vanishing-points-buildings

10 Composition Tips Every Photographer Should Know

One of the best ways to turn your photographs from ok to awesome is to use some of the great composition tips and tricks out there. Many people do not know why they like a photograph, but it is often composition that draws us to it. Using some of these composition tips for photographers, will help you create more balanced and visually pleasing images.  With that in mind here are some ways you can use composition to make your street photographs amazing.

Rule of Thirds

One of the first composition tips that every photographer should know, is the rule of thirds. When you look through your viewfinder imagine your image is divided into 9 sections by using two vertical and horizontal lines. Notice where the lines intersect.  Try and move your camera (and/or yourself) so your subject lines up with one of those four intersections.   You can also use the rule of thirds as a guideline for your horizon.  Positioning it on one of the lines will make for a more balanced and pleasing image.

Black and white street photography split into the rule of thirds.

Stop Using Zoom and Instead Move Your Feet

One of the easiest ways to change how your image looks is to move your feet.  This could mean you get closer to your subject and fill the frame more, or you could try photographing from lower down or higher up to get a different perspective.  Changing the viewpoint can also change the mood and feeling of an image.  It can make certain elements seem bigger or more important.  For example, if you photograph a small dog when you are standing up that photograph will feel very different than if you had got down to the level of the dog and photographed it from there. Combined with other elements such as leading lines and the rule of thirds you can create a really powerful image just by moving yourself.


Show the Viewer Your Intended Subject

Use natural lines to lead the eye to the main subject of the picture.  The lines you use can be something visible such as lines on a street, overhead wires or train tracks.  Or they can be something you can’t see but is implied, such as the direction someone is looking in, the height of peoples heads in a scene. Although horizontal, vertical lines and curves can work well diagonal lines are the most dynamic and can often convey motion.  Using lines can declutter an image and make it easy for the viewer to understand.

Leading lines in Canary Wharf Tunnel

 Are You Being Distracted?

A good background can make or break an image especially if it is distracting. If it does not add to the context of the photograph then try to ensure it is simple and enhancing rather than detracting from your subject.  For example lines in the background that lead you to the main focal point can be a valuable part of the photograph.  But a cluttered background with bright colours may simply take your eye away from the main focal point. If that is the case you could try moving yourself to a different position to alter the background.  Or, if that is not possible then consider your depth of field and change your settings to make the background blurry (try an aperture setting of f4 or lower).

Repetition

Subjects with a repetitive pattern can make for interesting photographs. Patterns can also work really well when it is broken at some point perhaps through colour.  This break in the pattern creates a strong point of focus for the image.  If you can then place that point of focus in the image by using the rule of thirds then even better.

Natural Framing

Just like when you frame an image on the wall, in photography framing your subject will isolate it from the rest of the image and make it stand out more.  A frame can be something natural like a tree or it can be something man-made, like a doorway or an arch.  Using a simple frame will lead the viewer’s eye to the place you want it to go to.  But beware of a very complicated frame as that can distract the viewer from the main point of the image.

Natural framing at The Hepworth Gallery

Less is Often More

Sometimes having a lot going on in a frame can be distracting.  For example, if you are photographing a street when you look back at the images they may not convey what you hoped they would.  One reason for this might be that there was a lack of focus within the photograph.  The image is too busy and the viewer does not know what they are supposed to be looking at.  Try and ensure one point of focus shines through as it will make the image stronger.

Add a Dynamic Extra

Using shadows and reflections can bring a different dynamic to any scene.  Shadows make lighter parts the image stand out, reflections shows things in a different perspective.  Laying your images but showing reflections through windows or in puddles can create greater depth and make the image more interesting.  Remember to make sure that the viewer’s eye is still drawn to the main focal point.

Leave Room

One way to simplify an image is to use negative space.  This means that part of the photograph that is empty.  If you create space around the subject of your image then that can be very impactful.  This is particularly true if you are photographing anything that is moving.  If you take a picture of a cyclist then the image will be more visually please if he still has somewhere to travel to, rather than being stuck at the edges of the frame.

Black & White Architecture in Liverpool Docks.

Masters of Photography

As well as taking your own photographs, one way to learn about good and bad composition is to look at the work of some of the master photographers.  If you like someone’s work then start reading their books and looking and at their images. By seeing how they use composition out of the street and in difficult situations may give you some inspiration of things to try out.  If you are unsure whose work to begin looking at then try some of these photographers as a place to start:  Martin Parr, Bruce Gilden, Elliott Erwitt, Robert Frank, Garry Winogrand, Joel Meyerowitz and Alex Webb.

Share this post

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on pinterest
Share on print
Share on email
error: This content is protected!