Photography is All Framing

The joy of photography is how you frame and compose a scene!

I remember when I discovered that my Canon SD 600 digital point and shoot camera had a “rule of thirds” grid, I was enthralled! To me, it opened up a whole new world of photography to me; the fun challenge and the game of composition. Even now, I am endlessly fascinated with composition. Just how simple yet elusive composition is.

For example, a lot of the compositional principles are very simple. Diagonals, curves, dynamic (off center) compositions are generally more powerful and interesting to look at.

For a long time, I’ve always been curious about “the secret” of making great compositions. But now, I’m more interested in composition for fun; the fun visual challenge of arranging all of the different visual elements within the rectangle of our viewfinder.

In short, photography is a game with arranging puzzle pieces in our viewfinder. Photography is visual play!

See composition

Never stop analyzing your compositions, while you’re shooting and after the fact. This is how you can build your visual muscles:

Much of improving your composition is “post mortem” examinations of photos you believe to have lovely, balanced, and dynamic compositions. 

All day photography 

Ultimately I don’t think there is an ultimate set of rules of what makes a good or bad composition. Half the fun of photography is the visual challenge, and the visual play of photography.

So never stop shooting, and shoot everyday like visual exercise; just how you would exercise your muscles every day! 

Play on! 

ERIC