Composition

What is composition? Well for me it's the difference between a happy snap and a real photograph, 20 years of pro work has given me the opportunity to learn the hard way what not to do.  But with a few basic rules followed, you will be amazed at what you can achieve.

The first  good idea for better photograph composition is using the Rule of Thirds. Basically, this entails dividing the image into thirds, vertically and horizontally and, depending on the subject, place the centre of interest on one of the four options where these lines intersect. Compositions using this technique usually turn out more appealing, and guess what? many digital cameras now include this feature in the set up, so turn it on and you will improve your photography instantly.

With outdoor pictures the time of day can be significant, the colour of the light surrounding the subject can enhance or detract from the photograph's composition with the shadows and direction of light  becoming part of the of the image.

Many people believe that the only qualification needed for taking a good photograph is being able to use the manual controls of their digital camera. However, although this is important, composition is just as essential if not more so.

In fact if the light is right using the auto settings and getting the composition right will result in much better quality images. Photograph composition is without doubt the most crucial part of creating a good picture. It is the correct arrangement of the subject and background and yet, the average amateur photographers ignore it.

The main point of good composition is accepting what does and doesn't belong in a photograph. There are a few basic rules that should give you a nice composition every time.......

• Use lead in lines to point to your subject. For example, a footpath, the river's edge or perhaps a staircase will lead the eye the main subject of the picture. Or as in the 'tunnel shot' example to the right the lines on the wall are leading the eye to the subject. >>>>

• Use natural framing in your landscapes. you should always use a tripod as you can be there some time waiting for the light to be just right. A wide angle lens will give your photograph impact, conversely a long focal length will 'stack the image' that is compress the image and can give a very dramatic effect. The trunk and branches of a tree might make a nice natural frame for your landscape, or shooting low down with rocks and pebbles in the foreground will provide foreground interest. Landscape photography is so much fun and with changing weather each image is so unique, just have fun and try everything you have nothing to lose.

  Use your foreground or background to highlight your subject. A reflection of your subject in a pond or lake or perhaps a flower bed in the foreground to lead the eye into your subject. Be careful when using fill flash over a pond or lake as it can bounce of the water and results in light banding across the image, it might be best to use a reflector instead in this instance. 

  Try unusual angles. Everything does not have to be shot from eye-level  (some times called the 5' 6" syndrome). Try Laying down on the ground or perhaps pick the high-ground by climbing the steps or on top of a rock. The main thing is to try something different. Once at a wedding I was laying at bottom of some steps shooting up at the happy couple when suddenly out of no ware came a security guard who began administering first aid, before I new where I was I was in the coma position, much to amusement of the bridal party.  You can also try tipping  the camera at angle to imply movement or to get a child more into the shot. Get a model to tip her head slightly and then tip the camera to straighten her up, a most unusual shot like the one on the right is the result.  >>>>

  Digital image cards are quite cheap now. If you are planning to take one picture, try 10 or 20 shots to find just the right angle to add interest to your picture. You can always hit the delete button if the shot does not work out, we pro's take that many just to get a keeper. If you have a group you can bet that someone will do some thing to muck up the shot so keep shooting till your sure.

  Photographing large groups of people is quite a challenging for an amateur, but if you keep it tight and don't have gaps it the group it looks great, try to keep the couples or families within the group together, groups in groups always looks better. To some this seems to come naturally while others have to work at it and although the editing process can achieve good composition later it's far better to do it when capturing the image in the first place. It's a lot easier to edit a well-composed photograph.

• Children and animals are an interesting subject and one big mistake amateurs make when photographing them is to shoot down on them (unless that was the intent as in the shot to the right >>> ) they often end up with large heads and small feet.   Get down to their eye level and shoot horizontally at them for an even balanced shot.

• <<<<  Many fashion photographers shoot from knee height to give a more dramatic view of the model adding height to an already tall subject. Ever noticed how big the world looks to children, this is because of their low angle of view so if you want to get that look get down low and shoot from there.

• Study photo books and check out online photo galleries. Try to figure out why some pictures are great and some are not. You can learn a lot about composition just by looking at the work of others. I have been a professional photographer for about 20 years and I still spend time looking at what other photographers are shooting. For even at my age, I still learn something new everyday, and if it's really good I use it, and you should too.

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So pick up your camera and go create some pictures. Photographers don't say that we are taking pictures, we say that we are making pictures.