Guidelines to Better Photography

“There are no rules for good photography, there are only good photographers”

-Ansel Adams

COMPOSITION

COMPOSITIONAL GRAPHIC ELEMENTS

• 1. lines & points

•  2. shapes & forms

•  3. contrast & tones

•  4. texture

•  5. pattern & repetition.

COMPOSITIONAL STRATEGIES

• 1. rule of thirds•  2. balance of elements•  3. leading lines•  4. symmetry and Patterns•  5. viewpoint•  6. background/MINIMIZE•  7. depth•  8. framing•  9. cropping or filling the frame•  10. experimentation

COMPOSITIONAL RULES

• 1. What is the emphasis of the picture?•  2. Is there visual movement (S-Curve)?•  3. Is there visual movement (Leading Lines)?•  4. Is the main subject matter placement out

of the center?•  5. Is there Unity ( golden triangle)?•  6. Is there Unity ( golden spiral)?•  7. How can you simplify the picture?

Cropping

Get close to your subject

Get even closer …

RULES OF THIRDS

Golden Mean Spiral

Golden Mean Spiral

Golden Triangle

The Leading Line

Using Shapes

Pattern

The ‘S’ Curve

Viewpoint

COMPOSITIONAL COMPLEXITY

• THE MORE YOU OVERLAP STRATEGIES, RULES AND GRAPHIC ELEMENTS THE MORE COMPLEX YOUR MEANING WILL BE.