Apply these simple photography composition tips to your photography today:
NYC Dynamic Street Photography Composition Workshop 2018
To take your composition to the next level, join my NYC Dynamic Street Photography Composition Workshop (Feb 24-25, 2018).
What is composition?
![Golden rectangle.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/E63F56A1-1D29-47B5-842C-3F3E86CC82A8.jpeg?resize=1200%2C900)
Composition: How you compose a frame, how you divide spaces, or mark spaces inside a frame.
Why is composition important?
![Composition grid](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/3CABB9F6-690E-4FE9-AFBC-4E3DB39AFA21.jpeg?resize=1200%2C900)
Composition is important, because it helps lead the eyes of your viewer. Without composition, your viewer would be lost– they wouldn’t know what to look at.
Not only that, but aesthetically, composition is appealing. When we look at a well-proportioned composition, our eyes feel delight.
Some practical ideas:
1. Diagonal composition
Diagonal
In Greek, ‘dia’ means through, and ‘gone’ means angle, or corner.
Therefore, a diagonal connects the edges or corners of your frame.
To make better compositions, make your photos more dynamic, by adding in the diagonals.
Golden rectangle x Diagonals
See below me draw the ‘Golden rectangle’ composition, with the diagonals in red. The yellow circles are the ‘eye’— where your eyes are drawn to.
![Cindy diagonal composition. Uji. 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/8C5E796C-857E-43D1-A76E-48C7B4FC17F7.jpeg?resize=1200%2C1812)
![Cindy diagonal Dutch angle. Saigon, 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/A758A719-B100-453D-B68F-094B6AA6900E.jpeg?resize=1200%2C794)
![Abstract. Cindy diagonal Dutch angle. Saigon, 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/0983C9FE-BF79-47EC-AB45-6B9E85C5538A.jpeg?resize=1200%2C794)
![Cindy walking, with diagonal line composition. Kyoto, 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/D397E653-2DCC-4763-9384-A6811C296344-2000x1325.jpeg?resize=1200%2C795)
![Abstract. Cindy walking, with diagonal line composition. Kyoto, 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/382FBA07-F7E3-4CD0-809D-592BFD3B0744.jpeg?resize=1200%2C795)
![A picture of myself holding an umbrella. I shot this with my RICOH GR II while tilting my camera, to accentuate the diagonal lines in this picture.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/ERIC-KIM-TOKYO-PHOTOGRAPHY-2017-0150555-2-1325x2000.jpg?resize=1200%2C1811)
![Man walking up stairs, and looking nack. Dynamic diagonal lines and composition. Tokyo, 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/ERIC-KIM-TOKYO-PHOTOGRAPHY-2017-0152493-1-1325x2000.jpg?resize=1200%2C1811)
![diagonal-arm-eric-kim-composition-red](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/diagonal-arm-eric-kim-composition-red-800x596.jpg?resize=800%2C596)
![eric kim dark skies over tokyo street photography black and white monochrome](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/eric-kim-photography-composition-diagonal01.jpg?resize=1200%2C799)
![Diagonal leaf, black and white. Hanoi, 2017.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/eric-kim-photography-black-and-white-hanoi-0009560.jpg?resize=1200%2C795)
2. Figure to ground
Figure to ground: separation between dark and light parts of your frame.
Why is figure to ground important? To create a clear separation between the objects and subjects of your frame, so your viewer doesn’t get confused what to look at.
![Top: good separation. Bottom: bad separation.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/1E9DB672-78C4-481B-B160-DCBF1C09D514.jpeg?resize=1200%2C1600)
Therefore, separate your subjects from the background with negative space in between the objects in your frame.
