Composition Rules: Why Do Certain Photos Look Stunning While Others Don't?

If you are taking a photo for your posts or articles, you can try out some basic composition techniques and consider how these may increase the visual impact on the viewer.

They can really help you shoot more professional images. Certainly, photographers with years of study and practice can use their instinct and personal creativity to make their shots unique by challenging standard rules. Though these guidelines can make a great difference if you are a beginner.

You will learn:

• Which effects you can create with horizontal and vertical lines and where to position the subject
• Which effects you can create with diagonal lines and how to convey motion or immobility
• How to highlight the main subject
• How to use geometric shapes and patterns to create unexpected effects

HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL LINES: SUBJECT PLACEMENT

1) The Golden Ratio and the Rule Of Thirds 

A perfect mathematical ratio, called Golden Ratio or Fibonacci sequence, exists in nature. It is found in all sorts of forms including snail shells and roses and represents ideal beauty and harmony. It can be constructed by starting with a rectangle which is then divided to create a square and a smaller rectangle, this process can be repeated over and over again.

Inspired by nature, architects and graphic artists make great use of the Golden Ratio. Even Leonardo incorporated it into his famous "Vitruvian Man".

Elements positioned and sized according to this precise ratio have a natural balance and are visually harmonious. 

This principle is very complex, but it can be simplified in photography with the Rule of Thirds. 

Imagine a grid with 3 rows and 3 columns and superimpose it on the photo.

If the main subjects are positioned along the lines or where the lines meet, the viewer's eye will perceive the whole as more orderly and focus the elements better.

In the photo above the robin is perfectly placed along the first line and the trunk is positioned horizontally at the bottom: the resulting order is very pleasant.

You can also try to place the horizon near one of the two horizontal lines to give harmony to the photo.

2) Use Symmetry to Create Particular Effects 

As an alternative to the rule of thirds, if we use an element that divides the photo in half, we can obtain a "mirror" effect whereby the image appears symmetrical.

This image with the horizon positioned in the centre is divided into two symmetrical halves - the sea and the sky - which occupy the same portion of space and have the same colour. The protagonist is therefore the tree, which doubles by reflecting on the water surface and stands out in this uniform landscape, which constitutes its perfect background.

In the photo above the symmetric division is vertical. Each of the 2 halves of the photo is the mirror of the other one. 

OBLIQUE LINES TO CAPTURE THE EYE OF THE VIEWER AND MAKE THE SCENE DYNAMIC

1) Guidelines and Vanishing Points 

Natural lines created by the perspective and depth of the image attract the viewer's gaze into the photo.

Looking at the photo above, you get the feeling of being inside the train station. The escape lines - highlighted in red - direct the viewer's attention towards the centre.

2) Use Diagonal Lines to Convey the Sensation of Movement and Dynamism

In this picture the robin is positioned on the imaginary line of the grid of the Rule of the Thirds. Moreover the cords of the fence are placed diagonally, so that they convey dynamism to the scene and create a sort of path that leads outside the photo. This gives the sensation of seeing only one part of the landscape, but it is surely the most interesting one, because it is where you can spot the little bird.

MAKE YOUR SUBJECT STAND OUT

1) Frame Your Subject 

Use elements (such as doors, windows, openings) to obtain shapes that can contain your subject. This will create a natural frame with which you can highlight what you want to show.

In the photo above thr raccoon is located within a natural circle that looks like a frame created especially for him. 

2) Create a Contrast Between the Subject and the Background 

A clear distinction between subject and background makes what you want to show stand out.

This photo recreates a theatrical, almost dramatic effect. The flamingo emerges from a black background in a play of light and shadows. The bird is only partially illuminated with drastic contrast effects that direct the viewer's attention to the centre of the picture.

The photo above is satisfying at several levels. There are round objects - the three balloons - arranged in a blue rectangle - the sky - which serves as a homogeneous background. The subjects are perfectly ordered on a diagonal line. The two more distant and therefore smaller balloons are both positioned on the left side and contain the red colour that detaches from the blue and breaks the monochrome. The order is perfect yet purely coincidental. This is a shot that strikes. 

3) Make the Eyes Become the Heart of the Photo 

The subject's eye is at the centre of the image, the horse seems to look straight at the viewer. The blurred background further highlights its gaze and turns the animal into the undisputed protagonist.

A similar effect is created in this photo by placing the bird at the centre and focusing on it. The oblique branch, also in focus, creates a certain dynamism. The image is therefore less static than the previous one: the horse transmits strength, while the bird seems to be able to fly away at any moment. 

GEOMETRIC SHAPES AND RECURRING DESIGNS 

1) Repetition of Elements and Patterns 

Highlighting a recurring pattern or a repetitive structure makes the image unique. Reality becomes different and new, it almost turns into a geometric decoration.

The skyscrapers above are transformed into geometric shapes which look perfect, abstract and symmetrical. The umbrellas in the left picture form a whole thanks to their regular arrangement and similar visual characteristics. 

2) Interruption of the Pattern

The apples in the photo above form a pattern which is interrupted by the bite on the fruit in the foreground, which breaks the monotony and makes the image more particular. The focus (with the widest aperture of the lens diaphragm) is very interesting: It makes only the first apple sharp and creates a nice fading effect. 

Have fun while practising these rules to make fascinating, creative and unusual shots.

Soon we are going to focus... on a new topic! In our next article we are going to give you some more tips to improve the quality of your articles.

We are going to answer the following questions:

How do web users usually read? How can you set up and develop content more effectively? 

Bibliography: “L’occhio del fotografo: guida grafica ai principi della composizione” di Michael Freeman, Logos Edizioni; "Golden Ratio: What It Is And Why Should You Use It In Design" by Pratik Hegde; website www.photographymad.com; "Master di Fotografia n.6 - Composizione", by Richard Garvey Williams; National Geographic edition