I’ve been as an amateur photographer for almost 9 years now, and the one thing i focus on the most is my composition. You can nail the lighting, set the perfect settings and get the timing right, but if the composition is off, or doesn’t feel right, then that photo is will join the endless list of failed photos that hit the recycling bin.

Although i don’t personally aim for this, but over time, my photos have generally gotten this calm relaxing mood to them. A major reason for that is how i compose my photo. The settings and post processing come afterwards.

So, how do I compose my photo?

Most importantly for me is to have a clear mind, meaning; there is no clutter or noise in your head distracting you from what your environment

Another important point is patience. If you are out somewhere and you are not able to find a good composition. No worries. Enjoy your environment, be patient, slow down, look around and look in all directions. You are bound to find something, and if you don’t then so be it. It was not meant to be, but at least you went outdoors and had a good time.

If i were to break it down into steps, it will be the following:

Have a clear mind, be patient, look around, and look slowly, give your eyes and brain time to settle on what you are looking at.
If you cant visualize an image then look through your cam. I’ve done that many times and it has helped me a lot.
- Try, try, try and retry…..Take photos, look at them, and see how to fix them to get that correct composition. No shame in trying several times to get that perfect composition. You can use your viewfinder or Liveview. Personally I go for Liveview.
- Make sure you study your picture well when you review it, and again don’t rush it. You’ll regret it when you are back home and realize that your pic is ok to say the least…
Form a rectangle with your hands, and look through it to see how your frame would look like. Its very basic but it does give you a sense of what you might be composing. It has helped me a lot.
Don’t compose based on what people like, or what photography rules say. You can ignore these rules and compose based on what you feel is right. Not every photo that follows the rules of photography is a great photo. On the flip side, don’t go to far either.
It is recommended to have some sort of flow in your photos, lines, direction, angles and depth. The eyes of the viewer should not get lost in the your photo, but actually flow from one subject/point to the other throughout the pic. Photography is similar to geometry.
Knowing your camera settings is a plus and will help you better compose and get that great shot prior to post processing. Don’t say ill fix it later. Get that shot there and then.

Check different aspect ratios. Sometimes a pic with a 16:9 aspect ratio will suddenly have a much stronger feel than the regular ratio we use of 3:2. Try square format of 1:1, it is more challenging but it gives your subject more focus.
Think of how your photo will end up looking like after post processing.
Use your tripod and its capabilities. Tripods give a photographer a lot of flexibility in composing photos, especially in angles that are physically difficult to perform for a human being. Ouch my back…
Be open to suggestions and critique. It is not an insult, but instead it is a good way of seeing things that you might not have been aware of. I still enjoy getting advice and suggestions and will always do so.
If you go to a location, and don’t find something worth photographing, don’t omit that location from your future visits. Each location will have something to offer. You just have to look and wait. A location in summer might be boring, but not in autumn or spring or even winter. A location during the day might be bland, but colorful and lively during sunset/sunrise or during the night under the glowing moonlight.
Lights cast shadows, whether its sunlight or moonlight, they cast a shadow. Use them to your advantage and wait for the right moment.

I guess these are the main points I can think of.

If you are new to photography, my suggestion is to take pics of anything you see, regardless of how horrible they turn out to be. You will only learn and improve.

Hope you enjoyed this blog post.

Stay tuned for more!!!