Photography Masterclass Magazine
THE RULE OF THIRDS AND THE GOLDEN RATIO (FIBONACCI SPIRAL)
The Rule of Thirds is the most basic of composition rules but it’s an essential one to learn as it’s the basis for well-balanced shots. The idea is to break down an image into thirds both horizontally and vertically, The horizontal lines provide a simple way to divide up a landscape shot. The idea is to get a third of sky, a third of horizon and a third of foreground. You can then look to add points of interest at the four points where the vertical and horizontal lines converge. Following this method means that you’ll always end up with a balanced shot that appeals to the eye. Of course, once you’ve mastered this rule, it can be broken!
The Golden Ratio (also known as Phi, Divine Proportion or the Golden Mean) is a slightly more complex composition rule dating back to around 1200 A.D. Leonardo Fibonacci noticed that there was an absolute ratio that often appeared throughout nature and was pleasing to the human eye.
You can use this ratio in photography by placing the spiral over your main point of interest – try experimenting by downloading a grid from the internet and placing it over your existing images to get an idea of how it works.
NEGATIVE SPACE
In a nutshell, negative space is the area around your subject matter (known as the positive space). Used correctly, negative space provides a natural balance against your subject and helps to give them more definition. Negative space works best when you use a calm background, which helps to lead the viewer into your image and focus their attention on your subject. Think of it as giving your subject room to breathe!
FILL THE FRAME
This might seem like a contradiction to my above point on negative space but filling the frame entirely with your subject matter can also be a strong compositional technique. Zooming in for a strong crop focuses the viewer’s eye on your subject and helps to emphasise details. It’s a common mistake when you’re starting out to try and cram everything you see into a shot, when picking out a single detail can lead to a far stronger image.
CAMERA POSITION
When we think about composition tips, we’re usually focusing on what we see through the viewfinder. But before all that, we should think about getting our camera position right. You need to think about the right height and camera angle to give you the best composition.
For example, if you’re focusing on a person, the camera angle makes a huge difference to how flattering the photograph is. Being on eye level is always a good start, but don’t be afraid to experiment with getting down low or higher up to explore creative possibilities. And, whatever angle you shoot at, make sure you keep your horizons straight!
LEADING LINES
Lines are everywhere! And I’m not just talking about the obvious ones, such as roads, buildings or walls.
To improve your composition, you need to be looking for the natural lines in everything you shoot. For example, horizons create a strong line, along with shafts of sunlight through clouds in the sky. Even people’s faces and bodies have lines that you can follow to create a strong image.
RULE OF ODDS
This rule suggests that an image is more visually pleasing to a viewer if there are an odd number of subjects.
The theory is that if there are an even number a viewer won’t be sure which one they should focus on, whether an odd number is more natural and easier for a viewer to understand.
This is certainly a useful rule to try out in landscape work – three archways, three trees etc but when it comes to people, it’s not a rule that you’ll necessarily be able to follow!
GEOMETRY
You probably don’t realise it, but you are likely to see shapes in images without realising it. The next step is to consciously look for and place shapes into your images, which can dramatically improve composition.
Triangles are the most common shape to try and place. The golden triangle composition is a way of dividing your frame with a diagonal line going from one corner to the other. You then add two more lines from the other corners to the diagonal line, with these two smaller lines meeting the bigger line at a right angle.
This will divide your frame into a series of triangles. The idea is to place objects and natural lines in your scene so that they follow the diagonal lines and create a strong shot.
POINT OF FOCUS
No matter how you’re composing a portrait, you always need to make sure that your point of focus is your subject’s eyes. Nothing ruins a portrait faster than soft eyes – they need to be sharp! The easiest way to do this is to choose a single AF point and focus it over the closest eye to your camera.
IN CONCLUSION
These are just a handful of the many composition tips out there, but the above should give you a good grounding to go out with and start improving your imagery.