:31:38 UTC

Two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect causing tension. They cannot just be opposite or a red flower next to a white flower. The idea of the photograph and the message has to be in opposition creating tension.

Use space to see shapes and sizes more effectively

rkinnee — 2024-06-10 00:33:04 UTC

Negative space, or white space, is the area between and around objects in a photo. Use it to see shapes and sizes more effectively, and produce better composed images.

Rule of Thirds - Lidiya

middau13 — 2024-06-19 22:38:15 UTC

Leading Lines - Lydia

middau13 — 2024-06-19 22:40:04 UTC

Patterns and Repetition - Lydia

middau13 — 2024-06-19 22:40:36 UTC

Symmetry - Lydia

middau13 — 2024-06-19 22:41:07 UTC

Depth of Field - Lydia

middau13 — 2024-06-19 22:41:40 UTC

Juxtaposition - Lydia

middau13 — 2024-06-19 22:42:40 UTC

Rule of Thirds (1)

will1232 — 2024-06-24 14:30:57 UTC

Leading Lines (1)

will1232 — 2024-06-24 14:37:23 UTC

Frame In A Frame

will1232 — 2024-06-24 14:40:09 UTC

Patterns & Repetition

will1232 — 2024-06-24 14:42:33 UTC

Patterns & Repetition (2)

will1232 — 2024-06-24 14:45:06 UTC

Negative Space

will1232 — 2024-06-24 14:51:31 UTC

Viewpoint

will1232 — 2024-06-24 16:17:32 UTC

Viewpoint (2)

will1232 — 2024-06-24 16:17:47 UTC

Fill the Frame

will1232 — 2024-06-24 16:20:21 UTC

Trinity

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Trinity

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Trinity

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Trinity

2024-06-24 16:38:57 UTC

Trinity

2024-06-24 16:47:54 UTC

Experimental

will1232 — 2024-06-24 17:46:05 UTC

Asymmetry

will1232 — 2024-06-24 17:55:24 UTC

Leading line - Elaine

herma121 — 2024-06-24 18:29:42 UTC

Frame within a Frame - Elaine

herma121 — 2024-06-24 18:32:14 UTC

Trinity

2024-06-24 18:33:49 UTC

Viewpoint - Elaine

herma121 — 2024-06-24 18:33:53 UTC

Balancing - Elaine

herma121 — 2024-06-24 18:47:40 UTC

Asymmetry - Elaine

herma121 — 2024-06-24 18:54:58 UTC

herma121 — 2024-06-24 18:56:12 UTC

Depth of Field

will1232 — 2024-06-24 18:56:45 UTC

Depth of Field - Addison

2024-06-24 20:44:30 UTC

Asymmetry - Addison

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Patterns & Repetition - Addison