![Top: good separation. Bottom: bad separation.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/E6AC2212-5980-465D-8EBD-845D72508881.jpeg?resize=1200%2C1600)
![Figure to ground](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/0-2.jpg?resize=1200%2C800)
![Figure to ground: White box creates a “strong” figure to ground against the black background.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/1-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C800)
![Figure to ground: White box creates a “strong” figure to ground against the black background.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/2-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C800)
![In figure to ground, your eyes always travel to the areas of the highest contrast, then to areas or shapes of less contrast. For example, your eye will first look at the white box (most contrast) then the grey box (less contrast)](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/3.jpg?resize=1200%2C800)
![When we introduce a fourth shape (very dark grey lightning bolt in bottom right corner) we can barely see it — because very dark grey has “weak” figure to ground (contrast) against a black background.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/5.jpg?resize=1200%2C800)
![Inverse figure to ground: with a white background, your eyes are first drawn to the darkest colors and shapes.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/6-inverse.jpg?resize=1200%2C800)
![Figure to ground example: Silhouette of Cindy against backlight of stairwell. Hanoi, 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/848CEDDC-A175-43EE-BAA3-F8CD30E422D4.jpeg?resize=1200%2C795)
3. Low angle perspective composition
Crouch down low, and shoot looking up. This creates the ‘Superman effect’— your subject looks bigger than life.
![Shot very close in macro mode on Ricoh GR. Allowed me to get more of her face in focus.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_3428.png?resize=1200%2C1600)
![AMERICA - ERIC KIM16 eric kim woman popsicle](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/AMERICA-ERIC-KIM16.jpg?resize=1200%2C800)
![Super-low angle, because I can use the LCD screen on RICOH GR II](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/eric-kim-street-photography-color-portrait-hands-new-orleans-10.jpg?resize=1200%2C1812)
![eric kim hollywood pink red bull](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Americans-21.jpg?resize=1200%2C800)
![Downtown LA, 2011 by eric kim street photography](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/06-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C798)
![5 eric kim street photography - color - portrait-color-new orleans](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/5-eric-kim-street-photography-color-portrait-color-new-orleans.jpg?resize=1200%2C1812)
4. Curve composition
Curves are more dynamic, and add movement to your pictures.
Fibonacci spiral:
![My leg. Saigon hotel, 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/EAF695F0-9E4E-4720-96FA-CC15E75B6467.jpeg?resize=1200%2C795)
![Outlined in red. Cindy’s hands, curved in motion. Note her elbows coming out of the bottom left and bottom right of the frame.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/cindycurve6.jpg?resize=1200%2C795)
![As a figure to ground example, I drew a curved white object against a black background. This has “strong” figure-to-ground.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/62B86DDA-61E6-450D-BAE3-29547E9F0E4F.jpeg?resize=1200%2C1600)
![Curve composition and Cindy hand. Saigon, 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/EA7966F7-0973-4C8A-AF9C-6A4B2BF968CD.jpeg?resize=1200%2C794)
5. Layers
Make photos with foreground, middle ground, and background.
Case study
Example, this picture with the woman on the far left is closest to us (red), then the woman on the right (yellow, a little further away), then the man in the background (blue).
![eric kim photography cindy and mom korea seoul flash](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/cindymom1.jpg?resize=1200%2C795)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/IMG_1499.jpg?resize=1200%2C795)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/R0004144-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C795)
![Layers of people in elevator. Tokyo, 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/ERIC-KIM-TOKYO-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY-2017-0152038.jpg?resize=1200%2C795)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/R0000583-4.jpg?resize=1200%2C795)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/eric-kim-layers.jpg?resize=1200%2C795)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/IMG_0944.jpg?resize=1200%2C796)
6. Golden proportion composition
More examples of the Golden proportion:
![Dynamic tension in Golden triangle: both sides trying to fight for dominance.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/B5022E4A-003D-44B2-9151-A414E5FFBC0B.jpeg?resize=800%2C533)
![Golden triangle divided into 1, 2, 3, 4. Study this when at home.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/796C8A18-A3FC-44CF-8994-8DFEB8426031.jpeg?resize=1200%2C900)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/A155452E-FA74-43F1-8B3D-2ED36E114D3B.jpeg?resize=1200%2C900)
![KUROSAWA x ERIC KIM / Boy in bed of flowers](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/9AEFD0E4-CCE3-4C0E-ABDE-359517405AF3.jpeg?resize=1200%2C900)
7. Triangle composition
Create triangle compositions for more balance in the frame.
