1. THE RULES OF
COMPOSITION
BY PETER HALL

2. “Rules are foolish, arbitrary, mindless things that
raise you quickly to a level of acceptable
mediocrity, then prevent you from
progressing further”
The Art of Photography, Bruce Barnbaum

3. “There are no rules for good photographs, only
good photographs”
Ansel Adams

4. What is composition ?
“an arrangement of the parts of a work of art so
as to form a unified, harmonious whole”
The Art of Photography, Bruce Barnbaum

5. What is your photograph of ?
• A thing ?

6. What is your photograph of ?
• A place ?

7. What is your photograph of ?
• A person ?

8. What is your photograph of ?
• An event ?

9. What is your photograph of ?
• Nothing at all ?

10. “a good photograph is knowing
where to stand” Ansel Adams
• Where do I stand ?
If you stand where everyone else is, you will
take the same photograph
• Where do I look ?
When everybody is looking up – look down
• Which way do I hold my camera ?
Still (usually)

11. A contradiction 1 – fill the frame

12. A contradiction 2 – negative space

13. The only unbreakable rule ?

14. The only unbreakable rule ?
• Straight horizons !

15. Except when you break it...

16. Oh no, it’s...

17. Oh no, it’s...the rule of thirds

22. Selective focus

25. Lead in lines

26. Lead in lines - direction

27. The S Curve

28. Foreground

29. Framing within the frame

30. Juxtaposition

31. Square

32. Panorama or ‘letter box’

33. Symmetry

34. Diptych

35. Odd numbers (the preference for 3)

36. Repeating patterns

37. Simplicity

38. http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterphotographic
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