Photography formation is the language of photography. Using varied photographic formations and formatory elements, we can develop a visual message for the observer.
Understanding the different rules of composition is important, but rather than being constrained by a set of guidelines, we should examine the principles of composition and compositional techniques that will aid us in transforming our vision into an image.
In this guide to learning effective photography techniques, you’ll find all the types of image arrangements that will enhance your abilities with a camera. You will also gain knowledge on how components that make up a photo work together, and most notably, you will understand the visual language of photography beyond the standard rules of composition.
To help you navigate through the differing formatory techniques and to learn how photography outlining works, you’ll also find plenty of photography formation models.
Ready to compose images in a unique and potent way?
Table of Contents
What is composition in photography?
Simply stated, composition in photography can be defined as the way we arrange the various parts in a scene to make them aesthetically pleasing to the observer. These parts can represent the photographer’s visual message in a harmonious, impactful, and effective manner.
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Many of the photographic methods for structuring composition come from classic craft, particularly artwork. However, it`s significant to note that principles in photography can be broken, and you can make an effective and compelling image even if you stray from the renowned photography rules of composition.
That said, it’s essential to grasp all the fundamental principles of photographic composition such as compositional guidelines and techniques to fully understand the visual language and leverage it to your advantage.
These are the main compositional rules and elements in photography:
1. RULE OF THIRDS – One of the basics in photography composition
The rule of thirds is one of the fundamental principles of framing images.
According to this fundamental photo composition principle, if we divide the frame vertically and horizontally into 3 equal sections, we should place the pivotal elements of the image on the lines or at the intersections of the lines.
The rule of thirds is a straightforward and effective strategy for framing your arrangement, and currently most digital cameras include compositional grids separated into thirds for developing images.
You can see more data and numerous examples of the guideline of thirds (and how to break it) in our rule in thirds in photography guide!
2. Compositional lines – An effective way to lead the viewer’s eye
Applying powerful lines of direction is one of the most compelling strategies of structure to steer the spectator`s vision toward the critical components in your viewpoint.
This is one of the finest recommendations for photography composition integrated into most photography composition publications, and for reasonable basis; it’ll be less complicated to take the viewer on a visual journey through your photograph using compositional lines.
3. Photography Framing – A good composition technique to simplify
It might sound redundant, but one of the most striking compositional techniques in photography is to include a frame within your frame to create a picture within a picture.
This framework can be natural or artificial, but the goal remains the same; to improve the photography composition by directing the viewer’s eye to the important elements.
4. Balance – A fundamental guideline of composition
Balance in photography structure alludes to how the components in your picture relate to each other within the frame while contemplating their visual weight and upholding equilibrium.
In a balanced design, some visual elements carry more visual weight than others, so it`s important to strike a balance between the colors, shapes, space, and other compositional factors we`ll be discussing below.
5. Golden triangle – A classic rule of composition
The essential triangle is another of the most frequent photographyprinciples of composition. It’s also been one of the fundamental basics of composition in photography and visual arts for centuries.
According to the golden triangle principle, if we draw a diagonal line from one corner to the other and two perpendicular lines from the remaining corners, the frame is divided into four triangles of two distinct sizes. Adhering to this rule, we can utilize this division to place the subject within one of the triangles or to position our guiding lines on the diagonal lines.
One of the best ways to understand photography composition is to look at classic paintings. The golden triangle is a good composition example used by the old masters.
6. Curves – The type of composition you need to create interest
If you want to create a more interesting visual journey for the viewer, introduce curves into your composition.
Curves are strong compositional lines that add depth and are simple to implement, making them one of the most common photography composition tips for beginners. There are many unique types, yet the “S” shape is one of the most impactful compositional curves in photography.
Rivers, roads, buildings… there are endless elements to include as curves in your photographic composition.
7. Background – The best way to avoid compositional distractions
One commonly recurring fault in photography composition is placing the subject in front of a cluttered background. This risks distracting the viewer`s eye and lessens the image`s visual appeal.
To employ this method of scene composition, try positioning your subject against a plain background, or use a more limited depth of field to emphasize the subject relative to the backdrop. This is also one of the better portrait arrangement techniques.
8. Golden Ratio/Spiral – A classic composition guideline that never fails
The golden ratio or golden spiral is another classic principle of composition that can assist you in improving your photographic composition abilities.
This photography compositional principle follows what is known as the “ golden proportion” or Greek “phi number”, which represents a ratio of 1 to 1.618. This ratio has been employed since ancient times and widely used not only in photography but also architecture and design.
