Summer is here and that means tons of photographs. Most experts would agree that above exposure and lighting, composition is the most important component that can make or break a photograph. Timbuktu Studios has a few tips on how to get good composition in your photographs that will have people raving over them.
The number one guideline to good composition in a photograph is the “rule of thirds.” Imagine when you are looking at your scene through the viewfinder of your camera that the image is being divided into thirds both horizontally and vertically by lines. The idea behind the “rule of thirds” is that where these lines intersect is where the human eye naturally looks when viewing a photograph. So to place the points of interest in areas where the lines intersect will create a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing image. When composing your image you need to ask yourself two questions, “What are the points of interest in this scene and where am I placing them within the frame?”
The second thing to remember when composing a picture is simplicity and balance. To create simplicity and balance in your photos try to eliminate busy backgrounds or foregrounds and give your subject, especially when photographing moving objects, space in the foreground as if the subject was still moving. Creating simplicity and balance in your images can be achieved by these techniques.
1. Zoom in closer to your subject. This will eliminate any busy backgrounds or foregrounds
2. Move the subject to the right or left of your photo, or top or bottom. This will help to balance the photo, make it more interesting and if you are photographing a moving object give the subject room as if it were still moving.
Using these rules will help you create great composition in your photos and have friends and families calling you a pro. Of course remember that like any great medium in art, rules are made to be broken. In order to break the rules, you have to know them and really break them well. From everyone here at Timbuktu Studios, “Happy Composing!”
If you have questions about photography and would like to see them answered in future articles please write to Tracy at tracym@timbuktustudios.com .
For more information and a list of our classes, contact us at 661-298-0822 or visit our website at timbuktustudios.com .