Many people who use the viewfinder to just ensure they have the subject in the
frame, are losing the first opportunity to end up with better photographs.
Gone are the days when a great photo was lost through underexposure or
overexposure. With all the latest cameras, the chances of a shot being
incorrectly exposed are virtually nil, and even camera shake is being overcome
by tricky electronics.
My contention is that understanding photographic composition alone, is now the
key to getting great photographs. It is that alone which differentiates a “good”
photo from a “bad” or “ordinary” one? Get the composition correct and you have a
winner.
Here’s how. The photographer’s eye is something that you may or may not be
blessed with, but these are some easy hints which will improve the composition
and final visual effect of any of your photographs. Guaranteed! You don’t need
to be Ansel Adams.
The first rule of composition is to “Look for a different viewpoint”. While the
standard, “Put the Subject in the Middle of the Viewfinder” idea will at least
ensure that you do get a picture of the subject, it will also ensure that your
photographs will be dull and boring! If nothing else, always take two shots, one
in the “usual” horizontal format (called “landscape”) and the second one in a
vertical (portrait) format. You will be amazed just how this simple trick can
give you a better picture. Landscapes taken in the vertical format make the
viewer look more deeply at what the photographer is trying to say in the
picture.
In attempting to get that different viewpoint you should also try to take some
shots from something which is not the standard eye-level position. Lie on the
floor, climb a ladder - anything! Just don’t get stuck with standard eye-level
views.
The next way to add interest to your photographs is to make sure the subject is
one third in from either edge of the viewfinder. Just by placing your subject
off-center immediately drags your shot out of the “ordinary” basket. The
technocrats call this the “Rule of Thirds”, but just try putting the subjects
off-center. While still on the Rule of Thirds, don’t have the horizon slap bang
in the center of the picture either. Put it one third from the top or one third
from the bottom. As a rough rule of thumb, if the sky is interesting put more of
it in the picture, but if it is featureless blue or grey include less of it.
Simple!
Now what else can you do? One good little trick is to include some details in
the foreground of a shot to lead your eye towards the main subject. Look for
lines, roads, telephone wires, fences etc with strong lines to include in the
shot. Arrange the picture so that the lines “point” towards your main subject. A
few foreground details also help add interest to any photograph.
One foreground detail to always look for is the possibility of producing a
“frame” around the main subject. We call this the “Frame within a Frame”
technique. It is a very successful way to convert an ordinary shot into one with
a lot of visual appeal. And this is indeed a successful ploy. Any of you who
have ever looked at all the entries in a photographic competition will perhaps
recall that the winning photographs generally will have used that technique.
Perhaps the last tip in making your shots more interesting is to include people
in them where possible. That shot of sweeping rolling hills always looks better
if you can put some human interest into it as well. A girl on a horse, a couple
on a seat or a jogger all help to elevate a landscape above the hum-drum. Always
look to add the human element.
In summary, take any shot in portrait as well as landscape mode, try to avoid
just simple eye-level shooting positions, place the subject off center, don’t
place the horizon line bang in the middle of the picture, look for frames within
a frame and stick people in your pictures to give some interest.