sPACe To Work
The rule of thirds opens up
opportunities to use other
compositional devices for
more dynamic imagesNeGATIve sPACe
Place the subject in
context and enable it to
stand out by making full
use of space around iteven in photographs where the
subject is stationary or when a fast
shutter speed has been used, it is
important for the frame to have
energy and a sense of movement.
This can be simply implied, but
structuring the shot so that object
direction can be inferred will help
with viewer engagement through
added interest and by guiding
their eye through the composition.
By directing the viewer from one
corner of the image to the other
you ensure that they notice all of
the essential components. placing
the subject near a frame edge or
making a feature of their gaze or
spatial orientation can point the
way for the audience.Most cameras feature built-in framing
guides that can be activated to help the
user compose their images. These are
often activated in the camera menu and
are displayed on the rear LcD screen.
on mirrorless cameras that feature
electronic viewfinders (eVF), there is
usually an option to overlay a guide on
the eVF, the main LcD screen or both.
common choices are a rule of thirds grid
and a golden ratio frame, though these
options vary between brand and model.
By keeping these active it is possible to
perfect your composition without having
to crop the image later in software.Control the
frame direction
utilise the
in-camera guides
Arrange objects to ensure
viewers see all of your imageUse the composition aids at your
disposal for more refined framing“A good system is to begin with an off-centre composition,
which will produce a more professional-looking image”
© Bogdan Maris© Bogdan MarisMasTer coMposiTion
sPACeToWork
Theruleofthirdsopensup
opportunitiestouseother
compositionaldevicesfor
moredynamicimagesNeGATIvesPACe
Placethesubjectin
contextandenableitto
standoutbymakingfull
useofspacearounditeveninphotographswherethe
subjectisstationaryorwhenafast
shutterspeedhasbeenused,itis
importantfortheframetohave
energyandasenseofmovement.
Thiscanbesimplyimplied,but
structuringtheshotsothatobject
directioncanbeinferredwillhelp
withviewerengagementthrough
addedinterestandbyguiding
theireyethroughthecomposition.
Bydirectingtheviewerfromone
corneroftheimagetotheother
youensurethattheynoticeallof
theessentialcomponents.placing
thesubjectnearaframeedgeor
makingafeatureoftheirgazeor
spatialorientationcanpointthe
wayfortheaudience.
Mostcamerasfeaturebuilt-inframing
guidesthatcanbeactivatedtohelpthe
usercomposetheirimages.Theseare
oftenactivatedinthecameramenuand
aredisplayedontherearLcDscreen.
onmirrorlesscamerasthatfeature
electronicviewfinders(eVF),thereis
usuallyanoptiontooverlayaguideon
theeVF,themainLcDscreenorboth.
commonchoicesarearuleofthirdsgrid
andagoldenratioframe,thoughthese
optionsvarybetweenbrandandmodel.
Bykeepingtheseactiveitispossibleto
perfectyourcompositionwithouthaving
tocroptheimagelaterinsoftware.Controlthe
framedirection
utilise the
in-cameraguides
Arrangeobjectstoensure
viewersseeallofyourimageUsethecompositionaidsatyour
disposalformorerefinedframing“A good system is to begin with an off-centre composition,
which will produce a more professional-looking image”
© Bogdan Maris© Bogdan MarisMasTer coMposiTion