Picture Perfect: 4 Easy Tips to Improve Your Photography

Would you like to improve photography and take more than just “snapshots” with your camera or camera phone? I'd like to share in this blog some well-established tips on how to take pleasing photographs. So where to begin? You can delve into the technical details of camera hardware such as f-stops, white balance, types of metering, types of cameras, tripods, exposure controls, filters, types of lenses, etc. Or you can explore photographic software to learn how to enhance or manipulate the images you’ve taken. In my opinion, neither of these approaches is suitable for beginners nor appropriate for camera phones or point and shoot cameras.

Horizon in Upper Third of Image

Besides, I believe what Ansel Adams, a master of landscape photography, said, "The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it!" So instead of putting photographic technology first, let’s put esthetics first, which is the study of beauty and taste. With photographic esthetics in mind, let me offer four easy tips to add some snap to your photographs and make them more eye-catching. 

Start with Composition
Composition is defined as the “placement or arrangement of visual elements or ingredients in a work of art.” All four of the tips offered in this blog focus on composition. Since photography works through the eyes, it must appeal to the sense of sight, and sight works differently from other senses. For example, the ear craves repetition. Thus good music has repeating melodies, chords, choruses, etc. Conversely, the eye craves novelty and is easily bored with what is static or inactive. The eye enjoys moving around an image and exploring it. A good photograph captures and holds the attention of the eye. 

The Rule of Thirds

One of the easiest ways to make your photographs more interesting to the eye is to apply a basic concept in composition called the “rule of thirds.” This rule employs an observation that the human eye seems to be naturally attracted to points of intersection of an image split into thirds (See illustration). These are “sweet spots,” places to which the eye is instinctively drawn. Therefore, in composing an image, put the subject or subjects of your photograph at or near these four points of intersection. In my example of a photograph of a Turk’s cap lily, the main bloom and a forming bloom lie at two of the sweet spots. Where possible avoid putting the subject in the “dead center” of the image.

Rule of Thirds: Turks Cap Lily

Moreover, the vertical and horizontal lines at the one-third divisions are important. Rather than splitting your photograph in half by placing the horizon in the middle, try aligning the horizon on the top third or bottom third line. Notice how the horizon lies in the upper third of the example photos. Likewise align obvious vertical objects along the vertical one-third lines. Paying attention to the rule of thirds will strengthen your composition and please the eye. 

Horizon in Upper Third of Image

More tips about composition in the next post.