Photography composition - do you "point and shoot" images or do you compose images?

Lack of or bad photography composition can ruin any potentially good motive. You as most other photographers probably have experienced the final image not at all became as you have planned and what you actually saw when you took the image. What did you do wrong?

Have you ever got compliments for any of your images?

White tiger in the Singapore zoo

Many photographers just put the camera to the eye and "shoot" the image instead of "making" the image. Point and shoot images might once in a while turn out to be good images, but it is more likely it will become just ordinary.

The reason for this is you missed out some essentials in photography – photography composition. Before you shoot you must decide “what is it you want to tell with the image?”

What makes an image interesting?

When you look at an image, the eyes will seek to find a central point in the frame. This could be a human, a human`s face, a color spot or something else. Then the eyes will follow natural lines in the image leading to or from the central point.

The natural way for the eyes is to read from left to right and from the top and down, as you read a book. When the eyes have looked through the whole frame, they will most likely fall back to the central point. At least that is what you want to happen when someone look at your images. With a well though of photography composition the chances for a stunning image is much better.

Two important steps for a perfect photo - photography composition and the light

Lemon tree in Zwellendam, South Africa

If you own a point and shoot camera don`t stop reading now. The good thing with composition is it is not depending on the camera you are using, but rather the photographer.

It is the photographers ability to see and get the most out of the scene which is the key. Investing in a DSLR will not help at all if you don`t learn how to compose an attractive image.

This takes some practice, but when you control the technique you will find your images to be more interesting - not only for your self and your family, but for a more general audience. When you upload your images to online sites, what is more compelling than getting a positive feedback on one ore more of your images?

Photography composition

Composing is the creative part where you think, look, maybe thing again and then decide how to position your motive in the frame. Even a dull motive can be interesting if the composition is good. Composition is about how the different subjects and elements in a scene are positioned so the overall impression of the image is visually interesting for the viewer. There should be something in the image that draw the eyes into the scene and that are able to keep the viewer for a while.

If you think back, how often have you seen images with the main subject as a small dot to far away or an image with the subject placed in middle of the frame. Did these images give you a wow experience? Probably they did not. Something was wrong with the composition of these images.

Use of visual elements when composing an image.

Lines Shape, form, pattern and texture Balance and symmetry Perspective and scale Depth of field and selective focusing Colors and color combinations

Other well known techniques when composing an image.

The Rule of Third - "The golden mean" Framing the subject within the frame" Keep it simple, fill the frame and give space to the subject

The importance of light in images

Correct lighting (exposure) of the image might be something you leave to the camera to decide. Exposure is the technical part, but without understanding the importance of the light when shooting images, you will miss out a lot. Light and exposure are closely linked to each other, so in most situations you have to take control of the camera and the light to get a proper exposure. Learn more about the light in photography here.


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