“Good composition
is the strongest way
of seeing.”
Edward Weston
RULE OF THIRDS
Comes from painting and graphic arts. Used as
a guide for positioning key elements in a frame.
RULE OF THIRDS
Place important elements at the intersection points,
RULE OF THIRDS
Place important elements at the intersection points,
RULE OF THIRDS
Place important elements at the intersection points,
RULE OF THIRDS
Place important elements at the intersection points,
RULE OF THIRDS
Place important elements at the intersection points,
RULE OF THIRDS
or along the sides, top and bottom of the grid.
RULE OF THIRDS
or along the sides, top and bottom of the grid.
RULE OF THIRDS
or along the sides, top and bottom of the grid.
RULE OF THIRDS
or along the sides, top and bottom of the grid.
RULE OF THIRDS
or along the sides, top and bottom of the grid.
RULE OF THIRDS
Try to avoid placing your subject in the middle.
RULE OF THIRDS
Try to avoid placing your subject in the middle.
X
RULE OF THIRDS
RULE OF THIRDS
RULE OF THIRDS
RULE OF THIRDS
RULE OF
THIRDS
also works
for verticals
RULE OF
THIRDS
also works
for verticals
FILL THE FRAME
FILL THE FRAME
FILL THE FRAME
FILL THE FRAME
FILL THE FRAME
FILL THE FRAME
FILL THE FRAME
SIMPLICITY
SIMPLICITY
SIMPLICITY
SIMPLICITY
SIMPLICITY
FRAMING
FRAMING
FRAMING
S-CURVE
S-CURVE
LEADING
LINES
LEADING
LINES
LEADING
LINES
LEADING
LINES
LEADING LINES
LEADING
LINES
LEADING LINES
LEADING LINES
LEADING LINES
ANGLES
ANGLES
ANGLES
ANGLES
ANGLES
ANGLES
POINT of VIEW
POINT of VIEW
POINT of VIEW
POINT
of VIEW
POINT
of VIEW
POINT
of VIEW
POINT
of VIEW
SUMMARY
Composition
Composition
‣ Rule of Thirds
Composition
‣ Rule of Thirds
‣ Fill the Frame
Composition
‣ Rule of Thirds
‣ Fill the Frame
‣ Simplicity
Composition
‣ Rule of Thirds
‣ Fill the Frame
‣ Simplicity
‣ Framing
Composition
Composition
‣ S Curve
Composition
‣ S Curve
‣ Leading Lines
Composition
‣ S Curve
‣ Leading Lines
‣ Angles
Composition
‣ S Curve
‣ Leading Lines
‣ Angles
‣ Point of View
Are these rules?
• Compositional elements
are not hard and fast rules
• It is sometimes okay to
put things in the centre
of your frame, resulting
in symmetry
There are more!
• These are not the only
compositional elements
• You may also wish to
research: symmetry, balance,
transparency, layering, figure
ground & colour
About Marlene Hielema
Marlene Hielema is a photographer
and educator in Calgary, Alberta.
She teaches photography at SAIT,
plus she designs and delivers
seminars on the practical uses of
photography in corporate
communications.
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