Many compositional elements can be included in your photography images to help them achieve a certain visual impact. Think of these elements as fun and entertaining work, part of a to-do list in helping you achieve a certain end result. Composition is the art of using space effectively. It is personal and based on intuition. If you are a student of photography or are considering the basics of photography, there are several things to pay attention to.

Most all photography schools will, near the beginning of their photography programs, introduce the students to composition and design elements. These classes might offer a brief introduction to composition or they might give you a more comprehensive look at the makings of a good photograph. Either way, you’ll be in a position to learn a little, or learn a lot about image making.

As a supplement to your photography classes, consider enrolling in, as electives, several graphic design classes. Applying some of the angles that are offered in neighboring design fields can help sharpen your photography skills.

You may find yourself asking “How do I ensure good results when I’m using the camera?” With time, you will learn that there are no sure-fire methods to follow when composing a photograph. Composition is achieved by the eye and within the mind of the photographer.

Whether one is involved in professional photography, film or digital, or the point and shoot arena, composition helps determine the success of an image. The list of ingredients to good composition is long and we will discuss these in a series of Hubs. For now, consider some of the following photography tips.

Lines in photography are some of the most effective and simple to achieve in composition.  Effectively placed, they help determine the feelings you wish to convey in your images and are a solid component in the visual impact of those images.  

To avoid a sense of division in your photographs, place strong lines away from the image center.  Also try to avoid having strong lines - commonly known as leading lines - taking the viewer to insignificant details or minor parts of the image.  Leading lines are much more powerful when they lead to a strong part of the composition.

Diagonal lines add a feeling of action or movement to a photograph and are generally considered to be dramatic.  Pattern lines can also create a sense of motion.  Vertical lines portray a feeling of strength and majesty.  Several examples of vertical lines are trees, telephone poles and tall buildings.   Horizontal lines are calm and can add a sense of peacefulness and quiet to your photography images.

The S-curve is one of the most commonly used type of line in the creative arts.  It is soothing and pleasing to the eye, and is a vital component to photography of the human form.  The S-curve is also effectively used when including rivers in nature photography.

The spacing of horizon lines in your photographs will determine the feeling projected.  Low horizon lines add a feeling of spaciousness.  Use a low horizon line when photographing sunsets, sunrises, and dramatic cloudscapes.  High horizon lines add a sense of closeness and, when effectively applied, can give a sense of intimacy.  Consider adding a high horizon line when you wish to have the viewer concentrate on foreground details.

We’ve all seen photographs containing so much information that they fail to convey a message, or serve a purpose.  Amazingly, companies will hire and pay ad agencies big bucks to create a public image that fails in this most basic and powerful design feature: simplicity.   Thus, their ad campaign fails, and their public image can suffer.  

Keeping your backgrounds simple and uncomplicated will help create a strong image.  Ask yourself, before you squeeze the shutter, what it is that you want to say about a particular scene.   Show what you need, but no more.  Try to communicate a feeling of aesthetics to the viewing public.  Be selective with your personal vision as well as with your camera controls.  A tried and true rule of thumb in photography is when you think you’re close enough, move in closer.  

Often referred to as the rules of composition, they are more effectively used as guides.  As we all know, rules are made to be broken, so try not to look at design ingredients as a set of rules that must be adhered to. Instead, vary these ingredients of good composition - in abundance, or in small doses - to help you achieve the end result: design ideas transformed into images with visual impact.