The Basic Rules of Composition in Photography – Photographer Alex Po

There are several basic techniques that will make a professional photographer out of anyone. Sounds too far-fetched? Perhaps... But I don't mean just knowing them, but mastering them skillfully. If you master these 3 rules, it doesn't matter what you have in your hands: a camera or a phone - you will constantly take photos of an average level or higher. Any professional photographer uses them on a subconscious level, but if you take and analyze a dozen photos, these are the rules that come up most often. Take note: the rule of thirds, the rule of contrast, as well as correct and varied framing. Let's consider each technique in more detail!

The Rule of Thirds in Photography

Every photographer knows it, but for some reason not everyone uses it, and yet it is a classic – the basis of the basics! You can simply apply the rule of thirds to photography and it already plays by completely different rules. The rule of thirds grid has already been placed everywhere, even in phones, soon they will be made in meta-glasses, but people still take pictures without it... Why? Because it is important not to know, but to be able to apply!

Photographer Alex Poe

There are 2 main points in the rule of thirds - lines and their intersections. The lines of the photo should be placed on the lines, for example, the horizon can be placed on the lower or upper horizontal line, and a tree or a pole, our models on vertical lines. Depending on the choice of line, the mood of the photo will change. For example, if the horizon is placed on the upper horizontal line, the atmosphere will be more down-to-earth, directed and focused on nearby objects, and if on the lower one, the mood will be scale and grandeur, because the focus will shift to the background.

Photographer Alex Poe

Also no less important are the intersection points of lines, they are also called attention points. Place the most important objects there, that is where the viewer's gaze falls.

The Rule of Contrast in Photography

One of the most favorite techniques of famous world photographers! It is simple, but very effective. What is contrast? It is a strong difference between the subject and the background, it can be a light subject and a dark background or vice versa. That is, the first type of contrast is light. In its strongest manifestation, it is a silhouette, for example, a black silhouette against the background of something light.

Photographer Alex Poe

Photographer Alex PoePhotographer Alex Poe

The second type of contrast is color. When the object and the background are different contrasting colors, red and blue, etc. It can also be a white wall and models in black clothes or any other combination when the subject stands out strongly against the background.

Correct cropping in photography

I constantly notice in the courses that a very large number of beginners make this mistake - they frame too close to the subject. Okay, if they cut or left a lot of space - I would understand, but they do it too close... And I can't breathe... I want air! Therefore, the first rule of correct framing is - leave space, more air, do not frame too close!

Photographer Alex Poe
Photographer Alex Poe
The second is a very simple rule of correct framing - do not cut along the joints - cut between them. There are many plans with their own names - waist-length portrait, shoulder, ¾, etc. All of them are cut in certain places and this way the photo looks harmonious and pleasant.

Photographer Alex Poe
Photographer Alex Poe
The third rule is to not tilt the horizon, unless you initially planned it for some reason. A tilted horizon is a common mistake and here you need to understand that you can tilt it, it is just important to understand when to do it. A tilted horizon looks appropriate if there is dynamics in the frame - people running and so on. There is also a special type of tilt - the Dutch tilt for even more specific purposes, but most often it works according to the classics - do not tilt the horizon.

Photographer Alex Poe

Diverse framing for a photo shoot

Imagine if we turned on a movie and all the shots were waist-high. Would that be interesting? Of course not... Why? Because there aren't enough details... You want to know where the event is taking place - for this, there is a long shot or a general shot of the location, you want to examine the jewelry or elements of the main characters' clothing - a close-up - detail is perfect for this. To find out how tall they are relative to each other in the end - a general shot will do.

That's how it is in a photo shoot! If you make a shoot of 150 photos where all the photos are general plans in full growth - it will be boring. But the girl who came to the shoot chose shoes for 2 hours, and the day before spent another 3 hours on earrings and a beautiful hair clip. Do you think all this will be visible in a general plan? Hardly ... But if you make a close-up portrait where you can see her beautiful facial features and jewelry, and in addition to this, a close-up of the hair clip and earrings - that's a completely different matter. In addition, make a general plan of the location where the shooting takes place, make a long plan where both the location and the girl are visible, medium plans, general plans ... this will be a whole photo story, and not just a set of monotonous photos with different poses.

It seems like there are only a few rules, but you can’t even imagine how different the same photo shoot will be if you apply them and if you don’t. However, I repeat – it’s one thing to know these rules and quite another to apply them. Call your friends right now and plan a photo shoot for this weekend! Apply all these rules and you won’t believe how professional your photo shoot has become! With you was photographer Alex Po until next time

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