2024-06-24 20:51:02 UTC

Leading Lines - Addison

2024-06-24 20:52:38 UTC

Rule of Thirds - Addison

2024-06-24 21:01:37 UTC

Viewpoint - Addison

2024-06-24 21:09:16 UTC

Rule of thirds (I think) - Jacob

dodson6 — 2024-06-24 21:39:31 UTC

Diagonal - Jacob Dodson

dodson6 — 2024-06-24 21:40:55 UTC

Leading Lines - Jacob

dodson6 — 2024-06-24 21:41:32 UTC

Depth - Jacob Dodson

dodson6 — 2024-06-24 21:42:13 UTC

Rule of Thirds - Kendall

leblan29 — 2024-06-24 21:42:18 UTC

Balancing Elements - Jacob

dodson6 — 2024-06-24 21:43:12 UTC

Leading Lines - Kendall

leblan29 — 2024-06-24 21:43:36 UTC

Juxtaposition - Plane and Bird - Jacob

dodson6 — 2024-06-24 21:44:04 UTC

Asymmetry - Kendall

leblan29 — 2024-06-24 21:44:20 UTC

Negative Space - Jacob Dodson

dodson6 — 2024-06-24 21:46:00 UTC

Depth - Kendall

leblan29 — 2024-06-24 21:47:06 UTC

Juxtaposition - Kendall

leblan29 — 2024-06-24 21:47:56 UTC

Repetition - Kendall

leblan29 — 2024-06-24 21:48:33 UTC

Harlie

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Harlie

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Harlie

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Harlie

2024-06-24 21:59:29 UTC

Harlie - asymmetry

2024-06-24 22:02:28 UTC

Harlie

2024-06-24 22:03:36 UTC

Golden Ratio

yaple3_1 — 2024-06-26 00:18:09 UTC

Leading Lines

yaple3_1 — 2024-06-26 00:18:39 UTC

Diagonals

yaple3_1 — 2024-06-26 00:19:13 UTC

Frame Within a Frame

yaple3_1 — 2024-06-26 00:19:46 UTC

Center the Dominant Eye

yaple3_1 — 2024-06-26 00:21:15 UTC

Patterns & Repetition

yaple3_1 — 2024-06-26 00:22:04 UTC

Balancing Elements

yaple3_1 — 2024-06-26 00:23:25 UTC

Viewpoint

yaple3_1 — 2024-06-26 00:24:01 UTC

Background

yaple3_1 — 2024-06-26 00:24:51 UTC

Depth

yaple3_1 — 2024-06-26 00:25:38 UTC

Juxtaposition

yaple3_1 — 2024-06-26 00:26:49 UTC

Negative Space

yaple3_1 — 2024-06-26 00:27:18 UTC

Diagonals - Jacob D

dodson6 — 2024-06-30 04:47:50 UTC

Patterns - Jacob Dodson

dodson6 — 2024-06-30 04:49:21 UTC

TOMPKINS-rule of 3rds

2024-07-01 01:26:12 UTC

TOMPKINS-leading lines

2024-07-01 01:26:55 UTC

TOMPKINS-diagonals

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TOMPKINS-frame

2024-07-01 01:28:37 UTC

TOMPKINS-fill the frame

2024-07-01 01:29:38 UTC

TOMPKINS-center dominant

2024-07-01 01:30:16 UTC

TOMPKINS-patterns/repitition

2024-07-01 01:30:58 UTC

TOMPKINS-assymetry

2024-07-01 01:31:56 UTC

TOMPKINS-viewpoint

2024-07-01 01:33:02 UTC

TOMPKINS-background

2024-07-01 01:34:36 UTC

TOMPKINS-depth

2024-07-01 01:35:31 UTC

TOMPKINS-juxtaposition

2024-07-01 01:36:11 UTC

TOMPKINS-negative space

2024-07-01 01:36:58 UTC

Kyra

2024-07-01 05:02:39 UTC

Kyra

2024-07-01 05:03:20 UTC

Kyra

2024-07-01 05:04:05 UTC

Kyra

2024-07-01 05:04:32 UTC

Kyra

2024-07-01 05:05:18 UTC

Kyra

2024-07-01 05:06:08 UTC

Chloe Wallman

wallmac — 2024-07-01 12:30:35 UTC

Chloe Wallman

wallmac — 2024-07-01 12:31:13 UTC

Chloe Wallman

wallmac — 2024-07-01 12:31:57 UTC

Chloe Wallman

wallmac — 2024-07-01 12:32:35 UTC

the one and only tim

2024-07-01 13:22:58 UTC

tim's golden ratio

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Tim Q yuh

2024-07-01 13:25:09 UTC

nothings ever trulley cemertrysal - tim

2024-07-01 13:27:07 UTC

tim

2024-07-01 13:27:55 UTC

seems pretty deep to me - tim

2024-07-01 13:29:51 UTC

tim's eye in du sky

2024-07-01 13:33:11 UTC

Tim

2024-07-01 13:34:15 UTC

Tim

2024-07-01 13:34:51 UTC

Trinity

labargt — 2024-07-02 23:34:22 UTC

Leading Lines - Eva

evapomerleau — 2024-07-03 13:21:41 UTC

Diagonal Lines - Eva

evapomerleau — 2024-07-03 13:24:29 UTC

Frame Within a Frame

evapomerleau — 2024-07-03 13:26:31 UTC

Cropping - Eva

evapomerleau — 2024-07-03 13:27:54 UTC

Pattern - Eva

evapomerleau — 2024-07-03 13:30:42 UTC

Symmetry - Eva

evapomerleau — 2024-07-03 13:32:43 UTC

Symmetry - Eva

evapomerleau — 2024-07-03 13:36:21 UTC

Background - Eva

evapomerleau — 2024-07-03 13:37:35 UTC

Depth - Eva

evapomerleau — 2024-07-03 13:39:24 UTC

Depth - Eva

evapomerleau — 2024-07-03 13:41:10 UTC

Experimental - Eva

evapomerleau — 2024-07-03 13:44:31 UTC

Juxtaposition - Eva

evapomerleau — 2024-07-03 13:53:40 UTC

Chloe

wallmac — 2024-07-10 13:28:36 UTC

Negative Space _ Jacob

dodson6 — 2024-07-10 14:01:27 UTC

Viewpoint - Jacob

dodson6 — 2024-07-10 14:02:44 UTC

Experimental - Jacob

dodson6 — 2024-07-10 14:09:04 UTC

update

quijast — 2024-07-10 14:17:34 UTC

Experimental _ Jacob

dodson6 — 2024-07-10 14:19:03 UTC

Juxtaposition - Jacob

dodson6 — 2024-07-10 14:20:42 UTC

Chloe

wallmac — 2024-07-10 14:21:57 UTC

balance

quijast — 2024-07-22 15:50:34 UTC