Incorporate professional framing structures
into your repertoire and achieve maximum
adaptability in any shooting scenario
Learn advanced
techniques
As photographers it is easy to become so
preoccupied with our own artistic intentions
that we forget about the impacts each
composition choice has on the viewer. Since
this is the entire reason we spend so much
time constructing an image, it makes sense
to strive to fully understand how different
perspectives influence audience reaction.
This allows us to begin experimenting with
angles and focal lengths to vary the narratives
of our images – a moderate change can have
significant effects, unlocking exciting potential
for alternative stories.
2
Repeating patterns
By cropping tightly so that
objects of similar colour or shape
align, eye-catching patterns are
created. allowing the pattern to
extend beyond the frame suggests
an excitingly endless field of detail.
The single yellow object breaks the
pattern for added interest.
3
The centre line This
image has a strong
subject but sparsely detailed
middleground. The central line
of the jetty is a strong leading
line, which guides the viewer’s
eye directly to the main point of
interest – the silhouetted figures
in the distance.
4
Extreme angle since
we almost always see
the world around us from a
standing position, by lowering
the camera to shoot straight
up or raising it to shoot
directly down at around +/- 90
degrees, we can create an
engaging perspective, with near-
abstract characteristics.
5
Experiment with
timing The position of
a moving subject in a shot
controls whether it feels like they
are entering or exiting the frame.
This alters the direction the
viewer scans the image.
1
Lines and curves Find
unique angles and features
to frame points of interest. The
ponte dell’accademia here
frames the canal Grande in
Venice. This shot was only
possible because of a temporary
building site under the bridge.
CoNTrAsTING forM
The arc of the curve
naturally compliments
straight lines in a scene,
creating pleasing harmony
LeAD THe eye
The curve of the bridge
crosses the physical and
visual barrier of the canal
NATurAL frAMe
The eye is led around the
entire shot by edges that also
frame the main subjects
Composition tools
1
2
© Bogdan Maris
Techniques
Incorporate professional framing structures
into your repertoire and achieve maximum
adaptability in any shooting scenario
Learn advanced
techniques
As photographers it is easy to become so
preoccupied with our own artistic intentions
that we forget about the impacts each
composition choice has on the viewer. Since
this is the entire reason we spend so much
time constructing an image, it makes sense
to strive to fully understand how different
perspectives influence audience reaction.
This allows us to begin experimenting with
angles and focal lengths to vary the narratives
of our images – a moderate change can have
significant effects, unlocking exciting potential
for alternative stories.
2
Repeatingpatterns
Bycroppingtightlysothat
objectsofsimilarcolourorshape
align,eye-catchingpatternsare
created.allowingthepatternto
extendbeyondtheframesuggests
anexcitinglyendlessfieldofdetail.
Thesingleyellowobjectbreaksthe
patternforaddedinterest.
3
Thecentre lineThis
imagehasastrong
subjectbutsparselydetailed
middleground.Thecentralline
ofthejettyisastrongleading
line,whichguidestheviewer’s
eyedirectlytothemainpointof
interest–thesilhouettedfigures
inthedistance.
4
Extremeanglesince
wealmostalwayssee
theworldaroundusfroma
standingposition,bylowering
thecameratoshootstraight
uporraisingittoshoot
directlydownataround+/- 90
degrees,wecancreatean
engagingperspective,withnear-
abstractcharacteristics.
5
Experimentwith
timingThepositionof
amovingsubjectinashot
controlswhetheritfeelslikethey
areenteringorexitingtheframe.
Thisaltersthedirectionthe
viewerscanstheimage.
1
LinesandcurvesFind
uniqueanglesandfeatures
toframepointsofinterest.The
pontedell’accademiahere
framesthecanal Grande in
Venice. This shot was only
possible because of a temporary
building site under the bridge.
CoNTrAsTINGforM
The arc of the curve
naturally compliments
straight lines in a scene,
creating pleasing harmony
LeADTHeeye
Thecurveofthebridge
crossesthephysicaland
visualbarrierofthecanal
NATurALfrAMe
Theeyeisledaroundthe
entireshotbyedgesthatalso
framethemainsubjects
Composition tools
1
2
© Bogdan Maris
Techniques