1
Overuse of techniques
Error: it can be tempting, as
someone new to advanced compositional
techniques, to try and work all of those
that have been discussed into an image,
creating shots with confusing intent.
Solution: study a scene and look for
opportunities to use a single technique
with which to start – often the simplest
compositions are the most effective.2
Negative and empty space
Error: There is a significant
difference between negative space, which
contributes to the image, and empty
space, which does not.
Solution: ensure that all the areas of
the frame your subject does not occupy
are either neutral or interact positively
with the subject.3
Leading nowhere
Error: Leading lines are a well-
established, powerful tool for directing a
viewer’s gaze, but when misplaced this
can unintentionally lead them away from
the key frame areas.
Solution: arrange your subject first,
then place leading lines so that they end
or originate at the subject position. This
ensures they function to emphasise the
important information in the image.4
Composition as a subject
Error: a common mistake many
make when trying new composition
strategies is to treat these as a reason to
shoot an image in isolation – a framing
tool is not a subject.
Solution: Find a subject and then
consider which composition technique
might benefit its impact. a subject-first
approach ensures that every image has
a purpose.5
Uniformity
Error: The ‘rules’ of composition are
guidelines to aid framing. if every image
follows these without a little imagination,
all shots can appear overly formulaic.
Solution: use your chosen framing
method then vary focal length, subject
position, frame orientation, etc. to see if
more dramatic results are possible.Troubleshoot
your image
Recognise, consider and rectify
the most commonly occurring
composition mistakes, for more
refined images©^MercedesCastillosánchezBelow
Subjective perfection
While the ‘ideal’ composition is
influenced by individual tastes, the
goal for any photograph is to isolate
the most interesting or critical areas
of a scene to convey a messageTechniques
1
Overuseoftechniques
Error:itcanbetempting,as
someonenewtoadvancedcompositional
techniques,totryandworkallofthose
thathavebeendiscussedintoanimage,
creatingshotswithconfusingintent.
Solution:studyasceneandlookfor
opportunitiestouseasingletechnique
withwhichtostart–oftenthesimplest
compositionsarethemosteffective.2
Negativeandemptyspace
Error:Thereisasignificant
differencebetweennegativespace,which
contributestotheimage,andempty
space,whichdoesnot.
Solution:ensurethatalltheareasof
theframeyoursubjectdoesnotoccupy
areeitherneutralorinteractpositively
withthesubject.3
Leadingnowhere
Error:Leadinglinesareawell-
established,powerfultoolfordirectinga
viewer’sgaze,butwhenmisplacedthis
canunintentionallyleadthemawayfrom
thekeyframeareas.
Solution:arrangeyoursubjectfirst,
thenplaceleadinglinessothattheyend
ororiginateatthesubjectposition.This
ensurestheyfunctiontoemphasisethe
importantinformationintheimage.4
Compositionasasubject
Error:acommonmistakemany
makewhentryingnewcomposition
strategiesistotreattheseasareasonto
shootanimageinisolation–aframing
toolisnotasubject.
Solution:Findasubjectandthen
considerwhichcompositiontechnique
mightbenefititsimpact.asubject-first
approachensuresthateveryimagehas
apurpose.5
Uniformity
Error:The‘rules’ofcompositionare
guidelinestoaidframing.ifeveryimage
followsthesewithoutalittleimagination,
allshotscanappearoverlyformulaic.
Solution:useyourchosenframing
methodthenvaryfocallength,subject
position,frameorientation,etc.toseeif
moredramaticresultsarepossible.Troubleshoot
yourimage
Recognise,considerandrectify
themostcommonlyoccurring
compositionmistakes,formore
refinedimages©MercedesCastillosánchezBelow
Subjective perfection
While the ‘ideal’ composition is
influenced by individual tastes, the
goal for any photograph is to isolate
the most interesting or critical areas
of a scene to convey a messageTechniques