So...for a painting or a photo, the real work begins long before you pick up a brush or a camera. What is going to make your picture unique and wonderful is the composition, and the time you spend setting up the composition, will show in the resulting picture. Sure, every once and awhile you will take a 'snapshot' and it will turn out great, but that is often more to do with luck than skill. I would argue that good photographers and artists develop such a heightened sense of composition over time that they can figure out the composition almost instinctively, and therefore some of their pictures, taken quickly, or painted hurriedly, will show the keys to composition. However, that is something that comes with time. If you are a new photog, it behooves you to spend time learning the fundamentals of composition and pay strict attention to it as you begin taking photographs.
Award winning photographer and a freelance writer TJ Tierney has written some excellent tips to help us learn composition. Here is TJ's article:
Regardless of which type of camera we use the elements that make good composition remain the same.
Excellent composition is a key structure of good imagery and when done well will add great value to your pictures. Regardless of which type of photography we participate in, the rules of composition remain the same.
Good composition is required in all types of photography -
Here are a few tips which you may find practical.
Lead with lines: To lead with lines into the main part of the scene will draw the viewer into your image. These lines don't have to be straight. Lines, such as tracks, riverbanks or fences, may work successfully.
Foreground interest: Simple foreground objects can give your landscape a greater sense of depth. Use a small aperture (f/22) to keep the entire scene in focus.
Natural frames: Frame your scene with the elements all around you. This will help to focus attention on the main part of the picture. Branches of trees make great natural frames for landscape and nature images. Using windows as frames can also help.
Fill the frame: Used mainly in macro photography and portrait photography, filling the frame is another composition technique.
Isolate the subject: Using an aperture of f/5 or smaller will isolate your subject. With this technique the subject should remain sharp with the background and foreground becoming blur. This is used creatively in sports, nature and wildlife photography to draw attention to the subject. This can also be used for outdoor portrait shots.
Adding or removing objects from a scene can help with composition. Still life photographers will always be re-arranging their subjects. Most still life photographers sell their images to the advertisement market where perfection is essential. Here is where attention to detail should be at the utmost.
Landscape photographers can use several ways to produce good images. Natural frames will work well in certain scenes, as does attractive foreground interest. Leading with lines works well in certain circumstances. A popular way is to use the rule of thirds.
Understanding the Rule of thirds: If you draw two vertical lines on your print and two horizontal lines across your print, you should have nine rectangles of equal size. The four points where the vertical and horizontal lines meet are the area where you place the focal point of your image.
Composition is also extremely important for portrait photographers. If this is an area that you have interest in, study portraits owned by family and friends. This is a great way to see how the professionals use some of the above techniques. Many portrait photographers use a dull background isolating the subject.
Composition for architecture photography is tricky. Outdoor urban scenes can be a nightmare to control and sometimes it is impossible to know what to leave in or out of the image. It is also the same with indoor architecture photography - many items in a room may clutter your image.
If you do come across a scene and you are unsure about the composition take a few different shots - don't miss out on the chance of getting a gripping image.
About the Author
TJ Tierney is an award winning photographer and a freelance writer. To find out more information visit his free photography and digital photography site. His site also contains a free photography competition
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