Jamel Gantt Photography is based in New York, but also provides a high-quality real estate photography service to a large part of the United States. He specializes in commercial, corporate, mining and industrial photography.

1. Jamel Gantt

2. The Rule Of Thirds is based on the fact that the eye
is naturally drawn to a point about two thirds up a
page. The picture is divided into 9 equal sections by
2 horizontal and 2 vertical lines.

3. The subject, or the most significant parts of your
photograph, is positioned along any of these lines
preferably in the points where the lines intersect.

7. The Diagonal Rule states that a
photograph looks more dynamic if the
objects fall or follow a diagonal line. The
diagonal line doesn't have to be an actual
line and it doesn't have to be a straight
one. It could be the edges of a river, the
top of a forest, or even an imaginary line
connecting the different objects in the
scene.

8. By placing natural elements that form a line
along these diagonal guides makes the picture
more pleasing and dynamic.

9. If there are no imaginary or real
diagonal lines that can be seen
within a scene, sometimes a
simple change of position or
elevation is enough to produce a
useful angle on the objects in the
scene. A sufficient amount of
Perspective Distiortion from a
wide angle lens may also help.

13. Leading Lines are lines or objects that make
up a line within a scene that is used to direct
the attention of the viewer. Use leading lines
to draw the viewer's eye through the
photograph towards the subject or the area
which is the most significant in the scene.

15. Look for any natural or man-made structure
within the scene such as roads, shadows, edges
of a cliff, or buildings that can be used to point
towards the subject. The lines may start
anywhere from outside of the photograph but
the most effective leading lines are those that
start somewhere in the bottom and flows
towards the main subject. The lines may be
straight or curved. Straight lines produce a
rather aggressive and dynamic effect while
curve lines gives the picture a more gentle and
calm feel.

17. Another dynamic composition tool is to include a
“S” curve. As the name suggests, a major element
of the composition would be an object such as a
stream, path, railing, or other curved object that
creates an “S.”

18.  If the S is right facing and starts in the lower left
corner and exits the upper right corner – the feeling
for most English speaking people is that the picture
is moving away from the viewer.
 If the “S” is reversed, and starts in the upper left
corner coming down to the lower right, the picture
seems to be coming towards the viewer. This effect
is from, I believe, learning to read left to right.

21. There are a few ways to achieve balance in photos.
 The first is through symmetry – where you have equal
size subjects on either side of the photo. This creates
a static, solid look with little movement.

23. The second is to place dissimilar size objects on either
side, but to use the center of the photo as a balance
point in an asymmetrical composition. If you have a
grouping of objects on one side, you’ll need something
further out on the other side to create balance. An
asymmetrical composition creates a sense of movement
and action, even if the subject is a stone.

25. The primary subject of
your photo, a person,
building, toy car… is
the “positive space.”
Negative space is
everything else.

26. Positive Space
Negative Space

28.  Something you see in a lot of photography is
things sticking out of heads, wires across the
scene you didn’t see when taking the
picture, and so on. This is just from paying so
much attention to the subject that
photographers forget what is in the
background or surrounding the subject.