As a professional photographer I have some fantastic “gear” at my disposal and I confess I absolutely love using shallow depth of field and bokeh to create visually compelling images.
However, not everyone has high-end gear, and let’s face it I don’t always have it with me when I’m out and about. So I thought I would share some simple compositional techniques that will not only help improve your photos but you can have fun trying them out too. In today’s fast paced world most of us carry our smartphone with us - it’s become and everyday extension of most peoples lives. So leave your fancy gear at home if you want, and start creating some amazing photos just with your smartphone!
Tip #1: Look Up, Look Down, Look All Around
Harness the power of perspective, don’t always capture images at eye level. When shooting at a location, remember to work the scene - look up, look down, look right and left. Even just one step sideways can change the world! Don’t be afraid to kneel, sit or get down on your belly. Like wise get a higher perspective by standing on something - a wall, chair or even a ladder! Get yourself up higher than the subject but using things in the environment like stairs, a balcony or bridge. You might be surprised at what catches your eye - and will give a different viewpoint to your images with impact.
Tip #2: Embrace Minimalism
Minimalism is a fantastic compositional technique that demonstrates what we choose to exclude is just a powerful and what we decide to include. Creating lots of negative space can help create a minimalist image because it leads into the focal point of the image and leaves plenty of room to add text or other design elements, depending on how you intend to use the image.
Tip #3: Turn on Grids
No matter what camera (even smartphones) you should be able to turn on a grid that overlays you image to help keep shots straight and level - check your individual camera manual if you don’t know how to do this.
Lightroom Mobile (iPhone or Android) is not only a powerful editing application you can download for free that also has a powerful camera built into it. The camera and grid system is within the App itself. There are several grids to choose from including SQUARE (great for those instagram shots), RULE OF THIRDS and the GOLDEN RATIO. Newer iPhones also have these build into the phone camera application as well.
If you have a newer iPhone, you’ll find that you have these grids already built into the native camera application. All you need to do to access the grid is enable the “Grid” option under SETTINGS, SEARCH FOR CAMERA, in CAMERA
Tip #4: Find a Person
When shooting a landscapes including a person in the frame adds a scale and a narrative to the photo even if they are just a silhouette in the distance. Move the camera lower to isolate them against a lighter clean background, such as the sky - the shape and form will have more impact. If using a smartphone turn the phone so the camera lens is on the bottom of the image closer to any foreground elements - this gives depth and interest to the photo.
Tip #5: Use Your Phone or an ND (Neutral Density) Filter to Create Reflections
These can be fun, silly or serious! If you’re using your phone as a camera a square ND Filter can make a great reflective surface. If you are using an actual camera then the screen of your smartphone can act in the same way to create a reflection. Just hold the reflective surface at the side of the camera lens and adjust until you can see the reflection you want. Reflections can add visual interest to an image as well as conceal distracting elements in a scene.
I hope these tips help and give you some inspiration to think a little differently about your composition!
Enjoy!
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