Composition Grab Bag #2

Here are a few more compositional "riffs" that you can stick in your toolbox. This is a continuation from Composition Grab Bag #1. Again, no special equipment required here - just a willingness to take your camera out and look through the viewfinder (or LCD screen =) ) with a different eye.

Frame the subject
Framing can help draw attention to the subject and give the picture a more intimate feel, as if you're giving the viewer a peek into a private place. It also keeps the eye from wandering off the edge of the picture. Don't forget to pick a strong subject, though! Sometimes I get so excited about finding a great frame that I forget to put something interesting in it. =)



Zoom in
One of the most important phases I went through while learning to take better pictures was to simply zoom in more. A common mistake in photography is including extra stuff that distracts from the subject. Zooming in is the easiest way to cut out that junk. Make it a habit to check the outer edges of the frame and think to yourself, "Does that need to be in the picture?" If not, zoom in some more. The challenge is to keep the picture interesting as you cut out visual elements.



Zoom out
Zooming out allows you to include more context in the picture, which sometimes helps to tell a more complete story. The hard part is making sure the picture doesn't get too much clutter that distracts from your subject. Once you've got some practice zooming in and checking the outer edges of the frame, you'll be better at zooming out without distracting from the subject. When you zoom out, you can examine the extra elements you've included and think to yourself, "Does this tell the viewer something more about the subject?" Usually, pictures of Vegas focus on the lights and gaudy attractions, and it's easy to forget that it sits in the middle of a mountainous desert area. Zooming out shows a different side of Vegas in the second picture below.