What is Composition? Composition, simply put is the placement and framing of objects in an image and it is crucial for attracting your viewer and holding their attention. Have you ever noticed how some images hold your attention longer than others or just seem better than a different but similar image and you cannot explain why? More often than not it is because the image is well composed.

So what makes a good composition?

No matter the type of composition, the first rule is there needs to be a clear focus. I'm not talking about the sharpness of an image; I am talking about a focal point: a clear subject in the image. As you can see in the image to the right, the girl is the clear subject and focal point of this image. (Click on the image to see a larger version).

So, how do you recognize what is and is not a focal point? A clear focal point is usually the first thing that grabs your attention . It is also where your eyes tend to go and rest when you scan the image. It is the point in the image that holds your gaze the longest.

As humans, we tend to like order. An image with a strong focal point brings structure to what we are seeing. An image without a strong focal point can feel cluttered or disjointed and leave the viewer confused and disinterested. It doesn't matter if you are the most skilled artist in the world with a brush, a camera or what ever... if you don't have a good composition, you won't be able to keep your viewer and your skill won't be appreciated.

In the next tutorial, we'll learn about some of the types of composition and strategies for holding viewer interest.

Next >