guidelines to better photography “there are no rules for good photography, there are only good...

Guidelines to Better Photography

“There are no rules for good photography, there are only good photographers”

-Ansel Adams

COMPOSITION

COMPOSITIONAL GRAPHIC ELEMENTS

• 1. lines & points

•  2. shapes & forms

•  3. contrast & tones

•  4. texture

•  5. pattern & repetition.

COMPOSITIONAL STRATEGIES

• 1. rule of thirds•  2. balance of elements•  3. leading lines•  4. symmetry and Patterns•  5. viewpoint•  6. background/MINIMIZE•  7. depth•  8. framing•  9. cropping or filling the frame•  10. experimentation

COMPOSITIONAL RULES

• 1. What is the emphasis of the picture?•  2. Is there visual movement (S-Curve)?•  3. Is there visual movement (Leading Lines)?•  4. Is the main subject matter placement out

of the center?•  5. Is there Unity ( golden triangle)?•  6. Is there Unity ( golden spiral)?•  7. How can you simplify the picture?

Cropping

Get close to your subject

Get even closer …

RULES OF THIRDS

Golden Mean Spiral

Golden Mean Spiral

Golden Triangle

The Leading Line

Using Shapes

Pattern

The ‘S’ Curve

Viewpoint

COMPOSITIONAL COMPLEXITY

• THE MORE YOU OVERLAP STRATEGIES, RULES AND GRAPHIC ELEMENTS THE MORE COMPLEX YOUR MEANING WILL BE.