31 Images with Outstanding Composition

Great composition is one of those things that you almost can't define - it's either there, or it isn't. Almost anyone - even a non-photographer - can spot outstanding composition, though it's not always obvious what specific qualities actually made that photo a great one. That's why the so-called "rules" of composition are really just guidelines - once you've mastered them, you can feel free to ignore or use them where you see fit. Here are some examples of images with outstanding composition - see if you can pinpoint the reasons why.

[ Top image Stripes... by Flickr user Julian E...]

E-330
100
f/4.5
0.006 sec (1/160)
150 mm

Que miras? / What are you looking at? by Flickr user *atrium09

Nikon D50
f/8.0
0.004 sec (1/250)
40 mm

In the Neighborhood by Flickr user CiaoChessa

Let there be light by Flickr user hvhe1

MARIAGE / WEDDING : The Gate ! :o) by Flickr user Sebastien LABAN

Canon EOS 5D Mark II
50
f/10.0
0.1 sec (1/10)
20 mm

On the Red Carpet by Flickr user angus clyne

Kodak V530 Zoom
80
f/4.5
0.001 sec (1/1600)
6.2 mm

Dreaming............. by Flickr user Nicolas Valentin

Leica DIGILUX 3
100
f/3.5
0.002 sec (1/640)
50 mm

Growin' up by Flickr user Sator Arepo

some of the other ones by Flickr user *omnia*

Nikon D300
320
f/8.0
0.017 sec (1/60)
105 mm

There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice by Flickr user sharaff

Panasonic DMC-FZ38
80
f/8.0
0.002 sec (1/640)
17.4 mm

A cultural trip to the heart of the nobility by Flickr user B℮n

Nikon D80
400
f/5.6
0.004 sec (1/250)
200 mm

Passeggiata by Flickr user Massimo Feliziani

Canon EOS 10D
100
f/4.0
0.001 sec (1/800)
17 mm

yellow hill (a.k.a. find the bee) by Flickr user Sara Heinrichs (awfulsara)

Nikon D90
f/3.5
0.001 sec (1/1250)
60 mm

How sharp is your blue ? by Flickr user Teo Morabito

Nikon D700
500
f/3.0
0.013 sec (1/80)
105 mm

Congratulations Manny Pacquiao ~ the Philippines' Pride!!! M a b u h a y !!! by Flickr user .I Travel East.

Feliz San Valentín y semana - Happy Valentine & week by Flickr user Pilar Azaña

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
200
f/1.4
0.002 sec (1/500)
30 mm

Untitled by Flickr user kelly.marie

P L A T I N U M by Flickr user HaMaD.BLaZe

Nikon D40X
1600
f/5.0
0.025 sec (1/40)
38.9 mm

i didn't know you meant forever by Flickr user Love, Loren

Nikon D300
200
f/16.0
0.067 sec (1/15)
20.6 mm

Lake Louise Canoes by Flickr user Panorama Paul

Visual Disorder - (Dubai, UAE) by Flickr user blame_the_monkey

Canon EOS 5D
100
f/3.2
0.001 sec (1/1000)
50 mm

Waiting For Spring by Flickr user Loren Zemlicka

Canon EOS 5D Mark II
200
f/8.0
0.167 sec (1/6)
58 mm

Faultlines - Mt. Tamalpais, Marin County, California by Flickr user PatrickSmithPhotography

Canon PowerShot G12
80
f/4.5
0.004 sec (1/250)
25 mm

Vineyard Rotenberg by Flickr user Habub3

The green eye by Flickr user Nespyxel

Yellow Warbler! by Flickr user JRIDLEY1

The composition by Flickr user ciostyle

Lower Antelope Canyon - Glowing (Page; Arizona) by Flickr user gabri_micha

Canon EOS 400D Digital
400
f/7.1
0.002 sec (1/500)
235 mm

'8' by Flickr user Chrissie64

E-PM1
200
f/5.0
0.003 sec (1/320)
14 mm

Red Wall by Flickr user pvanhala

Pigeon from Angers by Flickr user IoanBacivarov

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Comments

Richard says:
Jul 18, 2015
Thanks David-your tips and totorials are most helpful!

Reply
Tsebo Nate says:
Jun 4, 2015
Once again, thanks Dave.

Reply
malwes says:
Feb 25, 2015
i am paying more attention to composition now,your article has helped me alot.

Reply
Ed Lada says:
Feb 13, 2015
I'm an 80 year old retired commercial photographer and I grew up with the rule of "thirds" and the "S" curve.
Don't know where I learned it but those were the rules I lived by for composition.

Ed

Reply
Rajnikumar Shah says:
Feb 13, 2015
Each photograph was outstanding. Would have enjoyed knowing in detail about the photographer and other details.

Reply
Sue Fenton says:
Oct 25, 2013
Composition is one of the most interesting aspects of photography for me and I seem to be drawn to this aspect first and foremost. There is so much to learn with photography !!

Reply
john cole says:
Oct 18, 2013
I am now in my late 70s and find that using the screen on the Camera I tend to forget to look in all the corners of the shot so take a lot of photographs with messy background. I have now purchased a bridge camera and can go back to using the eyepiece and find that I now look in all corners.

Reply
Dickson says:
Oct 10, 2013
i like the composition

Reply
Jan morris says:
Sep 23, 2013
I look through the viewer at subject and then move camera around to see that the subject will appear in the most interesting way. Since I started doing this my quality has greatly improved. If nothing else, I sometimes tilt the camera at an angle.

Reply
Phil Anderson says:
Sep 5, 2013
I enjoyed this article very much. I must pay more attention to composition. To me the trick is to compose the shot in your mind first. Then make if happen. Learning to do that quickly is a challenge I have not yet mastered. Too often I look at my work and see that I have taken a picture of an object with no regard for what is around that object. This article has helped me see how important composition is.
Thanks for the tip.

Reply

31 Images with Outstanding Composition

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