The document discusses selecting the right image to accompany a story or research. It emphasizes that the image subject should illustrate and enhance the story. It then provides five rules for composing better images: 1) Simplify the scene and focus on the necessary information. 2) Fill the frame with the subject and draw the viewer in. 3) Avoid centering subjects and use off-center positioning for dynamism. 4) Use leading lines to guide the eye naturally. 5) Leave space in front of moving subjects for them to move into. Finally, it notes that rules can be broken.

1. Selecting the right image
Liam McMurray
All images sourced from unsplash.com

2. Subject
What’s the story?

3. Subject
Identify the subject of your story - e.g. is it
the research, the researchers, or the
impact? What makes the most compelling
image?

4. Subject
Does the subject illustrate, compliment
and enhance the story? If not, we need a
different subject!

5. It is better to be alone, than
in bad company
– George Washington

6. Composition
Five rules for better images

7. 1.Simplify the scene

8. Simplify the scene
●Only provide the viewer with necessary
information
●Keep the subject of your image clear

9. 2.Fill the frame

10. ●Focus on the subject
●Draw the viewer in
●Use elements to frame your subject
Fill the frame

11. 3.Mind the middle

12. ●Centred subjects are boring!
●Off-centre creates dynamism, but
needs balance
●Use rule of thirds, but don’t be bound
Mind the middle

13. 4.Leading lines

14. ●Lines create a natural path for the eye
to follow
●Diagonal lines impart a bolder feel
Leading lines

15. 5.Space to move

16. ●Portraits, we like to look where they are
looking
●Leave space in front of moving subjects
for them to move into
Space to move

17. Rules can be broken