Modern cameras are marvels of engineering, and we often take for granted the complexity of inbuilt light meters, TTL flash metering and the intricate program modes which help us all to take better pictures. It’s not surprising then that many of us are consumed by the subject that we immediately want to photograph it, assuming the camera will take care of everything else.

Sadly, it’s just not that simple. Just ask at any mini lab on the quality of many pictures that pass over the counter and invariably you will be told that a lot of budding happy snappers just don’t understand composition.

Now while it’s true that some people are satisfied, we need to remind ourselves of the dollars we spend and the considerable effort expended to get these memories. Learning just a few basic compositional rules could give us far better results almost immediately. Continued improvement in our picture taking can be gratifying, especially when family members and friends comment on the lovely photos from our last trip or outing.

The key to good photographs is in a word: patience. Don’t be too hasty to press the shutter. Take a moment to let your eye wander around the frame. Make improvements in the composition. Get closer perhaps. Don’t just focus on the subject and forget everything else. It is usually the smallest details we miss that spoil the image. Proper composition will give your picture more impact and further highlight your subject.

It is usually essential to walk around and look through the viewfinder both vertically and horizontally to see how best to place the elements of interest within the frame. Once established, take your time. This is why you find many professional photographers using tripods. Tripods not only to steady the camera, they also compell the photographer to slow down and concentrate on the best possible composition and arrangement of elements.

Lighting is also important. It’s amazing how many people would disregard the sun’s position in relation to their subject when they raise a camera to their eyes. By moving around and repositioning to get the best light will often improve your colour saturation and contrast.

Everyone see the world differently and so rules are only guidelines. Sometimes breaking a golden rule results in an even more dynamic image. However, there are also a few basic elements we need to consider every time we take pictures.

Each photograph is an endeavour to capture our three dimensional world and interpret it two dimensionally. Therefore the use of of these elements will vastly enhance our images. The first is shape, followed by tone and colour. We can combine these elements to yield a further three qualities - pattern, texture and form.

All photographs must contain some of these qualities regardless of the subject matter, and you will probably stress one more than the others in every image.

The most expensive cameras and lenses will not produce great photos unless we take the trouble to perfect our composition. Remember. This is photography. It’s every important.

Entry was posted on Saturday, June 14th, 2008 at 12:30 pm under Tutorials.  Print This Post