The bottom line to any great image is composition, and, how creative you are with your compositions will determine your ultimate photography success as you learn digital photography.
Have you ever wondered why the great photographers produce such stunning images? Simple, they use keys that are available to all of us.
Learn to use these keys regularly and your images will show dramatic improvements.
Composition was always a struggle to me until I found that by making small tweaks to my images I produced great results.
These are available to everyone and if you'll take the time to implement them, there will be a dramatic improvement in your images.
Before you go any further, it's not necessary to add all these elements to every photo you shoot, just start gradually and work through them.
1.
Patterns Look for patterns and repetitions of patterns.
You'll find them fascinating and so will the viewers of your images.
By emphasizing them and highlighting them in an image adds a dimension of greater interest.
Fill the whole image with the pattern so that it is the main focus of the image.
You want the pattern to appear as if it is popping out of the frame.
You can also use an element to break the flow of the pattern which then emphasizes the pattern breaker.
For example, a tray of brown eggs with one broken one revealing a bright yellow yolk.
2.
Texture Texture makes your images tactile.
The viewer feels as if they can touch the image whether it be soft, smooth, rough or slippery.
Texture is accentuated by great light falling on the subject.
Sidelighting is especially good at accentuating texture.
It creates an almost three dimensional effect when viewed with light coming from the right angle.
3.
Lines Lines add the most incredible dimensions to any image.
Lines lead the eye and if you use them properly will draw a viewer's eye to any part of the photo you desire.
This is called a focal point.
Place an object or subject at one these focal points and a sweeping curved line will bring the eye all the way into the image until reaches the focal point.
Use diagonals, verticals, horizontals and often most effective, converging lines.
Used properly and you will always have an interesting photo to share.
4.
Colour What more needs to be said.
Colour is what our world is all about.
Vibrant, well saturated colours feed the idea and the soul.
Our worlds are made up of colour and we see, think and feel in colour.
So by adding colour in the right amounts and in the correct combinations you will add an element of drama to the image.
Rich reds and oranges bring warmth while cool blues and greys cool down an image.
Greens signify growth, wealth and health while blacks and dark blues bring a more sombre effect to the image.
Use colours wisely and they will reward you with outstanding images.
5.
Depth of Field We have all heard of depth of field and sometimes neglect to use it efficiently.
Depth of field or depth of focus as it is also known is when an image's background is blurred, a narrow depth of field, or when the whole image is in focus, a wide depth of field.
The ability to control your depth of field will bring an added dimension to your images allowing you to isolate and frame your subjects.
By taking just these five compositional keys and adding them where appropriate to your photos will improve them quite dramatically as you learn digital photography.
It's partly of a learning process but once you have mastered them, you'll add a quality to you images that will leave your viewers pleasantly surprised.
Happy shooting!