All good compositions should strive to have these four features:
- Clearly Defined Subject
- Sense of Balance
- Point of View
- Simplicity
1. Clearly Defined Subject – and Background
Try to avoid any ambiguity between what is meant to be the subject and the other elements in an image. It should be clear to the viewer what the subject of the picture is, and the viewer’s eye should not have to search the image to try to find the subject.
There is always a danger of not noticing what else might be in the frame while shooting because the photographer’s attention might be focused on a single object in the viewfinder. But the camera is objective, and doesn’t have the same ability to focus attention. It will of course include everything. Therefore, the final image might not have as clear a subject as was expected.
2. Sense of Balance
Elements in the frame have compositional weight. They should therefore be balanced. There are several different ways of conveying a sense of balance:
- Objects of a similar compositional weight can be placed symmetrically – similar distances from the centre and/or the edge of the frame.
- Objects of different compositional weights can be balanced by placing the lightest closer to the edge of the frame. The implication is that they then exert a stronger balancing force – like a longer lever.
- Tone can be used to create balance. Darker objects might have heavier compositional weight and be used to balance larger, lighter objects. Or two objects might be very different but have similar tone.
- Context is important. Even when its apparent size is small, an object like the moon that the viewer knows is really big will have significant compositional weight.
- Sometimes empty space can bring balance.
- Balance does not always have to be horizontal or vertical. Diagonally works too. The aim is to produce generally symmetrical arrangements.
- Sometimes the easiest and best solution might be to put the subject in the middle.
3. Point of view
The point of view from which a photograph is taken should be considered carefully. The chances are that simply taking the photograph from the position at which the subject was first noticed will not provide the best point of view.
Point of view carries some emotional content. It can be used to make subjects appear dominant or subservient, for example.
Point of view can also refer to the story the photograph is attempting to tell.
4. Simplicity
Extraneous objects in the frame should be rigorously excluded. It should be possibly to provide a reason for every element’s presence in a finished photograph. Point of view can help when attempting to exclude elements.