Composition Guide
Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds is the most basic of composition rules. However it is still a very effective rule to follow. As the name implies, imagine your scene divided into thirds and align points of interest along one of the thirds. Even better align it with the intersections.
​
Most cameras and phones have a rule of thirds grid overlapped onto your scene. If not there may be a way to activate it in settings. The rule of thirds is not set in stone and can be replaced with a more complex composition rule.
Golden Spiral
The golden spiral is based of the ratio x/y = (x+y)/x. Some cameras also have a golden ratio guide built in. The center of the golden spiral is roughly 2/5ths along the image.
​
This is only one of the forms of the golden ratio used in photography. As well as the most common.
Golden Triange
The golden triangle, similarly to the golden spiral also uses the golden ratio (x/y=(x+y)/x). It consists of two triangles that have a width and side length equivalent to the golden ratio.
​
In centered images you can usually find this pattern being used. This grid pattern is a bit mroe rare to find in cameras but some still have it.
Leading Lines
Leading lines are another very simple yet effective tool for composition. They can have many different appearances but all do the same thing; lead the viewers eyes to something interesting.
​
For example in the image above I took a long exposure of a busy street. I used the moving cars as my leading lines to the skyline of long beach (my subject).
Breaking The Rules
Composition is at the core of photography. By mastering this skill you wont need a fancy camera or equipment to create art.
​
Remember that composition is completely subjective and these rules are also subjective to a point. It is proven that they lead to more interesting scenes. If needed, it is totally okay to break them. Just make sure to have a reason for doing so.
For example: there are two of the same image above. However they are composed differently. The picture on the right side may feel a bit uncomfortable. This is because of the lack of space in-front of the subject. Especially in contrast to the left image which has plenty of space for the subject. If you want to make an image feel confined or open simply change the amount of negative space there is for the subject.
​
I hope you found this helpful - Daniel