BREAKING THE RULES!

The discussion of composition in photography is as subjective as the discussion about art pieces. Although there are existing rules of composition, however, these are sometimes considered merely text book rules and to become a better photographer to move beyond using these.


The Rule of Thirds 

About the Rule: This is a well-known rule which to most new photographers is the safest rule to adhere to. Imagine a grid placed over your composition, three vertical lines and three horizontal lines. The theory goes, if you are taking a landscape shot, either the sky or the ground should take up two thirds of the composition and not in equal proportions.



Applying the Rule of Thirds to your picture is a safe way to compose.

Breaking the rule: If your instincts tell you to put your focal point right in the middle of your frame, then follow them. If your instincts tell you to cut out the sky altogether and simply reveal the shapes and undulations in the landscape, then that is worth trying too. 


If it’s interesting enough, put it right in the middle where all focus will be.

Use a horizontal composition for landscape shots 

About the Rule: It’s a general practice to capture sweeping sceneries using the horizontal format. It generally creates a pleasing “flow” from left to right, aided by the lines of the horizon. This rule is also rooted in the fact that when a person looks at a wide scenery, their eyes and head will naturally turn from left to right viewing the scenery panoramically.


A sweeping landscape gives the feeling of calmness and gentle movement of lines from one side to another.

Breaking the Rule: Go vertical. Vertical format is usually more energetic and powerful, suggesting motion and vertical direction. In landscape photography, you may use a vertical format to strongly emphasise the dramatic contrast between the foreground and background elements.




When you are shooting landscape, go vertical if there is an interesting foreground element. This added impact can help lead your viewer’s eyes from the bottom of the picture towards the distance landscape.

Keep your horizon straight

About the Rule: It right to say that a technically correct picture is one where the line of the horizon is perfectly horizontal. Any image that is contrary to this should be corrected to improve the composition.

Breaking the Rule: Exaggerated angles can be used to create abstract images or simply to create a dynamic composition. In this case, the horizon is not the main focus and the main emphasis of the composition is movement or motion.


Exaggerated angle of a fashion façade. Interestingly, fashion photographers are notorious for breaking the rules in place of artistic expression which can accentuate the design and movement of the models.


Get your subject in the picture

About the Rule: The general practice when shooting your subject is to make sure you don’t accidentally crop out part of their bodies. For many new photographers, this subconscious rule can dictate how they would compose their picture when shooting their subject against a larger background scenery or architecture.

Breaking the Rule: Going up close to the face of your subject is a very strong form of portraiture. This also means cropping out distracting background elements. Focus on the eyes of your subject as just like when you are facing a person, the part of the face that captures your attention is a person’s eyes.


Don’t be shy about getting up close. This will be a change in an album of full-bodied shots.


Your subject should have more space in front than behind

About the Rule: This rule is dependant on motion and evolves from the Rule of Thirds. People or animals shot from a side or three quarter profile within a photograph should appear to be looking into the picture, not out of it. In other words, the subject should have more space area in front than behind. This is based on the assumption that the subject will be moving forward into that empty space


You would expect the goose to be moving in the direction of the empty space even though this is a still image.

Breaking the Rule: Shooting a person or a moving object as it’s going out of the picture is called trailing. This is a good technique to use if there is an interesting element behind the person or object as the move along such as foot prints, the wake of a boat, or smoke trails.


The wake of a boat trails behind as it leaves the scene.

Stand up, keep your legs steady and shoot

About the Rule: We have been taught that to keep our shots blur-free, we are required to have a steady stance. With this in mind, our natural posture is to stand up straight, keep our legs slightly apart, hold our breath and shoot the picture. This results in pictures which are almost always taken from eye-level.

Breaking the Rule: Find a higher viewpoint to shoot the scene from or crouch lower to find an interesting angle. We are so used to seeing things around us at eye level, therefore a picture taken using this method can evoke curiosity, interest and impact as it’s something that is not formally viewed in that way. 


A viewpoint that is seldom taken is straight up


Useful questions on Composition when you are considering your shot

• Which orientation is best for the subject, landscape or portrait?
• Should I use a standard (50mm) lens, wideangle, telephoto or zoom lens?
• Is there a better position for the shot, from above or from below?
• Can I use any interesting patterns to draw attention?
• Can I make use of any natural lines to lead the viewer into the picture?
• Can I frame the photograph with something interesting, such as an arch, tree branches, pillars, lampposts, a window, etc?
• Can I exaggerate movement by shooting diagonally?
• Is there a foreground object that can add impact to the picture?
• Can I get a more interesting view by walking around the subject?
• Will moving in closer to my subject remove unnecessary clutter?
• Should I fill the frame for impact and power?
• Can I isolate interesting parts of my subject?
• Can I use some props to improve the composition?
• Can I use DOF to blur out the background, isolating my subject?

It’s important that a photographer equips himself properly with the knowledge of basic photography before he ventures out to create his own style. Afterall, to break a rule, you must first learn what it is you are breaking in the first place.

Have fun shooting guys!

Kenny Goh
aka Kenji