10 Elements of Composition for Photography

1.      The Rule of Thirds

   This one is a simple one to employ. If you divide your frame into 9 equal squares, then you should place your subject on the lines of intersection.  Horizons should go on these lines as well and you should avoid placing them directly in the middle (in between the lines).  This will help to add interest in your image.

2.      Symmetry

It helps a strong center composition to have perfect symmetry on either side of your subject.  If you have ever watched a Wes Anderson film, you will notice how he uses this often. See here. This is one of my favorite compositions to use.  I feel like it brings a sense of whimsy and peace to the image. Symmetry is very pleasing to the eye.

3.     Negative Space

Having a lot of negative space around your subject helps to draw attention to them in a minimalist way. There are no distractions to draw the eye away with this composition.

4.      The Golden Triangle

This one takes a bit of intention to pull off.  Be aware of strong diagonals going throughout the image.  Sometimes they are more implied.  Other times it is a direct line.              

5.     Isolate the Subject

Using a wide aperture as low as f/1.4 will help the focus to fall on your subject and the background will fade away into a blur. This will give you a shallow depth of field.  This gives a dreamier effect and is great for portraiture.

6.       Color

Using analogous colors or complimentary colors will help bring attention to your subject.  For this picture the girl’s hoodie is the same color as the lemur’s eyes. Color harmonies are also very pleasing.  I love using the primary colors!

7.    Fill the frame

This is where you get very close to your subject so that very little if any space is seen around them. This draws the attention right to your subject.  Cropping in very tightly works well for this, just make sure to not chop limbs in an unpleasing way.  For more information on limb chops go here.

8.      Leading lines

This is exactly how it sounds.  Look for lines or paths that will lead your eyes to the subject. You want these lines to take your eyes deeper into the frame. They do not have to be straight, sometimes a curved path can take you deeper into the image.

9.      Foreground and Depth

This is essentially layering.  Having a strong foreground, middle ground and background can help add visual interest. In this picture the plant is the foreground, the baby is the middle ground and the grandmother is the background.

10.      Framing

This one is my favorite! I love shooting through things to frame my subject.  In this case the leaves do the job.  But you can use anything! People, nature, buildings, even light! The possibilities are endless.

Hope this is helpful! If you’ll like, you can read more here. Thanks for reading.

Top Ten Children's Book Recommendations

So, you’ve made it to the library.  After herding the children through the door successfully you look around to see all aisles and aisles of books and literature. The kids are already bouncing from one activity to another, and you are overwhelmed by all the options of books the library offers! Well, I have some suggestions for you! I LOVE kids’ books! I love the illustrations and all the pithy clever stories. After years of tediously picking through book shelves and selecting bags at a time for my own children, I have a few favorites that have also been my kid’s favorites over the years. These books I am about to present to you is for younger children probably around ages 2-7.

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#1. Hello, Mr. Dodo, by Nicholas John Frith

Who else is obsessed with these colors?! Gahhh! I just love it.  The story is very cute and whimsical.  The illustrations are so great, and it gives off a kind of vintage look. The main character Martha is an avid bird watcher.  One day she comes across a donut loving dodo bird.  This story is imaginative and fun. If you are homeschooling this might be a good fun fictional book to work in when you are studying extinct birds or dinosaurs.  Even if you’re not homeschooling it is a fun book to read at bedtime! If your child loves birds this is the story for them!

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#2. 13 Words, By Lemony Snicket, Illustrated by Maira Kalman

This one is a very fun book and will help your child’s imagination and vocabulary! It has 13 seemingly random words strewn together throughout the book and then the story line impressively ties them all together. In our house we often reference the word despondent and the part where the mezzo-soprano sings those tralalalas often. There are also more simple words throughout the book, like baby and goat. This is an intelligent and creative book that is fun for all ages!

