Frame within a frame is a technique that draws attention to part of a scene by finding a shape to frame it. Symmetry photography creates perfectly symmetrical photos by splitting the subject in half. The rule of thirds proposes placing important elements along two equally spaced horizontal and vertical lines or their intersections. Negative space is the area around the subject and can emphasize it while providing visual interest.

1. By Chelsie Brandrick Page 1
Unit 57 Blog Essay for Composition Rules
By Chelsie Brandrick
Frame within a frame is a photography technique that is
used to draw attention to a particular point in an image.
The idea is to choose part of the scene to be the subject
and then find a shape within the photo that will ‘hold’
it. Using this method is a good way to lead the viewer’s
eye into a photo and can add depth and context.
Symmetry photography is the technique that creates a perfectly symmetrical and
pleasing photograph. The best way to
achieve this is by splitting the subject
or main focal point in half so both
sides are an exact mirror image of
each other. There are two ways to
apply this technique, vertical line
symmetry and horizontal line
symmetry. If an object’s line of
symmetry is perpendicular to the horizon line, it has a vertical line of symmetry. But
if the objects line of symmetry is parallel to a horizon line in the photo it has a
horizontal line of symmetry. Symmetry is a powerful tool that lets the photographer
automatically create harmony and a sense of aesthetically pleasing balance and
proportion in a photograph.
The rule of thirds is a popular guideline or technique that many photographers apply
to their photos. It proposes that an image should be imagined as divided into nine
equal party by two equally spaced
horizontal lines and two equally spaced
vertical lines, and that important
compositional elements should be placed
along these lines or in their intersections.
Advocates for this technique claim that by

2. By Chelsie Brandrick Page 2
aligning a subject with these points creates more tension, energy and interest in the
composition than simply centering the subject.
Negative space is the area between and around objects in a photograph, whilst the
subject in the photo is known as the positive space. It can be used to see shapes and
sizes more effectively and produce better
compositions in images. This technique has
been used in photography for decades, as it is
a simple method to improve photos. Negative
space defines and emphasizes the main subject
of a photo, drawing the audience’s eye to it,
whilst providing "breathing room" and
allowing the viewer’s eye somewhere to rest.
Professional photographer Dan Burman often uses composition techniques in his
photos. He studied photography at St Martin’s School of Art in London and loves to
take time with his clients to create bold or unique images that stand out and capture
and reflect their character. I was inspired by his images when I shot my composition
images as Dan’s photos are clean, professional, engaging and interesting to look at. I
wanted to incorporate his style into my photos.
I found finding frames to capture in London hard as there aren’t many because the
majority are obstructed by other objects so wouldn’t make for a good photo. I shot my
images in Westminster, London as the architecture enabled me to use it as a frame. As
I shot my images outdoors on a sunny day, artificial lights were not needed. I only
edited my photos by adjusting the crop as I felt like any manipulation of the colours
would ruin the photos.

3. By Chelsie Brandrick Page 3
Frame Within A Frame
Aperture: f/8.0
ISO: 160
Shutter Speed: 1/400
Focal Length: 24.0 mm
Equipment: Lumix G Camera
As the majority of the buildings in London are decades old, there is plenty of
symmetry to capture. I took my images around Westminster, London, as it is full of
great, symmetrical architecture, which made finding subjects to capture easier. As I
shot my images outdoors on a sunny day, artificial lights were not needed. I only
edited my photos by adjusting the crop and enhancing the vibrancy, as I didn’t feel
like the images should be manipulated too much as it would clash with the old
buildings.
Symmetry
Aperture: f/9.0
ISO: 160
Shutter Speed: 1/400
Focal Length: 18.0 mm
Equipment: Lumix G Camera
Rule of thirds was easy for me to apply to my photos as I felt like I understood this
technique the best and it was easy for me to picture the nine squared grid through my
viewfinder. I took my images of the London Eye as the background was clear which
made it easier for me to apply the technique and as it is a famous landmark I think it
makes my photos more effective. I shot my images outdoors on a sunny day so
artificial lights were not needed. I didn’t edit these photos at all as I felt as though
they were close to what I imagined without being edited.
Rule of Thirds
Aperture: f/10.0
ISO: 160

4. By Chelsie Brandrick Page 4
Shutter Speed: 1/400
Focal Length: 42.0 mm
Equipment: Lumix G Camera
Negative Space was difficult to apply in London as the surrounding space in images
was often cluttered by traffic, people or aeroplanes which I found frustrating. The
only negative space I could really show in photos was the sky but thankfully the
weather was good on the day of the shoot because it provided me with a large, clear,
blue sky that won’t clash with the positive space in my photos. I shot my images
outdoors on a sunny day so artificial lights were not needed. The only editing I did on
these photos was cropping them as I needed to eliminate a lot of the subject so the
majority of the image was showing negative space.
Negative Space
Aperture: f/9.0
ISO: 160
Shutter Speed: 1/320
Focal Length: 40.0 mm
Equipment: Lumix G Camera