Photography Fundamentals

General Photography Rules

Essential compositional rules and principles used by photographers to create compelling, well-balanced images. Learn the fundamentals, then break them creatively.

Rule of Thirds

Divide your frame into a 3×3 grid and place key elements along the lines or at their intersections.

Place subjects at the four intersection points or along the lines

How to Apply:

Enable grid overlay in your camera/viewfinder
Place horizons on the top or bottom third line
Position eyes or main subject at intersection points
Use for landscapes, portraits, and still life

💡 Pro Tip:

The rule of thirds creates dynamic, engaging compositions. Breaking it can create tension or emphasize symmetry.

Leading Lines

Use lines in your composition to guide the viewer's eye toward your main subject.

Types of Leading Lines:

Straight lines: Roads, bridges, railings
Curved lines: Rivers, paths, coastlines
Diagonal lines: Create movement and energy
Converging lines: Perspective lines leading to subject

Techniques:

Position lines to start from frame edges
Lead toward your main subject or focal point
Use natural and man-made elements
Combine with rule of thirds for stronger composition

📐 Common Examples:

Roads, rivers, railway tracks, fences, shadows, architectural lines, tree branches, and horizons.

Symmetry & Patterns

Use symmetry and repeating patterns to create visually pleasing, balanced compositions.

Symmetry Types:

Vertical: Reflections in water, architecture
Horizontal: Landscapes, sky reflections
Radial: Flowers, wheels, spiral staircases
Diagonal: Less common but striking

Pattern Techniques:

Fill the frame with repeating elements
Break the pattern with a contrasting element
Use patterns as backgrounds for subjects
Look for patterns in nature and architecture

🎯 When to Use:

Perfect for architectural photography, reflections, nature photography, and creating a sense of order and harmony.

Framing

Use elements within your scene to create a natural frame around your subject, adding depth and focus.

Natural Frames:

Tree branches, arches, doorways
Windows, tunnels, bridges
Rock formations, cave entrances
Foreground elements creating borders

Techniques:

Use foreground elements to create depth
Frame should complement, not distract
Keep frame in focus or intentionally blur it
Draw attention to the main subject

📷 Pro Tip:

Framing adds layers to your image and helps separate the subject from the background, creating a more three-dimensional feel.

Negative Space

The empty area around your subject. Use it to create balance, emphasize your subject, and create a sense of simplicity.

Benefits:

Makes the subject stand out clearly
Creates a sense of calm and simplicity
Gives the eye a place to rest
Works great for minimalist compositions

Best Uses:

Isolated subjects against sky or water
Portrait photography with clean backgrounds
Product photography for commercial use
Silhouettes and high-key/low-key images

✨ Remember:

Negative space doesn't mean empty space—it should be intentional and purposeful, contributing to the overall composition.

Depth of Field

Control what's in focus to direct attention and create visual separation between subject and background.

Shallow Depth of Field:

Wide aperture (f/1.4 - f/2.8)
Isolates subject from background
Great for portraits and close-ups
Creates bokeh (blurred background)

Deep Depth of Field:

Narrow aperture (f/8 - f/16)
Everything in focus
Ideal for landscapes
Requires more light or longer exposure

🎯 Quick Reference:

Lower f-number = more blur. Higher f-number = more in focus. Use DOF preview button on your camera.

Golden Ratio

A mathematical ratio (1:1.618) found in nature. Use the Fibonacci spiral to create naturally pleasing compositions.

Fibonacci Spiral:

Place main subject where the spiral ends
Follow the curve for secondary elements
Creates a natural flow in the image
More subtle than rule of thirds

When to Use:

Landscapes with natural flow
Macro and nature photography
Architectural photography
Portraits for more artistic composition

🔢 The Math:

The golden ratio (φ = 1.618) divides a line so the ratio of the whole to the larger part equals the ratio of the larger to smaller part.

Visual Balance

Distribute visual weight across your frame to create harmony and stability in your composition.

Balance Types:

Symmetrical: Equal weight on both sides
Asymmetrical: Different elements balance each other
Radial: Elements radiate from center
Color balance: Warm vs cool tones

Visual Weight Factors:

Size (larger = heavier)
Color (bright/warm = heavier)
Texture (complex = heavier)
Position (top = heavier)

⚖️ Tip:

A small bright object can balance a larger dark object. Use this principle to create dynamic yet balanced compositions.

