Part 3 - Composition: or where to chop!
As we continue our series on the basics of getting better photos with a standard camera or smartphone, we turn our attention from how to set and hold the camera to composing the shot. We’ll be considering where to position the subject either in the camera frame or in the picture if we are editing the photos later.
Rule of Thirds
I have read whole books on the subject of composition. However, the one I use most frequently is the rule of thirds; this is a technique used repeatedly in classical portrait painting. It’s very tempting to put the subject smack-bang into the centre of the photograph. But this often means a plain and boring photograph. Don’t be afraid to shift the model from the centre.
The rule of thirds is effectively an imaginary grid that sits over the photos (some cameras have a grid that can be displayed as you snap your shot). It involves dividing the picture into three rows and three columns (this applies whether you are shooting in a portrait or landscape orientation). The technic involves positioning key elements of the photo at the intersections or running along the grid lines.
As an example of a landscape picture, place the horizon so the sky covers the top third or top two-thirds of the picture. For a portrait photo, we may place the subject to the right or left of the photo (so they are standing over one of the lines). Another tip is to position the eyes at the intersections of the lines.
Example 1
In this photo of my friend's dog, the dog's eyes are positioned along the upper horizontal line; you'll also notice that the dog is positioned to fill the centre third of the picture between the two vertical grid lines. The blank space either side draws your eyes onto the dog and helps create the sensation of the dog in motion.
Example 2
In this picture of Marisa, you can see that the key elements of the photo are in line with the grid. Both Marisa and the shadow are lined up with the vertical grid lines. The flowers Marisa is holding also fit in the middle third of the picture between the horizontal grid lines.
What’s Behind You?
Have a look at what is behind the subject! How many times have we shot pictures where the model has a lamp post or a tree trunk growing out of their head? Ideally, you want to position the subject with a plain (or at least not a busy) background.
See what is behind Susan’s head in this picture. Her head has a hanging basket growing out of her left ear! In this instance the fix is relatively simple! I removed the hanging basket. At the same time I recomposed the photo to remove the horizontal fence post on the left of the photo and bring the fountain fully into shot. The lovely Susan and the fountain are now positioned on our imaginary grid lines.
Where to crop (or chop!)
If you are taking a picture of someone in full, you only need to worry about composition. If, however, you are only taking a partial shot of your subject, it’s important to know where to chop.
Body cropping
Let’s start with cropping the body:
Don’t Crop Someone At A Joint
As a rule, if there’s a joint, don’t crop there! So zoom in or out (or increase/decrease the distance between the subject and the camera) to avoid this. Cropping includes tight headshots, half-body and three-quarter length body shots. Here is a list of places we don’t crop (working down from the head):
- Elbows
- Wrist
- Knuckles
- Hip joint
- Knees
- Ankles
- Toes
Crop Through the Muscles
Here are places where it is good to crop:
- Biceps
- Mid waist
- Below the belt (but above the hips)
- Mid-thigh
- Mid-shin
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This picture shows where to crop and where not to crop. Try and crop over the green lines and avoid the red ones.
Headshot Cropping
Two places are great for cropping if taking a tight headshot: the top of the head and lower neck.
Don’t crop headshots on the ear, chin or eye!
In this shot of Susan, I've cropped the picture at the bottom of the chin. You can tell Susan looks gorgeous, but it's far from the best crop. In this instance, I have recomposed the photograph. Susan eyes now coincide with our imaginary grid's vertical and horizontal lines (rule of thirds). The crop has also been moved from the upper neck (chin) area and is repositioned towards the waist. The result is a much more pleasing photo.
Do remember that photography is an art and that what constitutes a great photo is often subjective. Rules are made to be broken! So do experiment! Try out these rules and break them too and see what you think of the results. Next time we look at the subject of lighting, we’ll consider making the most of the available light and avoiding harsh shadows that can spoil an otherwise wonderful portrait.
Until then, happy snapping!