How to Use Photo Composition

Artists and photographers categorize photographs into categories: pictures and photographs. The main difference is the amount of forethought that goes into the image beyond lighting and selecting a subject. Planned images hold the viewer's interest longer and often lure the viewer to look again. Journalists and visual artists found that following certain composition principles improves interest. Follow the steps to ensure that your pictures are impressive.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Determine a primary center of interest that is the most important to you before you push the shutter button. Compose to emphasize that point of interest.

2. Keep it simple by allowing only things you want to be seen to be in the picture. Know that your message will be lost if numerous objects are cluttering the background. Look for an angle to avoid showing the clutter or frame the center of interest to isolate it. If clutter is still visible, keep the background unfocused by using depth of field control.

3. Use light and darkness to your benefit. Place a light subject against a dark background and a dark object against a light background. The placement adds interest and emphasis to the photograph. Using contrasting colors can become distracting if the usage is not considered carefully.

4. Realize that informal balance or asymmetric is more pleasing in a photograph than formal (symmetric) balance. Place the main center of interest off-center. Balance the "weight" of the main interest with other objects (lower impact or smaller). Understand that unbalancing the photo is more effective than having the subject centered in the photograph.

5. Framing is when an object in the foreground leads the viewer into the picture. Framing may give the viewer a 3D view of action in the photograph. Know that the best kind of framing is when the foreground object occupies three to four of the corners, leading the viewer's attention to the center of interest. Realize that framing usually improves a picture. Understand that the "frame" does not need to be in sharp focus and that it could be a distraction if it has too much detail.

6. Move the camera up or down or step to one side to change your picture dramatically. Realize that a good way to create prize-winning photographs is to take the photograph from an "unusual" point of view.

7. Leave some space in front of your subject if the subject is a person or a living thing that can move. Understand that doing so makes the object appear to be moving into, instead of out of, the photograph.

8. Place linear elements such as waterways, roads and fences diagonally to give a more dynamic photograph than horizontals. Know that this rule is called "leading lines" because the lines lead the viewer's attention to the center of interest.

9. Use the "rule of thirds," based on a principle taught in photography and graphic design. Know that the theory says the eye goes naturally to a point that is about two-thirds up from the bottom of the page. Visually divide your image into thirds (either horizontally or vertically) to achieve asymmetric or informal.