Once you’ve learned the basic principles of the Gestalt theory, composing pictures becomes much easier.
It really is quite simple to follow these tips and start shooting images that will instantly attract people. There are many different ways of composing an image – these seven tricks will get you started and you can even try combining some of them.
1. Proximity
A pair or group of objects that are close to each other are more likely to be perceived as belonging together than if they are far apart.
2. Similarity
Objects that are similar in shape, size or colour are seen as belonging together.
3. Closure
The mind completes shapes that don’t exist. This is a principle used in some optical illusions but it also applies to photography. Part of the skill of composition is learning to recognize shapes, and building the design of the image around them. The principle of closure helps you see shapes in the subject.
4. Simplicity
The mind perceives parallel lines that are close together as a single line.
5. Continuation
The mind assumes that lines extend beyond the edges of the frame.
6. Segregation
For human figures to be recognizable they must stand out from the background. That way we can identify them easily even if they’re small in the frame. This is a useful principle because you can include small human figures in the landscape to indicate scale.
7. Emergence
The viewer may not notice something in the photo when he first looks at it, but it becomes apparent after a period of study. It’s a way of rewarding the viewer, and gives photos staying power.
Read 5 more tips over at Digital Photography School.
Source: Digital Photography School
Seems strange this guy is taking a vertical shot and not using duplicate shutter release on the battery grip designed for that purpose…..
I would sure like to see some examples…..
Exactly Rob Blair… does he not know? That was the first thing that I noticed too.
When you are so equipped, you change your grip to allow much greater stability in the vertical format mode. The added battery is nice… but that’s really not the primary advantage a shooter can make with this equipment arrangement. It is probably a model and not a real shooter.
I very rarely use my “duplicate shutter release ” I like the balance with the grip fitted but prefer to use the on camera shutter 🙂