Fill the Frame

Get closer or zoom in to eliminate distractions and make your subject the clear focal point.

When to Fill:

Portraits and headshots
Macro and close-up photography
Removing distracting backgrounds
Emphasizing details and textures

Techniques:

Move closer to your subject
Use a longer focal length
Crop in post-processing if needed
Consider context—sometimes space is important

📸 Remember:

"If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough." — Robert Capa. But sometimes context matters too!

The Exposure Triangle

Three settings control exposure: ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed. Understanding their relationship is fundamental to photography.

Aperture (f-stop)

Controls the size of the lens opening and depth of field.

Lower f-number (f/1.4) = wider opening = more light = shallow DOF
Higher f-number (f/16) = smaller opening = less light = deep DOF
Each stop doubles or halves the light
Also affects sharpness (sweet spot often f/8-f/11)

Shutter Speed

Controls how long the sensor is exposed to light.

Fast (1/1000s) = freezes motion = less light
Slow (1/30s) = motion blur = more light
Each stop doubles or halves the time
General rule: 1/focal length minimum to avoid shake

ISO

Controls the sensor's sensitivity to light.

Low ISO (100-400) = less sensitive = less noise
High ISO (1600+) = more sensitive = more noise
Each stop doubles sensitivity
Use lowest ISO possible for cleanest image

⚖️ Balancing the Triangle:

Changing one setting affects exposure. To maintain the same exposure, adjust another:

Widen aperture (f/4 → f/2.8) = +1 stop. Compensate with faster shutter or lower ISO
Slower shutter (1/250 → 1/125) = +1 stop. Compensate with narrower aperture or lower ISO
Increase ISO (400 → 800) = +1 stop. Compensate with faster shutter or narrower aperture

Color Theory Basics

Color Harmonies

Complementary: Colors opposite on the color wheel (blue/orange, red/green) create high contrast and visual tension.
Analogous: Adjacent colors (blue, cyan, green) create harmony and cohesion.
Triadic: Three evenly spaced colors for balanced, vibrant compositions.
Monochromatic: Single color with variations in brightness and saturation for subtle, elegant images.

Color Psychology

Warm colors (red, orange, yellow): Energy, warmth, excitement, action
Cool colors (blue, green, purple): Calm, peace, stability, professionalism
Use color temperature to set mood in your photos
Golden hour provides warm, flattering light
Blue hour offers cool, dramatic tones

🎨 Pro Tips:

Use color grading in post-processing to enhance or shift color harmony
Look for complementary colors in nature (sunset sky vs blue water)
Consider color when choosing wardrobe for portraits
Warm subjects pop against cool backgrounds and vice versa

Perspective & Viewpoint

Eye Level

The most common and natural perspective. Creates connection in portraits, familiar feel in landscapes.

Low Angle

Shooting upward makes subjects appear larger, more powerful, or dominant. Great for architecture, hero shots.

High Angle

Shooting downward can make subjects appear smaller, vulnerable, or provide overview. Useful for patterns and scenes.

Bird's Eye View

Overhead perspective shows patterns, layouts, and relationships between elements. Popular for food and flat lays.

Worm's Eye View

Extreme low angle creates dramatic, unique perspectives. Great for architecture, trees, and creative shots.

Forced Perspective

Use distance and focal length to create optical illusions. Make objects appear larger or smaller than reality.

Rules Are Guidelines

These rules are proven principles that help create compelling compositions. However, the best photography often comes from understanding the rules and knowing when to break them.

When to Follow Rules:

Learning and building foundational skills
Commercial and client work (safe, reliable results)
When the scene naturally fits a rule
Creating balanced, harmonious compositions

When to Break Rules:

Creating tension or dynamic compositions
Expressing unique artistic vision
When rules don't serve your subject
Experimental and creative photography

💭 Final Thought:

Master the rules first—understand why they work and when to apply them. Then, use that knowledge to create images that are uniquely yours. The best photographers know the rules so well that breaking them becomes a deliberate creative choice, not an accident.