Photography

What makes a good photograph:

Photographs that stand out from the crowd usually have three elements in common.

• Good subject
• Good lighting
• Good composition 

What follows are principles of composition that explain some of the ways photographers and artists have composed images through the centuries.

Golden hour:

In photography, the golden hour (sometimes known as magic hour, especially in cinematography) is a period shortly after sunrise or before sunset during which daylight is redder and softer than when the Sun is higher in the sky.

Rule of thirds:

• Centre of interest: A photograph should have a strong focal point. Determine what it is before composing your photo.
• Simplicity: Keep compositions simple, avoiding busy background that distracts from a subject.
• Subject off centre: Place a subject slightly off-centre rather than in the middle of the photo.

Divide your frame into nine equal parts by creating a grid that is composed of both horizontal and vertical lines.

Place the key feature of your shot at any of the four points where the lines of the grid converge.

Leading lines:

If a scene has strong lines, make sure the lines lead the eye into the frame rather than out of it. The lines should lead to the main point of interest.

Viewpoints and angles:

Vary angles: Shoot at varying angles to capture a subject from a different view point. Move the camera higher or lower than you usually do. For a dramatic effect, take some photos from a birds-eye (looking down) or worms-eyes view (looking up).

Lighting:

Dramatic lighting adds interest to a photo 

Silhouettes:

 Subject made dark by photographing it against a light background (back lighting).

Framing:

Framing a subject by zooming or moving closer draws attention to it.

Symmetry:
An identical or near-identical image of its other half. Use of symmetry often provides a formal balance.