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#3. Uni the Unicorn, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Illustrated by Brigette Barrager

This one is admittedly a girl book.  The pages are filled with whimsical pictures of Unicorns, rainbows, flowers and little girls. This is a fun twist on the idea that unicorns are make-believe.  The unicorn, Uni, is the center of this story and she believes that little girls are real! This is a cute tail (err, tale) (I love puns) about friendship, and the illustrations are amazing! They are so colorful and fun. 

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#4. I don’t like Koala, by Sean Ferrell, Illustrated by Charles Santoso

The stuffed koala bear is the most terrible terrible in this story.  The pages are filled with hilarious and imaginative ways that Adam tries to get rid of his stuffed Koala.  He keeps trying to explain to his parents that he doesn’t like Koala, but his parents don’t understand, and Koala keeps coming back to him somehow.  The illustrations are somewhat bristly and minimalist. Charles Santoso has brilliantly given the koala sooo much character.  This is an ingenious story that really comes to life with the illustrations. 

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#5   Mister Dog, by Margaret Wise Brown and Garth William

You know… the same lady who wrote “Good Night, Moon.” This is a golden book and it is a classic for a reason.  It’s about Crispin’s Crispian, a dog who belonged to himself.  It’s a funny and unique book. Crispin runs into a little boy who also belonged to himself, and they become friends.  The quirky illustrations only enhance the story.  I especially love the illustration of the house. It is crooked and odd, and somehow looks so cozy.  Wrote in the 1950’s this one is a timeless classic, like most of Margaret Wise Brown’s books. 

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#6. The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, by Dan Santat

Beekle is an imaginary friend who is patiently waiting for his best friend to imagine him.  However, it doesn’t happen, so he goes looking for her.  The illustrations are perfect for this book.  The childhood scenes are colorful and lively.  The imaginative parts have a quality that is different from the reality parts. It is so cleverly done. This story about friendship and imagination is sure to be a favorite with your children.  I know it is with mine!

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#7. The Incredible Book Eating Boy, by Oliver Jeffers

The mixed media illustrations are ingenious in this book! There is so much detail in the illustrations you could read it over and over and not absorb the full effect.  The story is about a boy who desires knowledge and finds that he can get that knowledge by eating books.  It eventually backfires on him and he must find another way to learn the information he is looking for.  This book will instill a simple love of reading that we all want our children to have!

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#8. The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors, by Drew Daywalt, Illustrated by Adam Rex

This book is so funny! It will have both parents and children rolling with laughter as the story unfolds.  It is a dramatic tale of three great warriors and their search for the ultimate fight.  If you know the game and your kids love it this is the perfect book for them! One of the reviews I read said “I would recommend reading it as if you were announcing professional wrestling”, and that is exactly how we read it at home.  It is a very funny, lighthearted book that you can read with theatrical drama and the drawings just fit it perfectly. 

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#9. The Queen’s Hat, by Steve Antony

A sudden gust of wind blows the Queen’s hat right off her head! The rest of the book is about the pursuit of the hat.  Steven Antony does an amazing job with the story and illustrations.  His drawings are very minimalistic, and graphicly pleasing.  He also wrote the book Please, Mr. Panda.  His style in both books is unique and distinctly his own. Little ones will love the linear storyline and simple but beautiful illustrations.

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#10 The Pigeon Needs a Bath, by Mo Willems

Prepare to be argued with in this somewhat interactive book! The pigeon needs a bath but is in deep denial and does not want to.  It is your job, or your child’s job to get him to take one! It is so fun, and younger children just love answering the pigeon’s questions and accusations.  Mo Willems also won a Caldecott honor for the book Don’t let the Pigeon Drive the bus! However, I think this one is even better.  It’s a very simple book, that reflects a child’s nature to avoid bath time at all costs.  But once you get them in it’s hard to get them back out… Just like the pigeon.

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Thanks so much for reading along! I genuinely hope you and your children enjoy all these books! And if you need pictures of your kids, perhaps a lifestyle pictures of your family reading a bed time story, then please don’t hesitate to reach out to me!

-Kory