1. BASIC COMPOSITIONAL GUIDELINES
1. SIMPLICITY
2. RULE OF THIRDS
3. LEADING LINES
4. HORIZON LINES
5. FRAMING
6. PERSPECTIVE/POINT OF VIEW
7. DEPTH OF FIELD
8. LOOKING AT THINGS IN A DIFFERENT WAY
9. MANMADE PATTERNS
10. NATURAL PATTERNS

2. Simplicity - have
a strong focal
point with no
distracting
backgrounds

10. Rule of thirds - your
focal point should
intersect with your
imaginary
guidelines

17. Lines - add visual
interest and lead
you into the photo to
find your focal point

25. Watch the horizon
lines - they can
change the
impact of the
photo

29. FRAMING:
WHEN YOU CAN USE AN OBJECT AS
A NATURAL FRAME AROUND YOUR
FOCAL POINT - FRAMING MUST
OCCURE WITHOUT THE
PHOTOGRAPHER MANIPULATING
THE ENVIRONMENT BEYOND
CHANGING HIS POINT OF VIEW.

38. PERSPECTIVE:
CHANGING THE ANGLE FROM
WHICH THE PHOTO IS TAKEN IN
ORDER TO CHANGE THE “FEELING”
OF THE PHOTO.
SIDE- SIDE- ABOVE- BELOW

44. DEPTH OF FIELD:
HOW FAR/HOW DEEP INTO THE PHOTO IS
IN FOCUS.
SHORT DEPTH OF FIELD: ONLY THE
FOCAL POINT IS CLEAR
LONG DEPTH OF FIELD: THE ENTIRE
PHOTO IS CLEARLY IN FOCUS

55. LOOKING AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY:
SOMETIMES THE MOST UNUSUAL OR THE MOST
ORDINARY THINGS CAN MAKE THE MOST
STRIKING PHOTOS
CONSIDER EVERYTHING PHOTO WORTHY

62. MANMADE PATTERNS:
PATTERNS CREATED BY
ARTIFICIAL MEANS- EITHER
THE OBJECTS HAVE BEEN
PLACED MANUALLY OR
CREATED ARTIFICIALLY.

70. NATURAL PATTERNS:
PATTERNS CREATED IN
NATURE OR OCCURING
NATURALLY

77. Scrapbook Assignment:
For each guideline discussed, you will find 5 photos
that use that guideline. You can look in magazines,
newspapers, yearbooks, etc. and cut out the photo.
You will mount these on paper and label them
accordingly. If you include more than one photo on
a page, make sure they are the same guideline.
You should try to find photos that appeal to you-
not ones that just meet the guidelines.