Take
Better
Pictures

Take
Better
Pictures
~Composition~

“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.