12 Composition Secrets that can make you an Instant Photographer!!!

In recent times, I came across people who often ask me looking at my photography….”Which camera do you use?” And my answer more often than not is short and crisp “My old war-horse Nikon D90 with 50mm 1.4D lens or my favorite 85mm 1.8G”.I am by no means close to a Pro…..Not too bad either!! Being self-taught, I normally restrain from going further into the nuts and bolts until someone shows curiosity and have common interest. But sharing ideas and knowledge release an inner joy as well as scope to grow further…hence decided to put my pen down finally….

Of course, a DSLR (a D90 or any other) will give you better result than a Point & shoot or a Bridge-camera. But then, this is only the beginning. In parallel, one must also acquire the soft-skills to align with the hardware for narrowing the gap with a Pro.

In the very outset—Yes!! Photography does look a little complicated to general mass with terms like Composing, Aperture, Shutter speed, White-balance, ISO, Len type like 18-200mm F3.5~5.6, Focusing, Editing….etc. How do you start then?

Even if you have some interest to dive deep to collect some knowledge-pearls, our fast paced lifestyle does not help it further. However, these quick tips may elevate you a few steps closer towards your unconquered dream. Here in “The Instant Photographer-Part1” I would like to start with some low hanging fruits (my top 12)….your first baby steps- “Composing a Shot”-The foundation of a photo.

Let me tell you one thing for sure, photographic concepts are just mere guidelines to explore your creativity, unwind your imagination and empower your thought process with wings to fly. You can always play with them; twist as per your desire or even challenge them at times once you know the purpose of the rules. You may apply them with any kind of tool you have…….even with a simple Point & Shoot camera.

Simplicity is the key, someone rightly said,” Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible”.

What is composing of a shot then? It is the base or skeleton of your photo…..the first glimpse impression while you observe the arrangement of the subject and its surroundings.

(1)    The Rule of Third:

Rule of the Third (Correct)

This is the most simple yet most widely used and proven rule. This rule says divide your frame to 3 columns both side (vertically and horizontally) and put your subject somewhere 2^nd line/plane. Or to say it in simple- Avoid putting your subject right in the middle.

  

(2)    Breathing Space and Movement Space & Follow subjects view

Give your eyes some breathing room….keep some space towards the movement of the subject to give it a dynamic feel….follow the subjects view.

  

(3)    Meet in the Middle

If you are working with more than one subject….meet in the middle is a good option.

 

(4)    Vertical-Horizontal lines

Human mind does love to see some vertical and horizontal lines.

 

(5)    The Magic of Back-ground Blur and foreground and Bokeh.

Blurring the back-ground or foreground helps the viewer to concentrate on the subject. Of course there is magic in the bokeh.

(6)    Show emotion, drama and connection of subject with surroundings

Add some emotion, drama and try to connect subject with the surrounding. It provides your photo another dimension.

(7)    Frame within a frame

This concept again helps to draw attention of the viewer to the subject.

 

(8)    Point of view

From which angle you are taking the snap is also very important. Example-A kid looks best most of the time if you shoot from his height level. Taking a shot from your standing position will make him dwarf.

  

(9)    Drawing attention through a line

Help the viewer to draw attention to the subject through a line.

 

(10) Pepping Through

Give a firsthand feel to a scene by experimenting with pepping-through shots.

 

(11)Freeze the action

We always love to see action and a freezing moment….Don’t we??

(12)Be innovative….and dare to break the rules

As you will learn, sooner or later you will realize that rules are mostly made to broken and are too often for the lazy to hide behind. Dare to break the rules…set your own rules and play with a free mind.

  

Avoid disturbance:

We often make silly mistakes while framing a shot. Just -look at the below two shots.

     

The 1^st shot would have been better (Mother & child together) if the photographer avoided the other people. In the 2^nd one (Father & son), look at the left corner…the half appearing child could have been avoided. However, little mistakes can be corrected during editing too…..but a correct framing will cut short your extra effort.

Photography is one of those things which once you learn the basics, will remain activated at your sub-conscious mind. It is just like learning the balancing of a bicycle, once you learnt you can’t go wrong for rest of your life or just like driving a car when you change gears sub-consciously with respect to your speed.

Photography skills are like a fine old wine which gets better and better with time, of course with practice.

So, how do you find the above???….and I once thought composing was not so important!!!

 

(From a Photography hobbyist…..to a budding Photography hobbyist…..Professionals can relax…:))

 

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