Kurosawa, Rashomon composition
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jazz-hands-triangle.jpg?resize=1024%2C682)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/alicante-spain-19331-henri-cartier-bresson-composition-triangles-red-yellow-blue.jpg?resize=1200%2C801)
![Kurosawa Rashomon triangle composition](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/3477A780-17B6-4BE9-9AAF-DA017AA5DE9A.jpeg?resize=1200%2C750)
![Abstracted. Kurosawa Rashomon triangle composition](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/5DAE15CE-84BE-4EBA-87E7-7ACCB41FD86E.jpeg?resize=1200%2C750)
Conclusion
![Growth of nautilus shell, like fibonacci spiral](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/F2A1CA77-AF27-4EB4-A19E-7EDEF972E39E.jpeg?resize=640%2C412)
To study more great composition, study cinema, design, and find inspiration from everywhere in the world. Ultimately, all composition comes from nature.
ERIC
NYC Dynamic Street Photography Composition Workshop 2018
To take your composition to the next level, join my NYC Dynamic Street Photography Composition Workshop (Feb 24-25, 2018).
Composition
Dynamic Photography Composition 101
![Leading lines. ERIC KIM DYNAMIC COMPOSITION](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/5BB65076-6E5D-4B13-A53E-8E7CACE76199.jpeg?resize=1200%2C800)
- Introduction to Dynamic Photography Composition
- How to Visually Analyze Your Photography Compositions
- Dynamic Tension: Opponent Based Theory For Photography
- Opponent Process Color Theory For Photographers
- Dynamic Photography Composition 101: Figure to Ground
Dynamic Photography Composition Tips
![Chiaroscuro. DYNAMIC LIGHT AND SHADOW. Hanoi, 2016 by ERIC KIM](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/1F6DDCBA-F2FF-4148-A87C-69D5CB628213-2000x1324.jpeg?resize=1200%2C794)
- How to Make Aggressive Photography Compositions
- 10 Dynamic Photography Composition Tips
- How to Make More Dynamic Picture Compositions
- Unorthodox Photography Composition Techniques
- Deconstructed: Saigon Eric Kim Photos
Composition Theory
![Dynamic low angle composition. Tokyo, 2011 by ERIC KIM](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/4AA45DE6-490D-42BC-9289-B1A3CCC3CF82-2000x1330.jpeg?resize=1200%2C798)
Take your composition to the next level:
- Gestalt Theory
- Juxtaposition
- Center Eye
- Low-Angle
- Dutch Angle
- Deep Depth
- Spacing
- Silhouette
- Leading Lines
- Figure to Ground
- Fibonacci Spiral
- Cropping
- Emotion
- Composition by Eric Kim
Street Photography Composition 101
![DYNAMIC REFLECTIONS. Man and three reflections by ERIC KIM](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/D1244C01-F22D-4613-850A-0224FF12F378-2000x1817.jpeg?resize=1200%2C1090)
For distilled lessons on composition, read the free ebook: “The Street Photography Composition Manual.”
Further articles to improve your compositions in photography:
- Composition Lesson #1: Triangles
- Composition Lesson #2: Figure-to-ground
- Composition Lesson #3: Diagonals
- Composition Lesson #4: Leading Lines
- Composition Lesson #5: Depth
- Composition Lesson #6: Framing
- Composition Lesson #7: Perspective
- Composition Lesson #8: Curves
- Composition Lesson #9: Self-Portraits
- Composition Lesson #10: Urban Landscapes
- Composition Lesson #11: “Spot the not”
- Composition Lesson #12: Color Theory
- Composition Lesson #13: Multiple-Subjects
- Composition Lesson #14: Square Format
Composition Theory
![Chiaroscuro. DYNAMIC LIGHT AND SHADOW. Hanoi, 2016 by ERIC KIM](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/24CF061A-6AF9-46FC-BBF6-90792EE927CF-2000x1325.jpeg?resize=1200%2C795)
Learn compositional theory:
- Why is Composition Important?
- Don’t Think About Composition When You’re Shooting Street Photography
- How to Use Negative Space
- Street Photography Composition 101
- The Theory of Composition in Street Photography: 7 Lessons from Henri Cartier-Bresson