Let’s rewind all the way back to our first lesson, and recap one of the most important composition guidelines.
Every time you take a shot, you’re faced with an important question: where in the frame do you place your subject?
Here’s the guideline: if your subject is facing right, place them on the left, so there is a natural sense of direction. If you put them on the right, the viewer might sense an awkwardness—almost as if the subject is walking out of the frame.
Here’s an example. The subject is facing right, so I placed her on the left.
Here’s another example. The subject is facing left, so I placed him on the right.
Here’s a bad example. Though the subject is facing right, he is on the right side of the frame. Can you feel the awkwardness? It’s as if he’s going to walk out of the frame…
Why not place your subject at the center? Sure you can, but then, in photography, we like telling stories. By placing them at the center, you’re not really taking a stance. By placing them at one end, you’re telling a little story. You’re emphasizing something. And that will make your viewers think.
Adios,
Swami
P.S. Join my WhatsApp group where I can see your photos and give you feedback. More details here.
Very helpful!