Composition, Lighting & Framing

Thinking about your images !

Rule of ThirdsThe Rule of Thirds is based on the fact that the human eye is naturally drawn to a point about two-thirds up a page. Crop your photo so that the main subjects are located around one of the intersection points rather than in the centre of the image:

Your landscapes will be optimally pleasing to the eye if you apply the Rule of Thirds when you place your horizon line. If the area of interest is land or water, the horizon line will usually be two-thirds up from the bottom. Alternately, if the sky is the area of emphasis, the horizon line may be one-third up from the bottom, leaving the sky to take up the top two-thirds of the picture.

Diagonal RuleOne side of the picture is divided into two, and then each half is divided into three parts. The adjacent side is divided so that the lines connecting the resulting points form a diagonal frame. According to the Diagonal Rule, important elements of the picture should be placed along these diagonals:

Linear elements, such as roads, waterways, and fences placed diagonally, are generally perceived as more dynamic than horizontally placed ones:

Front Lighting•Front lighting is accomplished by lighting the subject directly from the front or, in the case of outdoors photography, by taking the picture with the sun to your back. This form of lighting is good for accentuating details in your photograph, but has the often-undesirable effect of giving your subjects a flat and uninteresting look.

Side Lighting•Side lighting is a useful alternative to front lighting. Lighting your subject from an angle will create shadows, resulting in more intriguing and artistic-looking photographs. Shadows provide the eye with additional information, creating the illusion of depth. Varying the angle at which the light shines will produce different results, and a little experimentation may produce new and interesting effects.

Back Lighting•Back lighting is often used to create a silhouette effect by placing a light source behind the subject. It is also effective when taking pictures of people who are standing in direct sunlight or otherwise harsh light. People will often squint when facing a bright light, and this is easily remedied by turning them away from the light. Reflected light or a fill flash will help in reducing shadows caused by back lighting, where desired.

Diffuse Lighting•Diffuse lighting results in a softer light that can generate dramatic effects and often preserves details that would be lost in bright sunlight or under harsh artificial lights. This type of lighting occurs naturally during the early morning and late afternoon hours, and is prevalent on cloudy days. You can generate your own diffuse lighting effects by placing a softbox in front of your light source or through the use of a reflective umbrella.

Framing: A Photography Technique

Here are some tips for framing your photographs:

Creatively think of objects to use as a frame. Some examples include branches, windows, tunnels, doorways, and archways. Anything that lets you look through one thing at another thing will make a good frame.

Use an interesting frame for your photograph. If possible use a symbolic object for framing your subject, something that has a meaning in relation to the subject

Consider depth of field when working with a frame as a foreground object. Since you have a foreground object (the frame) and a background object (the subject) you can chose your depth of field. Do you want your foreground to be in focus? If so, then use a small aperture to keep the frame and subject in focus. Conversely, if you want only the subject in focus, use a large aperture.

Keep the camera focusing and lighting sensors on the main subject. If possible, use a foreground frame that is a darker object than the background. Expose for the subject in the background and let the frame darken.

Emphasize your subject. All framing directs the viewer attention to the subject, but you do not need to always go tightly into the frame. You can leave the subject framed but still leave other objects around the edges of the photograph. In this photograph the frame is a window, but you can still see the cannon around the edges of the photograph.