by Tracy Thomas

Created on: April 16, 2009   Last Updated: April 17, 2009

Great photos are created; not simply captured. Creating a photograph with well thought out composition can make the difference between an average shot and one that stands out in the realm of visual interest. Learning the basic guidelines to good composition will take your photographs to another level. The more you take your time and practice the following guidelines when preparing to take a shot, the sooner they will become second nature to you each time you pick up your camera.

Subject Matter and Simplicity

It is easy to point your camera and shoot a scene of interest that catches your attention, but will the photo prove to be compelling? Probably not, if you haven't taken the time to consider what exactly it is you are shooting. The first thing you want to determine before clicking the shutter is your specific subject matter. Is it the red fire hydrant on that busy street corner or the cars passing by? Is it the yellow rose with the bee or the whole bush? Is it the bird on the fence post or the tree branches from the trees that reach down behind the bird?

The most compelling photographs are the photographs that use the rule of simplicity. If we decide our subject matter is the red fire hydrant, then angling our camera lens in order to alleviate a busy background that will take away from our subject does the job of simplifying our composition. Moving three feet to the left or right of the bird in order to frame it against the bright blue sky instead of against the busy tangle of the tree branches improves our composition greatly. Getting in close to the single yellow rose will help avoid the visual distraction of the rest of the flowers surrounding it. Keeping it simple keeps it interesting and makes your intent clear.

Off Center Placement and the Rule of Thirds

Look through your photos and count the amount of times you place your subject in dead center of the frame. My guess is that it is pretty high. It is not always a bad thing to place your subject in the center and it can at times play an important role in your attempt to communicate your intent, however, the most compelling photos throughout history have always played with the Rule of Thirds in mind.

Next time you look through your viewfinder, imagine the area is divided into thirds, both horizontally and vertically. Your rectangular picture area would consist of nine little intersecting squares. That would leave you with four possible placement choices for your subject matter that would leave them off center

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