In terms of photographic composition, by applying this number we can organize the elements in an aesthetically pleasing manner. To do so, the most straightforward approach is to employ two shapes that adhere to this compositional guideline, the golden rectangle, and the golden spiral. Place the subject where the golden spiral’s curl would be.
9. Symmetry – The easiest way to capture a balanced composition
Comparable to setting up well-balanced photographs, using balance through symmetry in your photographic compositions is among the best approaches to distributing the optical weight across the frame.
The clearest example involves photographing components capable of producing reflections like lakes, ponds, puddles, and other artificial materials. Seeking patterns also presents a good strategy to compose balanced images.
Symmetry is one of the most straightforward photography compositional elements for beginners, and it can be applied to any genre.
10. Repetition – A good composition technique to improve your images
Repeating elements is an classic photography composition guideline to make your images stand apart.
Through reiteration, we can deploy colors, shapes, lines, textures, and other components in the structure to generate an engaging visual flow for the viewer.
A good tip for arranging a photograph using repetition is to keep your eyes wide open since we can find plenty of repetitive patterns both in nature and urban environments.
11. Geometric shapes – Math applied to photographic compositions
Many principles of photography composition are connected to mathematics, like the rule of thirds, the golden triangle, the golden spiral, and numerous others. However, you don’t need to bring a calculator into the field to create improved compositions applying these principles.
A good example of photography composition are geometric forms. Look for triangles, circles, squares, rectangles, and even more complex shapes like rhombuses or diamonds. The simplest way to find shapes are in architecture, but we can find so many of these design elements in nature, too.
12. Scale – One of the most striking compositional rules
An engaging technique to attract viewer attention is composing photographs using differing scales.
Ratio is a artistic technique related to the proportion of the elements and how they relate to each other in regards to size, distance, etc.
A beneficial composition recommendation is to incorporate an element that we can identify to demonstrate a sense of scale, like incorporating a person or animal against a vast landscape.
We can also utilize other photography framing techniques like the rule of thirds to place the focal point in any of the “ideal arrangements”.
13. Depth – A good composition tip to immerse the viewer in the image
A bulletproof compositional system is to make profundity in your picture. Composing a photograph with profundity, you’ll make more tridimensionality and the trick of volume in your representation.
There are numerous aspects that assist in generating depth as we’ll see below. The important thing is to utilize them to your benefit to improve your compositional abilities and avoid compositional errors like developing a flat image.
14. Atmosphere – The best compositional element to create etherealness
Environment is one of the key structural components in landscape photography to include more profundity and enthusiasm to your pictures.
Capturing or enhancing the ambiance, you’ll get a more ethereal sensation in your photography framing and you’ll make the viewer feel as if they were part of the scene.
15. Layers – A compelling compositional technique to add more depth
An additional compositional technique to add to your camera shots is to compose using layers.
Overlapping elements add dimension to the visual, developing an illusion of breadth and volume.
A useful composition photography suggestion when utilizing layers is to segregate the foreground, midground, and background to develop a sentiment of depth.
16. Color – The most overlooked compositional element
A typical error in photography composition is to forget about color.
We tend to think about rules, proportions, shapes, and many other elements when discussing photographic composition. However, color theory composition is an extraordinary factor to creating unique images.
To compose images using hues, try adjusting them according to one of the fundamental color plans like related, complementary, triads, and so on. You may also develop more depth by separating warm and cool shades. Don’t forget about visual mass; too many vibrant and saturated colors could prove distracting.
Another resolution concerning the compositional elements of color in photography involves switching the depiction to black and white. Occasionally removing colors altogether can prove more compelling if they fail to add any intrigue.
17. Rule of Space – A basic photography rule for beginners
There is no photography composition masterclass where the concept of managing space is not mentioned. Just like the rule of thirds, it’s one of the fundamental rules in photography composition, and one of the easiest to implement in your images.
According to the rule of area, you should place your subject so that it’s pointing towards an empty area, producing a sense of motion and space. A typical compositional example in wildlife photography is made up of leaving space ahead of the animal.
It’s also a good photography composition recommendation for portraits. You can achieve a superior image by capturing your subject gazing at the available space instead of the closest edge of the frame.
18. Rule of odds – A useful compositional principle
Another simple guideline of photography composition is the rule of odds.
