Advice on Composing a Photograph
Photo composition is important because it not only makes your art interesting, but it also keeps the viewer engaged. These tips are meant to help you improve your composition. If you are a beginning photographer, it will take a little bit of time to get an ?eye? for composition, but you will continue to get better.
1. When you are photographing your subject, always keep composition in mind. Do not rely on cropping them afterward. While it is okay to crop your photos, you do not want to be spending time cropping every single one in order to get an interesting photograph.
2. Subject placement is the first thing to consider. Rarely do you want to place your subject in the middle of the frame. Instead, place your subject in a “sweet spot.”
To visualize these sweet spots, first think about a blank, rectangular photo. Next, draw 2 vertical lines that break the frame into 3 equal sections. Draw 2 horizontal lines that break the frame into 3 equal sections. There are 4 spots where these lines intersect, and these are called sweet spots. Experiment placing your subject in one of these imaginary sweet spots for a great photo.
3. If you use lines and texture creatively, your viewer will be drawn in. They will also be guided around the photos with these lines.
A spiral staircase will draw the viewer around the photos as well as inward. Blades of grass would draw the viewer from the bottom of the photos to the top, and rays of sun would draw the viewer from the top of the photos to the bottom creating a cycle.
When you have a horizon, try to place it above or below the middle. For a strong composition, try using lines from subjects such as railroad tracks, buildings, trees, or ladders.

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