Top 20 Photo and Video Composition Guidelines
Learning photography composition guidelines can be overwhelming at the beginning. But putting in the extra time and effort will definitely have an impact on your photos. Although Ansel Adams said: “There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs.”. I think Pablo Picasso sums it up quite well: “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist”.
Below you’ll find some tips and rules to keep in mind while taking photos. Using these is not a must, but they will help you understand better why some photo compositions catch the eye more than others. So grab your camera and get ready to explore the following guidelines.
Table of Contents
What are the main differences between a line and a point?
Horizontal Line
- Symbol of balance, equilibrium, distance, inaccessibility, coldness
- Divides image into areas
- Determines the picture’s message in the long term – such as depth, infinity, height
- Horizons in Landscape
Vertical Line
- Symbol of closeness, warmth, expansion, movement
- Divides image into areas (especially in horizontal format)
- Vertical lines on a vertical format, appear active
- Architecture
Diagonal Line
- Divides image into areas (Triangles)
- With the increasing diagonal – from bottom left to top right – the diagonal in portrait format conveys increased optical resistance to the viewer
- The falling diagonal – from top left to bottom right – gives the impression of directing one’s gaze out of the picture
- Direction and movement even stronger with the diagonal line
The Dot
- Absolute emphasis equals to the exact centre of the photo
- The higher the contrast from the dot to the background, the higher the attention
- As soon as a point is shifted from the middle, the tension increases from the point to the four corners of the picture
- Dots can be also disturbing (unretouched dust or dirt)
What are the main differences between Horizontal and Vertical Photos?
Horizontal Photos
Horizontal photos, also known as landscape format align with the horizon line and are wider than then they are tall. These are native to the human eye, due to the the anatomy and position of our eyes.
- Creates a sense of space and movement
- Great for shooting landscape
- Used when the subject is moving horizontally
- Many monitors such as TVs and computers are designed to display in a landscape format
- Cameras are designed to shoot horizontally
Vertical Photos
Vertical photos, align with the vertical line and are taller than then they are wide. They are mostly used for social media or portrait photography.
- Can eliminate background clutter and focuses the viewer’s attention more on the main subject.
- Used when the subject in the photo is taller than wide, for example a person
- Some social media platforms, such as Instagram focus more on vertical photos
- Used when the target is moving vertically
Golden ratio vs. Rule of thirds. Which is best?
Rule of Thirds
- One of the most well known photographic / cinematographic compositional rule
- It’s a compositional guide on where to place the subject element in an image, where it will be most pleasing to the viewer
- It divides the image in thirds, using two vertical and two horizontal lines, which creates nine segments and four intersection points
- The centre of interest is placed at the junction or on a line to produce a more natural image
- It is also suggested that the horizon is placed on one of the horizontal lines
- Placing the object of interest off-centre, gives the possibility for interpretation between the subject and the background
- It’s a great starting technique for beginners
Golden Ratio
- A composition guide with a mathematical ratio of approximately 1.618 to 1
- It’s based on the spirals seen that can be found everywhere in the natural world, such as wave or a fern
- It places the centre of interest at the end of the spiral
- Leads the viewer’s eye around the image
- Has been used for centuries by artists
The rule of thirds is a simplification of the golden ratio, which is why it’s a great starting technique for beginners. The golden ratio is a bit more technical and adds a more dynamic and balanced feeling to the image than the Rule of Thirds. The latter is quite popular especially in minimalistic photos. The Golden Ratio is a great guideline to emphasise movement or for positioning several objects in a composition. In the end what you choose to use for your photo will depend a lot on the scene you are trying to shoot.
12 Compositional Guidelines for Film and Photography
Symmetry
- When two parts of a photo are a reflection of each other
- Pink line in the photo below, splits the image and reflects one side to the other
Leading Lines
- Let the lines lead to the centre of interest
Patterns and Repetition
- Find repeating objects or patterns
Golden Triangles
- Instead of straight lines it uses diagonals, which form right angles triangles
- The main subject of interest should be on the lines or where the lines meet
Framing
- Add a frame for more depth
- More layers increase the depth of the photo
- Examples: arch, window, tree, etc.
Left to Right Rule
- Let motion flow from left to right
- This is due to the reading direction in western countries, which is why our eyes are accustomed to scan from left to right
- Depends in which country you are
Foreground Interest
- Have subjects in the foreground for more depth
- Similar to the framing guideline
Balancing Elements
- Counter balance the centre of interest
- This can also be done with colour, contrast, symmetry, asymmetry etc.
Changing Point of View
- Take photos from different angles other than eye level
Dutch Angle
- Image is tilted to one side
- Creates a sense of tension or uneasiness
- When producing a video, the trick is to not overuse it, otherwise it will loose the dramatic effect
Rule of Space
- Subject should be looking into the photo, rather than out
- Doing so will create an interaction between the subject and the empty space
Isolating the Subject
- Use shallow depth of field to isolate the subject
- Otherwise the background will take away the focus from the subject
Is it better to shoot Horizontal or Vertical Photos?
It’s impossible to say which one is better, since it depends on the situation and the message you want to convey. Both of them have pros and cons. The trick to become a good photographer is to understand them well so that you know which one is more suitable for your photo. If you are a beginner it might be easier focusing more on shooting horizontally. Once you’ve familiarised yourself with it, you can start experimenting with vertical images. However, in the end one is not better than the other, since everything really depends on the story you want to tell. (The same goes for shooting videos. Although movies are always filmed horizontally, social media has started to focus more on vertical, such as reels.)
Conclusion
By now you are probably asking yourself which guideline you should choose for different scenarios while travelling. It all comes down to being aware of what you capture and knowing the significance and role of what every element in your image has to play. In the end a good photo is about limiting the attention of the viewer by only framing what you want to show and the story you want to tell.
