The cliché of photography composition, how much do you know if you like photography?

20 photography composition methods that novices must master

For photography, composition is an important factor in expressing the content of the work. It is the process of determining and organizing elements to produce a harmonious photo. Learning composition is like learning a language. Once you learn a language, it becomes a subconscious behavior that will help you create better pictures.

In this article, the editor has sorted out 20 composition methods, some of which are common and some that you may have never been exposed to. So whether you are a newbie or an experienced driver, don’t miss this tutorial.

1. Rule of thirds

The rule of thirds should be the most common and basic composition method. This composition method uses 4 straight lines to divide the picture into 9 equal squares. This kind of composition has clear expression and concise picture. At present, most digital cameras and even mobile phones have built-in Jiugongge auxiliary composition lines. It is suitable for various shooting themes, and the most commonly used ones are landscapes, people, etc.

In the following two examples, the main trees and the church in the picture are placed on the frame line. Similarly, the horizontal line is also placed on the frame line. This is a very typical composition of the rule of thirds. , making the subject of the picture appear very clearly.

2. Symmetrical composition

Symmetrical composition has the characteristics of balance, stability and echo, but its disadvantage is that it is too rigid and lacks change. Often used to express symmetrical objects, buildings, and objects of special style.

As shown below, the picture is of a bridge. According to the symmetrical characteristics of the bridge itself, it is very suitable for shooting with symmetrical composition.

In the picture below, a combination of the rule of thirds and symmetrical composition is actually used. In this scene with water, the upper and lower symmetrical composition can well combine the ground and reflection. combine.

3. Foreground and depth sense

The photo itself is a plane, but if you add a foreground to the picture and shoot at a wide angle, a sense of depth will appear, thus achieving 3D effect.

4. Frame composition

Choose a framed foreground, which can lead the audience’s sight to the scenery within the frame, highlight the subject, and also create a sense of depth. A frame that surrounds the subject image creates an air of mystery, as if a person were peeking somewhere from hiding. Frame composition helps integrate the subject image with the scenery, giving the photo greater visual impact.

The picture below was taken in Piazza San Marco in Venice. In the picture, the arches frame the Basilica San Marco and the bell tower. Framing the landscape through arches was a common painting method during the Renaissance.

The frame does not have to be arches and windows, it can also be tree trunks or leaves. The picture below was taken in County Kildare, Ireland. The tree trunks and grass are used to frame the bridge and houses in the distance, making the picture Adds a depth.

5. Leading lines

The leading line composition method is to use the lines in the picture to guide the viewer's eyes, so that his eyes can eventually converge to the focus of the picture. Of course, the leading line is not necessarily a specific line. As long as it is directional and continuous, we can call it a leading line. In real life, roads, rivers, neatly arranged trees, colors, shadows and even human gaze can be used as guiding lines.

For example, in this photo of the Eiffel Tower, paving stones are used as guiding lines to bring the audience's eyes to the Eiffel Tower. In this picture, the central symmetrical composition method is also used.

The guiding line does not have to be straight. As shown in the figure below, a curved road extending to the position of the tree can also attract the audience's attention.

6. Diagonals and triangles

Diagonal and triangular compositions can add dynamic tension to photos and make them look more lively. Relatively speaking, horizontal and vertical lines appear very stable. If a person stands on a horizontal surface, he looks very stable, but when placed on an inclined surface, it will create a sense of tension. This kind of composition is more commonly used in architectural and sports photography.

7. Patterns and textures

Human beings are naturally attracted to patterns. Patterns can be the shape of arches, patterns on the floor, and reliefs on the wall. Use these as the basis of the picture. The visual subject, combined with light and shadow, can show a special texture.

8. The Law of Odd Numbers

The Law of Odd Numbers means that when the subject in the picture is an odd number, the picture will be more visually appealing. For example, if you want to take a photo of more than one person, don't take a picture of 2 people. Instead, take a picture of 3, 5, or 7 people. Of course, for wedding photography, this is a silly idea. But whenever possible, if you're taking more than just real-life keepsake photos, remember the rule of odd numbers.