This compositional guideline involves capturing an odd quantity of subjects to generate more visually pleasing images, such as 3 or 5 components rather than 2 or 4. The foundation of the rule of odds relates to our subconscious as research demonstrates that groups containing an odd number of things are more engaging visually for our minds.
Consider this photography rule relating to composition with some skepticism, since there are clearly situations where you must photograph an even number of subjects, such as couple portraits or wedding photographs.
19. Patterns – The best way to capture abstract compositions
An efficient compositional system in photography is to capture designs to generate a additional fascinating flow in your image.
There are many different types of repeating patterns in photography compositions, like shapes, colors, textures, etc.
By using other photography compositional components that we already mentioned like symmetry and repetition, we can create very intriguing photographic compositions.
20. Simplicity – “less is more” in photography composition
Photography arranges various compositional techniques, and incorporating too many elements into a single frame represents one of the more prevalent composition mistakes.
Simplicity is a crucial photographycomposition technique to effectively present your images for the viewer in a clear and understandable way. Practicing photography composition by adopting the minimalistic approach of “less is more”, you’ll see how your images become more impactful despite including fewer elements.
21. Negative space – A composition principle to emphasize your subject
When examining photography composition, you can see how many visually compelling images incorporate vast empty spaces where your eye goes directly to the focal point/subject.
Negative space is a photographic compositional factor that follows the rules of simplicity and focus. It’s one of the best approaches to emphasize your subject and direct the viewer’s eye to the essential focal points of the frame.
A useful photography composition recommendation is to combine the negative space with the guideline of space to produce more interest.
22. Cropping – Filling the frame to compose photographs
Contrary to expectations of emptiness, focusing the frame on the subject is a photographic compositional technique of filling available space.
Focusing on the key parts of the scene rather than distracting background details, this photographic composition tactic shares the identical objective as the negative space approach; bringing attention to the vital components within the frame.
This is a common wildlife photography composition tip. By cropping the image or applying a longer focal length, we can fill the frame with the subject to avoid distractions.
23. Juxtaposition – A composition technique for more interesting images
Even though positioning objects or people directly opposite or beside each other to highlight the differences between them sounds like complex photography composition vocabulary, it’s an easy and highly effective compositional element.
Basically, juxtaposition includes arranging two or more contrasting components side by side. In photography, you can use it by placing contrary colors, tones, shapes, and even objects or identities to generate contrast so the viewer stops to examine the visual significance of the image.
The juxtaposition of differing elements is a highly beneficial component in street photography composition, so don’t forget to keep your eyes widely open!
24. Foreground – One of the best landscape compositional elements
Placing intriguing foregrounds in your images is a sound photography compositionstyle to prompt the watcher to examine your image.
This doesn’t work in all images, however in certain compositions like landscape photography, incorporating a visually appealing foreground is an efficient strategy for creating engaging images.
25. Viewpoint – A good compositional tip to follow
Within photographic composition, the viewpoint is a pivotal factor in ultimately framing the captured scene.
When we initiate picture taking, it’s very commonplace to photograph from eye level. However, adjusting your vantage point, even if it’s just a few inches up or down, allows you to seize a totally different perspective.
One of the most proficient photographic composition practices to advance your compositional skills is to envision. Before pressing the shutter or even placing the camera on the tripod, you should observe which viewpoint seems more appealing visually. Then, you can view the perspective through the lens and arrange your concluding image.
A helpful photographic composition suggestion is to think outside the conventional boundaries. Apart from moving up and down, tilting the camera, etc., try employing different focal lengths to emphasize different elements. For example, you can use a wide angle and get closer to the foreground to strengthen the leading lines or use a drone to capture a completely different point of view.
There are unlimited approaches in photographic composition!
Conclusion
Beyond expensive camera gear or top-notch processing skills, photography composition represents the solitary most important photography factorfor developing improved images.
Learning the basics of photography composition and the main compositional elements will help you frame what you want to capture in a more harmonious manner and create a more appealing image for the viewer.
My last suggestion for composing better images is to study and practice. Analyze different compositions not only from other renowned photographers, but also from the old school painters. Put everything you learn into practice, and try to continuously visualize compositions, even when you don’t have a camera.
And lastly, remember that there are no photography rules of composition; distinctive visually compelling images can be created without adhering to the major rules.
To wrap up I just want to share my favorite quotation concerning the art of photography composition, from Ansel Adams:
“There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs”
Happy shooting!
You may find some motivation and examples in our article about photography composition.
