How do you approach composition in your photography? (Page 5): JZA B1 wrote: "Square crop, rule of thirds, or something completely different?" Full frame, which in my case is the 4:3...

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How do you approach composition in your photography?

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Jan 20, 2024 06:13:28 #

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

JZA B1 wrote: "Square crop, rule of thirds, or something completely different?"

Full frame, which in my case is the 4:3 ratio because I use Olympus cameras. I have never used the square format in post. In many occasions I follow the rule of thirds but not always. If I use my Nikons I also go full frame when I use the D610 and full frame also with my D7000 using lenses for the DX format. When necessary, not done by me often, I crop in post.

What "looks best" has to be pleasant to the eye. We like what we shoot but what about others viewing the image? We are all different, we have a different photographic taste. Perhaps what you want is a badly underexposed image but that does not follow any rules. I met a female photographer once who on purpose overexposed her photographs. Some of them caught my eye and she was not following any rules either.

There is a good review on composition in this link that I hope will help you and guide you to a better visual design: https://medium.com/photography-secrets/beginners-guide-to-photography-composition-88290d6c24ac. There is plenty of information online, just do a Google search.

Jan 20, 2024 06:20:38 #

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

For best composition, format is important. My preference is 4/3, and my Leica P&S with fixed 3x zoom is set accordingly, giving me an extremely sharp 13mp pic. As I learned years ago to fill the frame, that is adequate. So far as rules of composition go - they are "rules of thumb" and something to keep in mind when "filling the frame". The "rule of thumb" I find most useful has to be the rule of thirds, which gives the subject some space.

Jan 20, 2024 06:46:16 #

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Your first 10,000 pictures will be your worst.

Jan 20, 2024 06:47:31 #

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

deleted

Jan 20, 2024 07:37:04 #

Herbie1924 Loc: Woodbury, MN

In color slide days, one composed in the camera's viewfinder - & still do today.
To better assist you, send some of your pics to crop.

Jan 20, 2024 07:41:36 #

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Leading lines and clear channels lead the eye into the shot and add to the sense of depth. That applies even if the areas that the eye is being led to lead to aren't particularly attention-grabbing on their own.

PS - Any similarity to rule of thirds etc is purely coincidental.
.

Jan 20, 2024 07:45:43 #

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

R.G. wrote:

Further to earlier comments about shooting slightly wide, levelling can involve losing a bit off the sides - which could be disastrous if you've composed tightly without any wiggle room. I try to resist any inclination I might have to zoom in tight. If required, a slight trim in PP has negligible effect on pixel density.

Yep, I think the loss of a few pixels is worth not being closed in within a tight box... You can also get OVERLY carried away by shooting large also, and get sloppy; move your feet as much as possible. Throw a prime on that body and take your time composing... I myself am going to throw a 35mm prime on mine and put the zoom to sleep for a while... I have been getting lazy.

Jan 20, 2024 07:45:47 #

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Beautiful image R.G - well done!

Jan 20, 2024 07:47:04 #

R.G. Loc: Scotland

yssirk123 wrote:

Beautiful image R.G - well done!

Thank you Bill.

Jan 20, 2024 07:50:21 #

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

Picture Taker wrote:

I guess some of us are computer people and do it on the computer and some in the camera. To each his own.

Actually, speaking for myself, I enjoy the post processing as well or better than the actual click... The enjoyment of making the scene " Your Own " has special appeal. My eyes have seen it BETTER than any camera has, so why even try and duplicate.

Jan 20, 2024 07:57:33 #

Celtis87

I try to shoot Rule of Thirds. Depending upon what I do in post processing of what the image will be used for, I’ll change the composition, often to square, or to fit a particular frame.

Jan 20, 2024 08:09:42 #

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

JZA B1 wrote:

Square crop, rule of thirds, or something completely different?

How do you know which one to apply in any given situation? Any time-tested rules or just what looks best?

I generally think about composition rules constantly going on in my mind when I am doing landscapes. I have the grid lines always on my viewfinder for the rule of thirds. When doing landscapes I fill the frame with what I want in the final image.
When doing wildlife I concentrate more on getting the main subject in focus and properly exposed.
It is good to review the rules of composition once in a while but no rules are cast in stone. The best you can do is work on them every time you are out shooting. I like to shoot a scene several different ways, from the top, down low, to the right and left, etc. You sometimes do not know the best angle until you look at all your shots later.
Always take more shots than you planed on.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end. And remember my favorite rule, KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID.
I do love leading lines, I look for it whenever possible. I also love foreground background shots.