BASIC SKILLS CAN BE LEARNED…

Photography is complicated. Colleges and Universities even offer degrees in it. However, one good thing about photography is that you don’t have to know all about it and you don’t even need fancy pro camera to create pleasing photographs. You can make nice pictures even with a point-and-shoot camera as long as you know the basics.

What really makes a photograph pleasing?

There are photographic techniques that can be essential in producing quality photographs. The most common techniques are Photographic Composition, Center of interest, Subject placement, Simplicity, Viewpoint and camera angle, Balance.

Photographic Composition is the arrangement of the things that will appear in the photograph.  It helps a picture look attractive and striking. 

David Webb's Beautiful Northumbria

-Center of interest is the principal idea. The minor elements of the photo should complement the center of interest. This will help the viewers to quickly understand the picture.

 -Subject Placement. This is the technique of placing the center of interest in the best position. In photographic composition, there are two general guides for subject placement

The first is the Rule of Thirds where we divide the picture area into thirds, both vertically and horizontally, and the intersections of the imaginary lines is where the center of interest should be placed as shown in the following example.

Photo by by Marlene Hielema

By this, we can create balance to the composition.

The other one is the Dynamic Symmetry, imagining a diagonal line from one corner to an opposite corner. Then, a second line perpendicular to the first from a third corner (shown in the figure at the left). The intersection of the lines is the location for the center of interest.

-Simplicity must also be considered. The simpler and more direct a picture is, the clearer and stronger is the resulting statement. 

-Viewpoint and camera angle. Repositioning the subject within the viewfinder frame and changing the camera viewpoint or camera angle are two simple ways of controlling composition. To add drama and excitement, photographing from a different  angle can also be considered:

Eye level shot by Julian W.

high angle shot of London by Cougar-Studio

low angle shot winner, photo by Daniel Locurcio

-Balance is a matter of making pictures look harmonious. Each of the elements in a picture should have a certain amount of value in respect to all the other elements.

There are plenty other important elements in photographic composition that if  properly used, can create a desired effect.