Photographic composition techniques

In this section we are going to explain the main photography techniques used, both by beginners and professionals. These are basic techniques and rules that, once you put it into practice, will give you a totally different vision when it comes to taking photos. We have been inspired by some of the texts in the magazine Cultura Inquieta and the photography professor Barry O. Carroll who produce publications on this topic.

The rule of thirds

Of the best known. Even to draw. Do you know when a grid appears on your mobile or camera screen? It is to be able to apply this technique!

The rule of thirds divides the photo field into 9 equal rectangles. It is considered that in the most attractive compositions the most important elements of our photo have to cover at least two rectangles of the grid, that is, it is necessary to avoid that they stay within a rectangle and much less in the center. Curious no? How many times do we try to put the main element right in the middle?

Details

It is about taking a detail in the foreground and behind it there is a background. Although a priori what we can think is that the main element of the photo is the detail, in truth what will stand out will be the background.

frames

Sometimes nature or some constructions make us a frame for the photo. The frame of a door, the arms of a person, a bridge … this element is placed around another as if framing it.

With this technique you will give depth to your photographs and harmony.

Symmetry

Taking a completely symmetrical photo is also eye-pleasing. It is important to take advantage of the opportunity when we find buildings, landscapes or symmetrical faces, since the photo looks super orderly and harmonious.

Triangles and Diagonals

If you already know something about photography or drawing, you will have noticed that geometric shapes are everywhere.

As early as the Renaissance, artists realized how geometric lines influenced the composition of an image. Thanks to them they began to experiment with geography and with the well-known vanishing point . Although widely used, it is not as easy as it seems, it requires technique, experience and good spatial vision . You have to see your surroundings as geometric shapes and see how these shapes interact with each other.

Guide lines

Used in both drawing and photography, it is about taking lines as a reference to compose an image. These lines are what mark the visual “path” of the image.

This technique provides symmetry to the image.

Patterns

You either love them or you hate them. There are people to whom they produce visual pleasure and others to whom it produces trypophobia. The trypophobia is generated fear or repulsion to the geometric figures look close together, especially small holes and very small rectangles.

However, the larger the pattern, the less sense of repulsion or rejection we will have; since trypophobia occurs when geometric figures are very close together. It is not common to have this feeling of rejection with the shape of flower petals, tiles or tiles.

Full frame

What do we mean? That the main element occupies the entire photo. In the image there is only one element and it takes over the entire width and height of the photo.

This technique serves to show the details of what we are photographing: the pores of the skin, the nuances of a leaf, the roughness of a wall … thus, the textures are highlighted and there is an unusual perception of something daily.

Negative space

Negative space are the elements that an image contains but that apparently are nothing. With this technique what we do is take advantage of that “nothing”.

For example, we want to take a photo of a statue and what is seen around is only the sky, so perhaps at first we do not stop to observe it or think about how it can influence the photo. However, the sky will be the background on which we will put our main element, the statue, so its tone and the presence of the clouds will greatly influence the result. Make the most of it!