2025-05-06 Composition Foundations

Enter up to four images that represent the basic composition principles, such as the rule of thirds, the golden ratio, leading lines, balance, diagonals, framing the subject, fill the frame, symmetry and asymmetry. Click on the links for inspiration.

13 Responses to 2025-05-06 Composition Foundations

  1. Henri says:

    Leading Line

  2. Paul Fesko says:

    At the playground with my grandson. I think this image might show several composition principles; leading lines, frame the subject and fill the frame?

    1/4000 sec at f3.2, ISO 500
    My camera settings were off. I shot this in .jpg instead of my usual CRAW.
    Edited in Lightroom.

  3. Della 朱世芸 Ho says:

    leading lines of the clouds, tracks and grain elevators
    ISO 100 15mm f5.6 1/400

  4. Della 朱世芸 Ho says:

    rule of the third,
    mountain blue bird
    ISO 160 400mm f5.6 1/640

  5. Frankie says:

    I went to Spruce Meadows to see amateur jumping. No crowds, just friends and family.
    To me this composition looks very balanced.
    Also rule of thirds; the edge of the grass, the seam of the tent and the left edge of the tree are all on the one-third lines. The tail and the moving leg are quite close to the intersections of the grid lines.
    Negative space created by the tent, eliminating any background distractions.
    Dynamic composition – attention grabbing and surprising. This is achieved by the movement of the tail and leg. Also the missing head.

    • Frankie says:

      Oops. ISO 100, 18 mm, f/4.5, 1/2500 (settings for jumping shots trying to get blurred background in the bright sun)

  6. Frankie says:

    Horse muzzle. Does not follow the rule of thirds in any way.
    Fills the frame
    Texture – backlit hairs, contrast between smoothness and wrinkles
    Framing – two bars of the stall on either side
    Lower angle and different emphasis from the usual horse head shot, creates interest
    ISO 1600, 35 mm, f/4, 1/40 s

  7. Henri says:

    Dreamy morning apple blossoms. Diagonal composition with flower adhering to rule of thirds. Tried to think of bokeh and gradient balance during the in camera composing.

  8. Fred Schwering says:

    I put the head of the Green-winged Teal in the rule of thirds position while filling the frame.
    F/2.8, 1/500 sec, ISO 200, 300 mm zoom
    Cropped to fill the frame.

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