
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...]
Que miras? / What are you looking at? by Flickr user *atrium09
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
On the Red Carpet by Flickr user angus clyne
Dreaming............. by Flickr user Nicolas Valentin
Growin' up by Flickr user Sator Arepo
some of the other ones by Flickr user *omnia*
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
A cultural trip to the heart of the nobility by Flickr user B℮n
Passeggiata by Flickr user Massimo Feliziani
yellow hill (a.k.a. find the bee) by Flickr user Sara Heinrichs (awfulsara)
How sharp is your blue ? by Flickr user Teo Morabito
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
Untitled by Flickr user kelly.marie
P L A T I N U M by Flickr user HaMaD.BLaZe
i didn't know you meant forever by Flickr user Love, Loren
Lake Louise Canoes by Flickr user Panorama Paul
Visual Disorder - (Dubai, UAE) by Flickr user blame_the_monkey
Waiting For Spring by Flickr user Loren Zemlicka
Faultlines - Mt. Tamalpais, Marin County, California by Flickr user PatrickSmithPhotography
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
'8' by Flickr user Chrissie64
Red Wall by Flickr user pvanhala
Pigeon from Angers by Flickr user IoanBacivarov
Most people think this post is Awesome. What do you think?
Thanks David-your tips and totorials are most helpful!
Once again, thanks Dave.
i am paying more attention to composition now,your article has helped me alot.
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
Each photograph was outstanding. Would have enjoyed knowing in detail about the photographer and other details.
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 !!
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.
i like the composition
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.
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.