1. Rules/Guidelines for strong photos No background Simplified background Included background Center of interest Rule of 1/3’s High camera angle Flat camera angle Low camera angle Leading lines Framing Posed portrait Candid portrait Landscape Cityscape Stop action Blurred action Silhouette theme

2. Compositional Guidelines or “rules” for strong photos

3. Your Goal as a photographer…. Grab attention “say” something

4. How can you do this? Through strong photos! Simple Clear uncluttered

5. BACKGROUND No background Simplified background Included background

6. No Background makes for complete focus on the subject

9. Simplified background main subject in focus background out of focus (blurry) Still want background to strengthen the overall theme

11. Included Background Subjects in the background add to the story

15. WHERE IS YOUR SUBJECT? Strong center of interest Rule of thirds

16. Strong center of interest (AKA Symmetrical) Main subject is centrally located

20. Rule of thirds (AKA asymmetrical) Main subject is either: Along the line or Where two lines intersect

26. CAMERA ANGLE High Flat Low

27. High camera angle “birds-eye view” Camera is up HIGH. You’re above subject looking down

30. Flat camera angle The view is neither up nor down, the view is looking directly out. You are eye level with your subject

32. Low camera angle “ants-eye view” Camera is low photo is shot looking up.

35. HOW TO DRAW VIEWERS EYE TO YOUR SUBJECT Leading lines Framing

36. Leading Lines Objects or subjects within an image which draws our eye into the composition and often to the center of interest.

42. Framing When an object in the foreground surrounds the center of interest. This is commonly seen as a doorway or window, similar to what a frame does for a picture.

45. PORTRAIT pictures of people Posed Candid

46. Posed photographer takes control of the subject directing them prior to taking the photograph. Many times this type of picture has a more stiff or rigid quality.

50. Candid People in their natural state. Person is unaware photograph is being taken

51. “SCAPE” To view Landscape Cityscape

52. Landscape Any picture of the land horizon line (where the sky meets the ground) is on, or near, the line of thirds.

54. Cityscape A photograph relating to architecture.

56. ACTION Blurred Stop

57. Blurred action Motion inside the frame which is not in focus. Either the subject or the background is blurred strengthening the theme of motion.

59. Stop Action Motion inside the frame which is in clear focus. Both the foreground and the background are in sharp focus.

65. SILHOUETTE The light source is behind the main subject causing the subject to be very dark, almost black.

67. THEME Very powerful Deliver a message “a picture is worth a thousand words”.

70. Scavenger Hunt Your job is to look through magazines and find strong examples of each guideline, or rule, that photographers use to create strong images.

71. Each guideline/rule is worth 2 points… which will add up quickly. Look for quality photos which truly display the characteristics of each. Any pictures which do not display the “rule” will not be awarded points. Good luck on your hunt!