1. Composition, Lighting
& Framing
Thinking about your images !

2. Rule of Thirds
The Rule of Thirds is based on the fact that the human eye is naturally drawn to a
point about two-thirds up a page. Crop your photo so that the main subjects are
located around one of the intersection points rather than in the centre of the image:
Your landscapes will be optimally pleasing to the eye if you apply the Rule of Thirds
when you place your horizon line.
If the area of interest is land or water, the horizon line will usually be two-thirds up
from the bottom. Alternately, if the sky is the area of emphasis, the horizon line may
be one-third up from the bottom, leaving the sky to take up the top two-thirds of the
picture.

3. Diagonal Rule
One side of the picture is divided into two, and then each half is divided into three parts.
The adjacent side is divided so that the lines connecting the resulting points form a
diagonal frame. According to the Diagonal Rule, important elements of the picture
should be placed along these diagonals:
Linear elements, such as roads, waterways, and fences placed diagonally, are
generally perceived as more dynamic than horizontally placed ones:

4. Front Lighting
•Front lighting is accomplished by
lighting the subject directly from the
front or, in the case of outdoors
photography, by taking the picture with
the sun to your back. This form of
lighting is good for accentuating details
in your photograph, but has the oftenundesirable effect of giving your
subjects a flat and uninteresting look.
Side Lighting
•Side lighting is a useful alternative to
front lighting. Lighting your subject
from an angle will create
shadows, resulting in more intriguing
and artistic-looking photographs.
Shadows provide the eye with
additional information, creating the
illusion of depth. Varying the angle at
which the light shines will produce
different results, and a little
experimentation may produce new and
interesting effects.

5. Back Lighting
•Back lighting is often used to create a
silhouette effect by placing a light
source behind the subject. It is also
effective when taking pictures of
people who are standing in direct
sunlight or otherwise harsh light.
People will often squint when facing a
bright light, and this is easily remedied
by turning them away from the light.
Reflected light or a fill flash will help in
reducing shadows caused by back
lighting, where desired.
Diffuse Lighting
•Diffuse lighting results in a softer light
that can generate dramatic effects and
often preserves details that would be lost
in bright sunlight or under harsh artificial
lights. This type of lighting occurs
naturally during the early morning and
late afternoon hours, and is prevalent on
cloudy days. You can generate your own
diffuse lighting effects by placing a
softbox in front of your light source or
through the use of a reflective umbrella.

6. Framing: A Photography Technique
Here are some tips for framing your photographs:
Creatively think of objects to use as a frame. Some examples include branches, windows, tunnels,
doorways, and archways. Anything that lets you look through one thing at another thing will make a good
frame.
Use an interesting frame for your photograph. If possible use a symbolic object for framing your subject,
something that has a meaning in relation to the subject
Consider depth of field when working with a frame as a foreground object. Since you have a
foreground object (the frame) and a background object (the subject) you can chose your depth of field. Do
you want your foreground to be in focus? If so, then use a small aperture to keep the frame and subject in
focus. Conversely, if you want only the subject in focus, use a large aperture.
Keep the camera focusing and lighting sensors on the main subject. If possible, use a foreground
frame that is a darker object than the background. Expose for the subject in the background and let the
frame darken.
Emphasize your subject. All framing directs the viewer attention to the subject, but you do not need to
always go tightly into the frame. You can leave the subject framed but still leave other objects around the
edges of the photograph. In this photograph the frame is a window, but you can still see the cannon around
the edges of the photograph.