Regain your composure…

Ansel Adams is quoted as saying “A good photograph is knowing where to stand” and it pretty much comes down to that! The tricky bit with Ansel’s pared down pearls of wisdom is the “knowing”.

Judging by the amount of magazine articles, blogs  and books published on the subject, composition is as important to good photography and an interesting subject and good exposure – and rightly so. Unlike the other 2 components though, composition is the grey area where creativity and a gut feeling for a balanced image come into play, and this isn’t as easy to pass on to another enthusiast. Composing a great image is an intensely personal process – there’s just you and the view finder – and you have to conjour up something from the elements presented, that is more than the sum of it’s parts…that’s the plan anyway!

With the recent popularity in photography, more people are enjoying the creative outlet and trying to make better images, but the majority of people don’t have the benefit of any formal art school education, so advice on composition is always popular. This also accounts for why the Rule of Thirds has become such a sacred commandment. It’s easy to explain and by following the guidelines, you will get a pleasing image.

But, if you have any kind of appreciation for painting, you’ll know that there are all manner of tricks used in composing an image and they’re all applicable to photography. Some are more tangible and easily grasped than others – some are just gut feeling or emotion. At the end of the day, if an image feels right to you, then compositionally it will have been elevated in some way over just snaps.

I have a few things that I tend to do when I work and I was only dimly aware that I was doing them – they were just part of my process, but I find them helpful in getting a composed image. Here’s a few things that I find useful when making an image:

Compose handheld – then set up your tripod when you have an idea for your composition

I tend to start by using the camera hand held and composing through the eye piece – I find it easier than starting from the camera back. This way you can move around to find a good angle and explore high and low viewpoints much easier – when you have something you’re excited about, then set up your tripod and fine tune the composition. This way you’ll find unexpected happy accidents and not get trapped in a pattern of producing the same eye level image over and over.

If you’re happy with the rule of thirds, put it on your screen

I know many cameras now come with the ability to show the rear screen divided into 9 sections, making composing to thirds a simple task. If you don’t have this feature you can still add the rules to your LCD screen using thin strips of electrical tape, to give you an on-screen guide. The tape will come off easily afterwards – just measure the width and height of your screen to get the accurate thirds.

Go one step further and keep it old school – Golden section

There is a similar but far more pleasing compositional guide that is thousands of years old – think of it as the “father” of the rule of thirds – the Golden Section. It’s a slightly more complex version of rule of thirds, but I find it gives an much more pleasing composition – the whole of Ancient Greece and Renaissance painting can’t be wrong!

Instead of dividing the width and height of the LCD screen into equal thirds, you divide each length into 13 parts – then place your guide rules at 5 and 8 units. That’s basically how the ratio works – 5 : 8 : 13.

You can see from the diagram, the centre section is much smaller, so an element in your image placed on one of the verticals has a much better balance of space on the opposite side - it just looks right! Try it for yourself and I guarantee that your images will have a more pleasing overall composition than if you used thirds. I’ll go into a bit more depth in a future post.

Look for strong curves and "S" shapes

I looked back at my portfolio recently and found that this is something I tend to look for again and again. It gives a movement through the image and adds a dynamic quality that’s pleasing to the eye. The arcs and S shapes don’t need to be obvious but they will create a more powerful composition.

Visit galleries - feed your head

There are far worse ways to spend your time than in art galleries and looking at paintings is a great way to learn many of the compositional tools that you can then apply in your own work. Exposure to culture will have a beneficial impact on your own images.

Alternately, if you’re too busy, try finding an artist who’s work you like, select one piece if work that you’re particularly drawn to or like – look at it and try and work out why the painter put the elements where he/she did. If you do this enough, you will start to unlock the process of the composition and get an understanding of the process.

Sounds arty-farty, but go with me on this – it’s what all painters do and it makes them better!

Pick up a pencil

Finally, I sometimes pre-visualise an image (particularly still life or food shots) by sketching out a quick thumbnail. This is usually when I get an idea for an image and don't want to forget it, but I sometimes use this process to get a composition right before setting up. Don't be put off if you're one of the millions who haven't drawn anything since they were 14 - it's quick and easy and can save time setting up later.

Hopefully, some of these methods will suit your process. Everyone's creative process is different and personal, but sometimes trying something new can have a positive impact on the end result! Good luck with your photography and please do leave me a message if you're finding any of these posts entertaining or instructive - I'd love to hear from you.
Cheers!