Do you also want to become a digital royalty on social media? Well, in order to do that, you need to master two things: your writing and photography skills.
Did you know that many of the trending and popular photos you see on your social media map are actually taken with a smartphone?
We’ve put together a series of articles that will help you take better photos with your iPhone camera, and later we’ll also introduce Writing 101, so stay tuned for a series full of juicy tips on how to make the most of your iPhone.
The first article in the series is about how to compose photography.
5 rules of photography composition
Composition is the way you arrange key elements or subjects into a scenery. It doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult. There are all sorts of theories, but if you pay too much attention to strict formulae, there is a risk your photos will be less interesting. Nevertheless, a poor photo composition can make a great scenery dull.
If you want to transform your images to well-set scenes, you should consider applying some of the theories we’re going through in this article. Remember, though, the key to great photos is to understand your scenery, what you want to tell with your images, and what emotions you want to affect, and how people perceive your photos.
To get going, here are some questions to consider:
- What’s the main subject?
- How can I draw attention to the main subject?
- How can I eliminate distracting components?
The 5 rules
#1 Simplify your scene
When you look at a scene, your brain quickly picks out subjects of interest. However, the camera captures everything from the same scenery, which can easily lead to a messy picture with no clear focal point.
Be careful when choosing your subject and select a camera viewpoint that works with your scenery. For example, silhouettes, colors, textures, and patterns all work well in simple compositions. Remember, the simpler the shot, the bigger the impact.
#2 Use diagonals
Simply by tilting your iPhone (Dutch tilt technique) as you take your shot, you introduce a feeling of drama and movement. The increased perspective gets more of a scene, and your image gets more interesting and eye-catching. The technique can be very effective. However, it doesn’t suit every shot, and you should use it sparingly.
#3 Backgrounds
Can you include the background to tell your story? Sometimes, using the background as a part of your image can complete your picture. Simply by changing your position, you can replace a dull or cluttered background completely and hopefully find one that complements your subject in a great way.
#4 The Rule of Thirds
The rule of third is a guideline that proposes that an image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines. Important compositional elements should be placed along these lines or their intersections. Proponents of the technique claim that aligning a subject with these points creates more tension, energy, and interest in the composition than simply centering the subject.
#5 Breaking the rule
This one is my absolute favorite! Sometimes, leaving all theories and rules aside can give you the best image. The quality of the image is set by so many different elements and rules. However, even if you use all the rules in the world and still can’t tell your story, the image is a big failure.
And some final wise words – anyone can point a camera in a direction and press the button, but it takes passion, technique, and knowledge to compose a visually appealing image that captures the viewer’s attention. Monochrome and minimalist compositions are ideal for sharing on social media feeds. People tend to get distracted if the image holds too many elements, especially if the pieces are unbalanced.