1. Strong composition is the main reason why some images look better than others. Composition techniques have been practiced for over 2000 years in architecture and photography. 2. Good composition involves strategically placing subjects and choosing camera angles. Techniques like the rule of thirds, framing subjects with foreground elements, using leading lines and curves, and balancing elements in the image make photos more visually appealing. 3. Simplifying backgrounds so the main subject stands out, avoiding mergers between subjects and their backgrounds, and leaving space around subjects are important principles for achieving strong composition. Following these composition guidelines can help photographers improve the visual quality of their images.

1. Image composition

2. Why do some images look
better than others?
• The main reason why some images look better than
others is because of their strong composition.

3. History of composition
• Good composition goes back at least
2000 years ago when Greeks and Romans
were practicing it way before Photography.
It can be seen in their architecture.
• Today, composition is still an important
part of contemporary architecture. One
definition for photographic composition
is simple: the pleasing selection and
arrangement of subjects within the
picture area.

4. Positions
• Some arrangements are made by placing
figures or objects in certain positions.
Others are made by choosing a point of
view. You can shift your camera very slightly
and make quite a change in composition.
• This image has good composition because
it leads our eye through the trees and it
looks like the small girl has just come from
that way. This creates a story in our minds as
we make a connotation from the image that we are looking at.

5. Simplicity
• To take a good photograph, you need to pick a background
that is simple so that the subject you are taking a picture of
isn't hidden or isn’t the main focal point. Look for ways to give
the centre of interest in your pictures the most visual
attention.

6. • Choosing the cactus as the main focus point and using the
plain sky as the background, the image has been simplified
and it has improved the appearance of this photograph
because it is one thing that needs to be focused on rather
than many different subjects.
• The busy background camouflages the seagull and it takes the
main focus point away. If you change your view point slightly,
the seagull stands out with visual prominence against the blue
sky.

7. The Rule of Thirds
• You can use the rule of thirds as a guide in the off-centre
placement of your subjects.
• Before you take the picture, imagine your picture area divided
into thirds both horizontally and vertically. The intersections of
these imaginary lines suggest four options for placing the
centre of interest for good composition. The option you select
depends upon the subject and how you would like that
subject to be presented.

8. • The upper-right position for this subject has been picked so
that you could see the full shadow and most of the tracks that
lead to the seagull.
• The lighthouse seems well placed in the upper right just
because the rest of the scene fits nicely into the format.

9. • Here's a case where you have subject control. You can have
the model pose anywhere along the walkway. The rule of
thirds indicates this placement which also gives the model a
definite path to follow within the picture area.
• You should always consider the path of moving subjects and,
generally, leave space in front of them into which they can
move.

10. • Here, the jogger looks like she is going to run out of the image
as there has been no space left in front of her.
• However, by placing the subject in the lower-left corner, t=it
has given the jogger plenty of room to run.

11. Lines
• Lines also play an important role in composition. This
sculpture has some beautiful lines, but they're obscured by
the busy background. To simplify this picture we can move our
camera viewpoint in closer to the base of the sculpture.
• Now, we can see the lines again the blue background of the
sky which makes it stand out more. The picture on the right is
much more dynamic because of the strong diagonal lines.

12. Diagonal Lines
• Diagonal lines in a photograph look more dynamic.
• You can use diagonals as leading lines to provide a way into
the picture. It's a simple and easy path for the eye to follow to
the main subject.

13. • You can also use repetitive lines to draw viewers' attention to
your centre of interest.
• One of the most common and graceful lines used in
composition is called the S curve.

14. Balance
• In the image on the left, the flamingo looks very stiff amd
uncomfortable. This makes the image also uncomfortable to
look at. The flamingo has relaxed, and his neck now forms a
pleasing S curve against a better background. So, the S curve is
an attractive shape to look for when you compose a
photograph.

15. Geometric shapes
• You can use other simple geometric shapes to help your
picture composition. There is a triangular shape between the
three nuns. This triangle adds strong visual unity to this
picture.
• Notice how many triangles are formed by this couple and their
reflections. You can help yourself develop an artistic eye by
studying pictures to find the strength of their lines, geometric
shapes, and balance.

16. • Achieving good balance is
another guideline for
better picture
composition. Notice how
the leaves, the window,
and the couple all seem to
be in the right place. The
camera viewpoint and
subject placement were all
carefully selected to create
this well-balanced
photograph.

17. • Good balance is simply the
arrangement of shapes, colours,
or areas of light and dark that
complement one another so that
the photograph looks well-
balanced, not lopsided like this.
This girl looks like she's going to
fall right out of the picture due to
lack of visible support.
• Now that the cameras view point
has been moved and it has
included the much-needed wheel
to support our subject. The girl is
still off centre, but the picture is
balanced.

18. Framing
• Framing is when you frame the centre of interest with objects
in the foreground. This can give a picture the feeling of depth
it needs to make it more than just another snapshot.

19. • The Washington Monument on the left is composed in the
centre without a frame. The picture on the right has a stronger
feeling of depth and tells a more complete story because the
photographer chose an appropriate foreground to
complement the Washington Monument.

20. • The horses and their riders add considerable foreground
interest to this scene. The overhanging tree branches
complete the frame and add depth to the subject. When you
use people for scale and foreground, make sure they look into
the picture area.

21. Overlapping Elements
• The merger of this tree with this mans head is so obvious, you
probably think no one could avoid seeing it before snapping the
shutter. Remember: we see things in three dimensions, so it's easier
than you might guess to focus our eyes on the principal subject only
and not see that background at all.
• You can be sure the camera always sees mergers, so look for plain
backgrounds before you pose your subject. In this case the correction
was simple because the two settings were only a few feet apart.

22. • This is a fun picture, but when we cut people in half or trim
their heads or feet, we've committed a border merger. This is
often caused by poor alignment of the photographer's eye in
the camera viewfinder. To avoid border mergers, line your eye
up squarely behind the viewfinder and adjust the picture
format to leave a little space around everyone.

23. • They can steal attention from your centre of interest. Near
mergers are objects or lines that are just too close to the
principal subject. In this case the ball and umbrella tip are
near mergers.

24. • To correct these mergers we use a low angle, and we'll use
only one prop for simplicity. Make sure the Frisbee is held far
enough away from the woman’s face to avoid another near
merger.

25. So, what next?
• Now, you will consider all of theses points to make your
photograph have good composition which will make it look a
lot better. Remember the right things to do!