WHY IS COMPOSITION SO IMPORTANT? Why do I need to worry about all of that stuff when I can just crop it to the layout I want after I take the picture? Yes, you can. You can crop, but you can only crop what you've shot as you've shot it. You may not be able to reframe it correctly in post production if the focal point is in the wrong place. Composition, like lighting, can feel overwhelming but it is crucial to learn in order to become a stronger photographer. When you are able to strengthen your technical know how you won't rely on luck to get that perfect shot. You will be able to confidently create it with your skills and knowledge.
In order to keep this blog from turning into a long technical book, I am going to pick my top four rules of composition as an introduction to this topic. I will provide you with the basic information on each but I do encourage you to continue to learn about this. For now, however, let's get started.
The four rules of composition that I will cover today are:
THE RULE OF THIRDS
LEADING LINES
VIEWPOINT
CENTRE FRAMING
THE RULE OF THIRDS is one of the most commonly referred to rule. This rule is here simply because our eyes, for one reason or another, like to see things in thirds. How do you obtain this? The easiest way to create this is to imagine a tic-tac-toe grid being placed over your image (or in your frame) Two equally spaced lines running North to South and two equally spaced lines running East to West. This will create nine quadrants. The rule of thirds asks that you place your point of interest or subject on one of the lines. This will ensure that you are placing your subject at a point representing a third of your image. You get a gold star if you place the focal point on the intersection of any of the lines.
LEADING LINES are a way to direct the viewer's eye to your subject by utilizing lines that appear in nature or around you as you shoot. For example, your model can be walking away from you, toward an old cottage on a winding path or toward you and away from the unknown. The path leads your eye to the subject but also shows movement in the journey. The river meanders through the trees toward the mountains which rest along the horizon. In this case, you could employ the leading line but position the mountains in the top third of your image, utilizing the rule of thirds. You want to pull your viewer to the destination of your story. Lines show a journey.
VIEWPOINT is your line of sight. So I have a couple of pretty AMAZING dogs. I love taking photos of them, and much to my friends annoyance, I have been known to overshare. Here's the thing... someone looking at photos of someone else's dog from a pretty standard line of sight doesn't showcase that animals personality. If I snap a pic of my fur baby laying down or standing in the kitchen as seen from where I stand, it doesn't convey a point of interest. It is just a dog... as much as I love him. If we want to bring our subject to life (and this can be applied to nature as well as people and animals) shake up that viewpoint. Get down on your belly and capture your subject at their level. Give them a personality. I spent a few hours at a friend's ranch this week and their adorable donkey decided that was the day I was going to be her best friend. It took some time, and no sudden movements, but she began to trust me so I was able to get some really fun shots. This is applicable to children too. Get down to their level. Engage them. Don't tower over them and expect the same results. If you like shooting flowers, don't shoot down on them, get as low as you can and show off a view that is not often captured. As a photographer, every shoot, every subject is an opportunity to show the world a new way to view the familiar. I want to control the visual narrative. While I am on this point, I think it is also worth mentioning that a zoom lens should not replace the connectivity you achieve by walking closer to your subject. Sometimes we need to shoot at a distance (for safety or a logistical inability to move closer) but try to walk rather than zoom whenever possible.
CENTRE FRAMING is typically not a composition style that is celebrated as often as the others, however, if done correctly, the imagery you create with this composition style can be extraordinarily powerful. Centre framing is one of my personal faves, but for me, I prefer it when you fill your entire frame with your subject... in other words, a VERY very close up shot of your subject. Centre framing can also be done at a distance, but be cautious. Imagine a person standing in front of the ocean, on a beach, with the same space and surrounding imagery equally on either side of them. Where is the impact? Have you lost your subject to the background? The same can be said about most backdrops where your subject is just standing there, lost in all the elements surrounding them. Where is the impact in that? As this image helps to illustrate, if the story is enhanced with a centre frame, then go for it. In this case, any other crop or framing would not have done justice to the rings in the water, symbolizing the water maiden's appearance from the depths. Similar to how leading lines show movement.
So there you have it. The basics of composition. There is much more to learn, so I will encourage you to never stop seeking the education that is out there. Photography has been my passion for 20 years and I have been blessed to work with and learn from some of the industry's top artists. I started out on film. It was a great deal more costly learning on film. On digital, you can head out and snap away until your heart's content. Practice. Play. Enjoy. This is a craft that has filled my soul with joy for decades and continues to do so. More and more people are discovering the craft at a time where knowledge and information has never been more readily available.
As one final item on today's blog, I would like to give you an assignment. Find ONE thing. Anything. Shoot it from an angle or distance, with different lighting or framing. Show it to the world for the first time. Whether it is a bathroom faucet, wheel of your bike or a blade of grass. Let's focus on VIEWPOINT today. When you shoot, please share to my page. I am super excited to see what you all come up with!
Thank you for reading my blog. I hope you find them useful. Until next time...
Much light and love
Claire
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