Image Composition

Image composition refers to how the elements of an image are arranged.

There are a number of rules to follow in order to compose an effective image.

PositioningPositioning is an important part of image composition which can help the audience to have some understanding of the story behind the photograph. Take this photo of a child on a pedal-kart, for example. Her positioning in the foreground of the photograph shows the audience where she has come from – she has driven her kart all the way down the path. The image is still, so we couldn’t have actually seen her do this, but the space left behind her represents the distance she has travelled.

SimplicityOne of the most important parts of good image composition is simplicity. It’s vital to make the subject or object of your image the centre of attention, so that often means having little else in the picture which could detract attention away from your main visual focus.

This image shows how confusing a photograph can be when there is no specific focus. Is the subject the telephone, or the bridge, or the cactus? The photograph isn’t effective because there’s too much going on.

If we chose the cactus to become the main interest of the photograph, it is much more effective. By moving in closer to the cactus and using the sky as a plain background, the image has been simplified and is much more effective.

Similarly, the photograph of this bird shows how simplicity can improve a photograph. Although the photographs are both close-ups of the same bird, the picture on the left has a tree in the background, making the image busy. On the other hand, the right-hand picture has a much more plain background of the sky, making the photograph more simple and effective, because the bird stands out more against the skyline. These photographs were taken at the same time, but are so different simply due to a change in point of view. It’s important to consider point of view when taking a photograph.

It’s important to consider simplicity when taking a still image photograph by bearing in mind your choice of background to increase the prominence of the subject, and also your framing to make the subject of your image clear to your audience, without anything else detracting from it. However, it’s also a good idea to consider how central you want your subject to be. To create a more dynamic photograph, you could place your subject slightly off-centre, like in the image below of a young artist. Generally, photographs with a centralised subject look more static than those with an off-centre subject placement.

The Rule of ThirdsYou can use the rule of thirds to centre or off-centre your subject. Here’s how it works:Before you snap your picture, imagine your shot is divided into thirds both horizontally and vertically, like this:

The intersections of these imaginary lines suggest four options (highlighted in the image above) for placing the centre of interest to achieve a good image composition. The option you select depends upon the subject and how you would like that subject to be presented.

In this image, the upper right intersection is chosen so that we can see the whole seagull, its whole shadow and the footprints it’s left leading up to where it’s standing now.

Considering the Path of Moving Subjects

It’s always important to consider the path of moving subjects when taking a photograph. Usually, you leave a space in front and behind the subject to give them somewhere to move into. The space behind the subject usually represents where they’ve come from, and the space in front represents where they’re going.

If you don’t leave this space, this is what can happen:

The jogger looks like she’s just about to run out of the picture!In this image, the rule of thirds has been used to give the jogger the space required to represent her movement. She no longer looks like she’s about to run out of the photo:

LinesLines also play an important role in image composition. Strong lines can make a photograph far more dynamic. Diagonal lines are said to be especially dynamic, as demonstrated by the diagonal beams of light in this photograph:

Diagonal lines are a good way to lead into a picture. They’re easy for the eye to follow along to your main subject.

You can also use repetitive lines to draw attention to your subject:

An ‘S’ curve is another type of line commonly used in photography. It’s said to be one of the most graceful:

Geometric ShapesSimple geometric shapes can help with image composition. The effect of shapes can vary depending on the situation you are photographing. For example, the triangular shape in this photograph creates a strong sense of unity:

BalanceGood balance is simply the arrangement of shapes, colours, or areas of light and dark that compliment one another so that the photograph looks well-balanced.In this photograph, the colours

are well-balanced to create definite lines between objects, and to stop colour bleeding. The camera viewpoint and subject placement were carefully considered to create the right balance for the image. For example, the leaves are present in both the top right corner and the bottom left.

This image isn’t balanced. The girl looks like she might be about to fall off the edge of the photograph due to the lack of visual support.

If we move the viewpoint, we can see the second wheel, making the photograph appear much more balanced, although the subject is still off-centre.

Symmetrical and Non-Symmetrical Balance

The couples in this photo are stood at either side of the frame – they are symmetrically balanced.

Non-symmetrical balance can be more interesting to look at than symmetrical balance, like in this picture of this statue. The child’s head is smaller than the mother’s, creating the non-symmetrical balance.

FramingTo make an image more than just a snapshot, it’s important to frame the centre of interest with other objects. This helps to give the photograph a feeling of depth, like in this example where the trees and the shore line frame the boat nicely:

Although it’s often the foreground that frames the shot, it doesn’t have to be.

Overlapping ElementsAvoiding mergers can help to create a better image composition. It’s easy to miss objects within your shot when you’re focused on your centre of interest, but missing mergers can seriously ruin photographs. For example, the tree in this photograph has been missed by the photographer, and it complicates the image and detracts attention away from the centre of interest – Dave. Also, it makes the photo look comical, rather than serious, as the tree almost looks like it’s sprouting from his head! The photo on the right is much more effective, where the background has been considered in more detail.

Border Mergers

In this photograph, a border merger has been committed. The photograph is fun, but parts of people have been cut off, such as the two people in the top left hand corner, and the feet of the man in a stripy top who’s sat in the foreground. The boat in the top right corner is somewhat irrelevant and detracts attention away from the main focus of the image. To make the photograph more effective, the viewfinder should be aligned properly so that some space is left around everyone.

Near MergersWhilst they’re not detrimental, near mergers can take attention away from the focus of your image. Near mergers are objects or lines that are just too close to the principal subject, and often include objects of the same colour, creating colour bleeding.

We can correct the near mergers in this photograph by changing the angle to a low angle, and only using one prop of the Frisbee for simplicity.