Composition in Photography

When pointing your camera to capture a moment in time, where you decide to place your subject is called composition.

But even before you push the shutter button to take that picture, you must have a clear answer to this question: what is my subject.

Often used to guide your viewer’s eyes to your subject, this device uses long diagonal lines, it is called leading lines.

Used like a picture frame, this device places your subject within a shape. It doesn’t have to be a regular shape like a rectangle, square or circle. As long as it completely frames your subject, it works to highlight your subject, that is why it is called frame within a frame.

Human eyes look for regular repeating shapes and forms because they are pleasing and harmonious. It isn’t surprising then another common compositional device used is the use of pattern. The idea is to find any sort of repeating pattern and then interrupt or break the pattern by placing your subject within that pattern instantly making it stand out.

One of the easiest ways to create an interesting picture of a very common subject is to use a different and unusual viewpoint. Humans being bipedal are accustomed to seeing their world from the same upright position. Probably the only times they explore their world from a different view is when they crawl or when they are up high and end up looking down to see everything below them.