Eight elements to visualise when composing your shot

By Ilex

Visualising how you want your photos to look is usually your first and most important step when taking them. Deciding on the story that you want to tell, and how you want to tell it, is something that you’ll start to consider before you’ve even picked up your camera. It’s about thinking about the backdrop, the light, what you want to enhance, what needs to be minimised, what draws people into an image, and what will make for a dynamic and drawing photograph.

This is an example of leading lines—the lines of the subway form a diagonal into the couple. Even the handrails and the position of the couple draw your eye into the center of the frame. What I love best about this shot, though, is the expressions of the passengers—from complete indifference to interest, they run the whole gamut.

For many photographers, when they look at a location the vision for their photos is instantaneous: they know what they want to do from the outset. However, it’s always worth taking a step back, giving yourself a moment, thinking about it, and trying to visualise your shot with a little more depth. Walk around the location and examine it from as many angles as you can manage. Where is the light coming from? Where’s the best light? What’s the best backdrop? How will light and backdrop interplay.
It might help to consider these eight different points when visualising and composing your shots.

Shadows

Is there an interesting shadow pattern that makes the scene more intriguing? If so, can you use it to enhance your photograph or emphasise it to bring something more to the shot?
Patterns and repetition

Is there repetition in the frame? Can you use this repetition to bring focus to your subject? Or can you use the pattern as a strong visual element in the photo?

Here the fairly similar rocks provide repetition broken by the extremely colorful bouquet. The bouquet is offset by the couple on the other side of the frame, and the color of her jacket helps to balance out the photograph.

Leading Lines

Are there strong leading lines in the frame that will strengthen the image? How can you frame the photograph to make the best use of those lines?

Reflections

Reflections can add a mystical or ethereal quality to images. Is there a potential reflection in the photograph that could make it more meaningful?

The still water here provided an opportunity to get a fabulous reflection. Choosing to stop short of a mirror image by not including the sign in the reflection gave the eye a strong focal point instead of two conflicting points of interest.

Symmetry

Are there any natural dividers in the frame? How can they be used to make the photograph more dynamic?

Colour

Are there strong colours and will they enhance (or detract) from the image?

The amazing color and the environmental elements bring togetehr this photo. Shooting through the flowers climbing up the side of the building gives the photograph the feeling of a private moment.

Light

Is there a spot in the frame where there is amazing light? If you rotate your position and frame it differently, how will the light fall differently in the frame?

Environmental Elements

Are there any elements in the frame that give the photograph a sense of place? Is there anything that speaks of the environment in which the photograph was taken? When you’re shooting weddings, in particular, you’ll find that the couple has likely chosen the venue because it means something to them. Maybe they adore the mountains in the background or one of them grew up by the lake. Perhaps it was where they met? Try to encorporate these environmental elements into the shots to show what makes it special.

This beach is known for its beautiful rocks. I dropped down low so that I could really emphasize the variety of colors and their size relative to the couple. — This beach is known for its beautiful rocks.
I dropped down low so that I could really emphasize the variety of colors and their size relative to the couple.

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