Applying the Rules of Composition | DP Week 1

Composition is how you arrange the elements in your photo space.

Other concept according to the site Expert Photography: composition is about what to include or leave out of your frame. It’s also about how you decide to place the elements in the scene.

There are many rules of composition, these rules are meant to be use as a guide to make of your photos something visually appealing and interesting.

In this post, I will show you some photos I recently took and what rules of composition I used for each photo, also some techniques I applied.

But first, I will tell you the meaning of each:

• Rule of thirds: division of the frame into 9 equals rectangles (across and down). You place the important elements along one or more of the lines or where these intersect.
• Leading lines: these help lead the viewer through the image and focus on the important elements.
• Vertical lines: these exude strength and suggest stability. They denote size and height.
• Diagonals and triangles: these kind of lines add dynamism to a photo, creating a sense of energy or action.
• Rule of odds: this one suggests than an image is more visually appealing if the number of subjects is an odd number.
• Centered composition: one of the most powerful ways to draw the attention to the subject of your photo. You place it in the middle of the image frame.
• Fill the frame: the subject occupy a significant portion of the image, it does not leave much space around it.
• Frame within a frame: visual elements in a scene that border a subject; outside structures (doors, archers, windows, etc.) can serve as natural frame.
• Symmetry and reflections: when the photo is equally balanced. Symmetry isn't always vertical, reflections create horizontal symmetry.
• Negative space: leaving empty or negative space around a subject can be very attractive. Its gives a simple, and minimalistic look.
• Shoot from below: changing the point of view from head height to low height can be dynamic and interesting.
• Depth of field: when the subject is completely in focus and the background is blurry.
• Texture: this can enhance the tactical feel of a photo. It's the appearance of a surface.
• Repetition: when an element repeats over and over again.

Rules of thirds, depth of field, and leading the eye technique (this creates movement across the frame).

Vertical lines.

Diagonals and triangles, and rule of odds (7 flowers).

Symmetry and reflections. There's an alligator popping it's head out of water.

Frame within a frame.

Centered composition and texture.

Centered composition, repetition, and leading lines.

Leaving negative space and shoot from below.

I cropped some of the photos to better the composition, and I made use of vignettes and filters to enhance the colors and details in each photo.