- Tips on composing your shots - by travel authority Howard Hillman

Composing your shots

photo tips for digital camera travelers

photo tips

Composition

tips & insights

Note: For unbiased camera buying pointers, see my pages on buying camera equipment (click buttons in left column).

Don't center your subject

Most amateurs center their subject smack in the middle of the picture.

Professionals don't. They know that pictures are more dramatic if the main subject (person or structure) is positioned off center.

To locate the ideal areas, they follow the Rule of Thirds method. They mentally draw two pairs of equidistant parallel lines, horizontal and vertical (the result resembles a Tic-Tac-Toe board).

They then place the most important part of the main subject at or near where the lines intersect (see red-circle areas).

Look through leading travel magazines. Most of their pictures employ the off-center method.

Exclude distractions

Many travel pictures are marred because distracting elements were not excluded. Parked cars, tour groups and telephone polls draw attention away from your main subject. Here are two helpful pointers to eliminate possible visual distractions:

See what your camera sees - The human mind blocks out clutter, the camera doesn't. Get into the habit of always scrutinizing the edges of your LCD screen (or view finder) for possible visual distractions.

Fill the frame - This means getting as close as possible to the main subject by using your feet or telescopic lens.

Other composition pointers

Horizon - Ascertain that the horizon is level before squeezing the camera's shutter button.

Lines - Conspicuous straight or curved lines (such as a road) should lead the eye to the main subject, not away from it.

Click to learn

these candid

photo tips & insights