other. If the portrait is composed showing more of the body, then
the arms are used to fill in the void areas at the bottom of the frame.
Basically, this is completing a triangular composition, with the
shoulders and arms forming the base of the triangle and the head at
its peak.
Even when you include more of the subject than the typical
head-and-shoulders pose, the body should be used to form a trian-
gular composition. This is a helpful concept for many young pho-
tographers who are starting to learn the various poses, but have a
hard time trying to decided where the bottom of the frame should
be (waistline? thighs? knees?). I tell them to look for the bottom of
the triangle and crop the portrait there. Whether the arms, hips, or
knees are used to complete the bottom of the triangle, that should
be the bottom of the frame or composition.
POSING THE SHOULDERS, ARMS, AND HANDS 53In this pose, you can see how the subject’s
bent leg forms the base of a triangle, leading
your eyes up to her face at the peak.
Look for the bottom of the triangle
and crop the portrait there.