9. Fill the frame

Let the subject fill the frame, leaving little or no space around it. It helps the audience fully focus on the subject without any interference, and It also allows people to clearly see the details of the subject.

As shown in the picture below, in the first picture, the lion's face fills the entire frame, allowing the audience to clearly observe the details of its eyes and hair. In the second picture, Notre Dame almost fills the entire frame, just to show the architectural details.

10. Use blank space

As mentioned above, you need to fill the space, but this is just the opposite. Leave some blank space in the picture, which can also make your The theme is obvious and attractive while also creating a minimalist look.

11. Minimalism

People often say: "Less is more." Shooting with as few elements as possible can sometimes result in a more impressive visual effect. Make good use of negative space in the environment so that the audience can quickly focus on the subject.

12. Separate the subject from the background

Using a shallow depth of field to separate the subject from the background is also a good way to highlight the subject. By using a large aperture, the background is blurred and the clear subject suddenly becomes the focus of the picture. This technique is most commonly used in portraits and life sketches.

13. Change the perspective

Many cameras now have flip-up screens, and SLR cameras are also equipped with a useful live view function, which allows us to take photos from unconventional angles. Provides great convenience. Don’t always create at the height of the human eye. Try lowering or raising your line of sight and shooting things from different angles to get unexpected effects.

14. Look for specific color combinations

For designers, color combinations are very important, but they are easily overlooked in photography. Combining certain colors can make them more visually striking. As shown in the color wheel below, two opposite colors are complementary colors. Arranging these two colors in the same picture can make the picture more attractive.

In the night view picture below, the blue night sky and yellow buildings are combined together. Does it immediately attract your attention?

15. Spatial Principle

The spatial principle refers to leaving a large amount of space in the direction of movement for moving objects in the image. For example, the ship in the picture below is traveling to the right, so you can leave a blank space on the right side of the picture to make the image dynamic. If you leave a lot of blank space on the left side, it will give people the impression that the ship is about to sail out of sight. It feels that it may cause problems such as the theme not being prominent.

In the photo below, the singer playing the guitar is facing to the right, so leaving a blank space on his right side allows us to follow his line of sight and naturally see the scenery on the bridge, and the person leaning on the railing. Passers-by, and the dancing couple.

16. Left-to-right rule

The left-to-right principle is just like reading a book. We are used to looking at images from left to right. Therefore, if the characters in the image are moving, then adopting the principle from left to right will make people feel more natural and comfortable.

17. Keep the picture balanced

A common mistake made by beginners in photography is to focus too much on the subject without paying attention to the matching background or foil. In fact, good photos need to echo the front and rear scenery to give people a sense of order. Appropriate setting of the background can also make the subject more prominent. Also, photos with foreground and background will have a sense of space.

18. Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition is a very powerful way of composition. Juxtaposition means putting two or more things in the same frame so that they complement each other so that both play an important part and tell a story with photos. This kind of composition is often used in humanistic themes.

In the picture below, the well-proportioned newsstand and the solemn church behind it are side by side, forming a sharp contrast, but they represent Paris in different ways, tell us about Paris, and tell us something about Paris. Two different stories in this city.

19. Golden triangle composition

The golden triangle composition is very similar to the rule of thirds composition, except that the straight lines here start from the four corners of the picture and form two on the left and right sides. A right triangle. Then frame the elements of the picture into these intersections.

The Golden Triangle principle is applied more subtly in this image. The heads of the two statues form an invisible diagonal, directing the view towards the Eiffel Tower. The line on the left coincides with the diagonal line at the center of gravity of the Eiffel Tower, while the line on the right coincides with the diagonal line in the middle of the two sculptures. These two coincident points are not random points, but golden section points on the diagonal.

20. Golden Ratio

The golden ratio was originally a mathematical law discovered by Leonardo Fibonacci around 1200 AD. He noticed that this ratio appeared abundantly in nature, and the design of natural structures based on it was both practical and beautiful. Although the golden ratio is regarded as a guideline in the fields of painting and design, it is not discussed much in photography circles because it is an advanced composition method and many people do not understand it. But in fact, the golden ratio is not complicated. It is very similar to the rule of thirds composition, except that its picture ratio is not 1:1:1, but 1:0.618:1.