Composition Hacks: Tricks to Direct the Gaze Why Composition Is the Foundation of Photography

Composition is not just about placing your subject within the boundaries of your photo, it is the communication of photography. It tells the viewer where to look, what is important and what is not, and does so without using any words. It can be a technically good photo, but if the composition does not direct the viewer to your subject, the photo is lacking.

When photographers learn how to compose images, they are able to better convey their message, create mood, and avoid any element in the scene that does not add to the scene. By understanding how people perceive images, they can manipulate how a viewer sees a scene.

The Rule of Thirds: Simple Yet Powerful

Perhaps the most common compositional tool, the rule of thirds involves dividing the image into a 3×3 grid and placing elements on or near those lines and intersections.

This is because having your subject dead center always appears to be a stand still shot, whereas having it slightly off center leads the viewer’s eye to move around the image. In addition, the rule of thirds ensures that I include the background in a way that makes sense for the photograph and does not overpower the subject.

Utilize the intersections to draw attention to areas of interest, such as the eye in a portrait or a focal point in a landscape. It is more of a suggested guideline than a set in stone rule – knowing when to adhere to it and when to deviate from it is part of what the artist is saying.

Leading Lines: Directing Attention Naturally

The definition of leading lines is features that lead the viewer’s eye to a subject. Examples include roads, fences, rivers, bridges and even shadows, that provide depth and lead the viewer’s eye.

Place your subject where lines intersect or intersect your subject where a line is heading to emphasize it. Diagonal lines can give a sense of energy, vertical lines stability and height and curved lines can imply smoothness and rhythm.

Leading lines are best used in landscapes, street photography and architecture. They help to draw the viewer’s eye into the still image.

Framing and Layering: Creating Depth and Focus

Framing your subject using elements of the environment (like archways, windows, tree limbs, doorways) can draw the viewer’s eye to your subject. It can also help you narrow down what’s important and give you other interesting information.

Layering adds depth to an image by incorporating a foreground, mid-ground, and background. It adds dimension to an image and leads the viewer from one plane to the next. Viewers will interpret layered compositions as more engaging since their eyes will be led through the different planes.

Color and Contrast: Drawing Attention

Contrast grabs the eye. Bright vs. dark, color vs. monochrome, warm vs. cool, and all other contrasts will draw your eye.

Contrasting your subject with the background calls attention to it. A colorful object against a drab background will immediately pop out, and strong tonal contrast can bring out forms and textures in black and white or nighttime images.

Choose colors that are complementary to add conflict or balance. Colors can be used to direct the viewer’s eye to areas of the image without drawing attention away from your intended focal point.

Negative Space: Isolating the Subject

The negative space is the space between, or the space around the subject. This allows for padding, draws attention to the subject, and prevents overcrowding.

A subject in the middle of negative space commands attention because there is nothing else to compete for our attention. It is for this reason that negative space is a vital part of many minimalist images.

Negative space is used to balance busy scenes. Despite several objects, proper spacing prevents the frame from feeling congested.

Visual Flow: Leading the Gaze Within the Image

The viewer’s eye moves through a well-crafted photo on a guided tour. We tend to move along diagonals, curves or lines to travel from one part of the photo to the next.

Lead the eye through the photo. Start with a focal point, then lead the viewer around the image using lines, shapes, or secondary objects. Try to avoid anything that forces a stop in the middle of the frame or confuses the viewer.

Remember that viewers tend to look at an image from top to bottom, left to right, and along any implied motion. Composition should conform to these principles to maximize interest.

Symmetry isn’t the only way to achieve equilibrium. Understanding how to balance different elements is crucial for successful composition.

Symmetrical doesn’t necessarily mean balanced. An off-balanced design can still look balanced if the visual elements are properly weighed.

A small object of strong color can be balanced by a large object of weak color. A small object of strong value (light or dark) can be balanced by a large object of weak value.

Balance makes use of visual weight, while also directing the viewer’s eye and establishing a sense of equilibrium. By exploring this principle, we ensure that our compositions don’t look accidental.

Choosing to Break the Rules

Once you know the rules, you can break them for interesting photos. A centered subject can mean power or loneliness. Few leading lines can suggest intrigue. A tilted frame can mean instability or intrigue.

If you’re going to break the rules, you need to know what the rules are. There should always be a narrative, atmospheric or graphic reason for breaking a rule.

Here are some actionable techniques for directing the viewer:

Perspective: Look for leading lines, frames and interesting lighting when you’re location scouting. Consider the rule of thirds as well as the surrounding environment when composing. Create a sense of depth by overlapping objects. Try to use color contrast and negative space to make your subject stand out. Take a few practice shots, step back, and see where your attention goes first and if it moves where you want it to.