Photography is a wonderful way to capture the beauty of life. That’s especially true in our retirement years when we have the time to truly appreciate the world around us. With the convenience of smartphones, taking photos has never been easier.
However, snapping a quick picture isn’t always enough to get the best results. The secret to better photography lies in composition. That means taking the time to thoughtfully arrange how the elements of your image relate. You are striving to guide the viewer’s eye so they see what you saw. All this takes place before taking the picture.
In this post, I’ll explore three basic composition techniques. Learn these and they can help you take better smartphone photos.
Rule of Thirds
The Rule of Thirds is one of the most fundamental composition techniques in photography. Imagine your smartphone screen divided into a grid of nine equal parts, with two horizontal lines and two vertical lines. Like a Tic Tac Toe board. To use The Rule of Thirds, arrange your view of the image to place the most important elements of your photo along these lines or at their intersections.
For example, if you’re taking a picture of a beautiful sunset, try placing the horizon along one of the horizontal lines instead of directly in the center of the frame. If you’re photographing a person, position them where one of the vertical lines intersects with a horizontal line. This creates a more balanced and visually interesting photo.
Many smartphones actually have a grid option that you can turn on in the camera settings. That will make it easier to apply the Rule of Thirds while you’re composing your shot.
Leading Lines
Leading lines are natural or man-made lines in a scene. You compose your image so that the lines guide the viewer’s eyes toward the main subject of the photo. These lines can be anything from a winding road, a river, a row of trees, or even the edge of a building. Thes key is to position these lines in a way that they lead directly to your subject. That creates a sense of depth and draw attention to the focal point of your image.
When using leading lines, try to position yourself so that the lines start from the bottom or side of the frame and move toward the subject. For example, if you’re photographing a pier, stand at one end. In your image, let the lines of the pier guide the viewer’s eyes toward the ocean or sunset at the end of the pier. This technique can add drama and interest to your photos, making them more engaging.
Symmetry and Balance
Symmetry and balance are powerful tools in photography. A symmetrical photo has two halves that are mirror images of each other, creating a sense of harmony and order. Balance, on the other hand, involves arranging the elements in your photo so that no one part of the image overpowers the rest.
To achieve symmetry, look for scenes where you can divide the photo into two equal parts. That can be horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. This might be a reflection in a lake, a row of evenly spaced trees, or a staircase with equal steps on either side.
For balance, consider how the different elements in your photo relate to each other in terms of size, color, and placement. For example, if you have a large object on one side of the frame, you can balance it out with smaller objects on the opposite side.
When composing your shot, take a moment to step back and observe the scene. Think about how you can arrange the elements of the image to create a sense of balance or symmetry. This extra effort can make a real difference in the overall impact of your photo.
Final Thought: Practice Leads To Improvement
Take the time to compose your photos using these basic approaches to composition; Rule of Thirds, Leading Lines, and Symmetry and Balance, The more you practice, the more natural these techniques will become. Eventually, you’ll find that composing a well-balanced, visually appealing photo is almost second nature.
Next time you’re out with your smartphone, take a moment to think about composition before you shoot. You’ll be amazed at how much your photos improve with just a little extra effort.
Remember, photography is a journey, and every shot is an opportunity to learn and grow. Keep practicing, keep exploring, and most importantly, keep enjoying the process of capturing the world around you.
Happy Photo Journaling!
