Rule of thirds

This is one of the most effective and popular ways of composing a photo. You can improve your photos compositions simply by using this technique. The “rule of thirds” adds interest to the photo by aligning the subject on one of the four points of an imaginary 3×3 grid in the photo.

Boat on the rule of thirds

A simple image made more interesting by positioning on the rule of thirds.

Eye on the rule of thirds

When shooting portraits, you can use the rule of thirds to add focus to the eyes. Simply position one of the eyes or the area between the eyes on the rule of thirds to create a great portrait.


Lead room

Lead room is the the space in front of an object. This element is usually used with the rule of thirds to create a more interesting photo. By leaving room in front of the subject, the viewer will see that it has someplace to go.

Snowboarder on the rule of thirds with lead room

The snowboarder is positioned on the rule of thirds with some lead room in front of him.

Runner with lead room

Leaving some lead room in front of the runner makes the photo look more active. It also puts more attention to the sunset.

Runner without lead room

Leaving room behind the runner makes her appear to be almost done running.


S curve

S Curve is an imaginary line in a photo that is in the shape of an S. This type of line makes photos look more interesting by adding motion guiding the viewers eye in the shape of an S. S curve can also be used in posing to improve the appearance of the models figure.

Highway with s curve

An example of a highway with an S curve. This photo of a simple scenery is made more interesting with the S curve.

Highway without s curve

A similar photo of a highway but without the S curve is less dynamic.

Scuplture pose with S curve

S curve can also be used in posing. The earliest examples of S curve can be found in Greek and Roman sculptures.


Foreground

Most photos have a middleground and a background but very little foreground. You can improve your landscapes photos significantly by including some foreground objects. This is a great technique for creating a sense of scale and making the viewer feel like he/she is in the photo.

Landscape with rocks in the foreground

The rocks in this landscape photo gives the photo a sense of depth and scale.

Landscape with more foreground

Adding more foreground to the photo creates the feeling being there.

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28 responses to “10 Important Tips to Improve Composition in Your Photos”

  1. mukulmamun Avatar
    mukulmamun

    Thanks for tutorial, it is very useful for beginners like us.

  2. Marcus roberts Avatar
    Marcus roberts

    I love reading camera articles

  3.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    I really like this

  4. Mina Avatar
    Mina

    Thank you very much ;-)

  5. Ann Avatar
    Ann

    Great tips. The images with each tip are excellent.

  6. Ann Avatar
    Ann

    Great tips. The photographic examples with each tip are excellent.

  7. sunil Avatar
    sunil

    Nice,nice,nice……10 nice

  8. Nick Avatar
    Nick

    Making sure there is a foreground and trying to find a natural frame for some of the compositions will add so much to my pictures!

  9. ana sousa Avatar
    ana sousa

    Hi, thanks for your tips. some of the tips i had hear the difficulty is to think in all when you are shooting…

  10. James Bisset Avatar
    James Bisset

    Great tips, not just for the novice :-)

  11. Raf Avatar
    Raf

    Nice tips… quite obvious ones but sometimes you just forget them.

  12. Johanna A Avatar
    Johanna A

    brilliant tips.. thanks for that!!!

  13. Mark Avatar
    Mark

    thank you for the tips

  14. Ania Avatar
    Ania

    Practical and useful

  15. petra Avatar
    petra

    Excellent explained how do cropping. I love it.

  16. QUESTION Avatar
    QUESTION

    is the guy in the photo #5 dead ? my friend wants to know

    1. QUESTION Avatar
      QUESTION

      is the guy in the photo #5 dead ? my friend wants to know

  17. nourosh Avatar
    nourosh

    super tips thanx

  18. chandran Avatar
    chandran

    nice tips to follow.GREAT!hope to receive more.

  19. Deepali Avatar
    Deepali

    beautiful tips amazing

  20. chandran Avatar
    chandran

    Your information cum instruction is really a guideline for a good photographer

  21. TADE14@000HONTM=08 Avatar
    TADE14@000HONTM=08

    Hello,
    That was a whole lot of great information. It was very useful for me in my Photography project. Thank You!
    Hope there are a new set of info. coming soon… :) :P ;)

  22. adfayfas Avatar
    adfayfas

    whoop whoop

  23. adfayfas Avatar
    adfayfas

    i love this.

  24. adfayfas Avatar
    adfayfas

    hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

  25. Jeff Adams Avatar
    Jeff Adams

    The picture with the “Taj Mahal” is a replica of the real one.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal_Bangladesh

  26. Rokzzzz m/ Avatar
    Rokzzzz m/

    Nice tips……made me learn new things..:)
    hoping for more…:)

  27. Wilson Elias Avatar
    Wilson Elias

    love the tips just learned 10 new things

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