Photography Composition Rules

Fundamentals

Rule of thirds — place your subject at the intersection points, not dead centre

Leading lines — roads, rivers, fences that draw the viewer's eye into the frame

Framing — use doorways, arches, or branches to create a natural border

Symmetry — works best with architecture, reflections, and flat lays

Advanced Techniques

Negative space — let your subject breathe, emptiness creates emphasis

Golden ratio (phi grid) — a subtler version of the rule of thirds

Layers — foreground, midground, background create depth in a 2D image

Juxtaposition — place contrasting elements together for visual tension

When to Break Rules

Learn them first — you can only break rules effectively once they're instinctive

Centre framing for portraits with direct eye contact — breaks thirds but demands attention

Intentional tilt (Dutch angle) for unease — but only when the mood calls for it