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Composition Techniques
Most of the tips on this page come from years of mediocre photos, and learning what not to do. They're well known "rules" in the photography community, which isn't to say you can't break 'em; just be aware that they exist and consider them when snapping your next shot.

1) Rule of thirds
When first taking photos, most people believe that placing the subject of interest in the centre of the frame is the most appealing thing to do. The rule of thirds, however, suggests that the human eye prefers subjects off-centre: mentally imagine your camera's frame divided into thirds by two vertical lines, and again by two horizontal lines. The four points where those four grid lines intersect is where the subject of interest should be placed, according to this rule. There are always exceptions, but I have found this to be a good practice.

2) Angled lines:

Geometric shapes usually cause great interest in a photo, but most often we come across lines - perhaps a fence or a road, or a ladder. Lines in an image that start at one corner of the frame and enter it at 30 degrees or so create interest for the viewer's eye. These lines take the eye into the image, and back out again. The same is true of S-curved lines.

3) Moving objects should move into the frame, not out.
Having a moving object racing out of the photo makes the viewer's eye want to leave the photo and see where the object is headed. Instead, to keep the viewer's eye within your frame, try to capture the path ahead of the moving object. (Combine this suggestion with the above two points, and aim for a racing car in the bottom-left third of your image headed into the frame on a road angled off into the distance!)

4) Try Framing your image
Look for a natural frame to focus the eye on the true subject. A frame can surround the subject, but it doesn't have to be on all four sides of the image. Experiment with framing to give your photos depth.

5) Change your angle
Rather than shooting from eye-level, try shooting from the ground up, or find a platform and shoot down. Changing the angle of your perspective can give you a whole new composition!

6) Look for patterns
Patterns can be interesting to the eye, so consider looking for patterns in colour, texture, and shape. They're especially interesting when one piece of the pattern is different, since it keeps drawing the eye back for more.

7) Learn to see Creatively
I was given Bryan Paterson's book called "Learning to See Creatively" one year for my birthday and found it very inspiring. I later took a course at BetterPhoto where he was my instructor - what a coincidence! He certainly knows his stuff and takes amazing photos! If you want to change how you view the world with a camera in your hand, I recommend you read his book!

 

In the meantime, here are some other tips for being creative:

  1. Move in closer, and then, closer still. Once you've moved in close, move in closer again!
  2. Use a polarizing filter
  3. Look for unusual angles. Shoot from the ground looking up, or from a tree looking down.
  4. Experiment with abstract lines and images. Consider slowing down your exposure to get fuzzy images.
  5. Frame your image carefully.