Maintaining Your Composure

FIVE QUICK TIPS ON HOW TO BETTER COMPOSE IMAGES.

- Ron Leach

IT’S A GOOD IDEA FOR EVERYONE to occasionally review some basic concepts of photography that are easy to take for granted. To that end, consider this brief article a refresher course in the rules of composition. In fact, if you place two photographers in the same location, pointed at the same subject with identical gear, chances are the resulting images will be surprisingly different because of how each shooter composes the scene.

In short, being at the right place at the right time and arriving at a proper exposure is only the beginning. It’s the photographer with a solid understanding of compositional rules who brings home the winning images, time after time.

1. FIND A SPECIFIC POINT OF INTEREST 

All effective images begin with an eyecatching point of interest. With travel photography, for example, the focal point could be a unique building, a majestic mountain, or a person who typifies the local culture. Usually, you should avoid placing this primary subject in the center of your scene.