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COMPOSITION

There are a few basic rules of composition that you need to be aware of and practice:

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THE RULE OF THIRDS ..

Simply put ... divide the view- finder into thirds, vertically and horizontially ... the four intersecting points are where you want to place subject matter of interst.

 THE "S" CURVE .... will help you lead the viewer's eye toward objects you wish to emphasize.  Also, a pleasing pattern. SYMMETRY:  The exact correspondence of form on the opposites sides of a dividing line.  Our eye demands sysmmetry.
 
SYMMETRY IS IMPORTANT! Our eyes have been exposed to symmetry or near-symmetry since the day we were born and our MIND now demands it ... is conditioned to it ... so it is a factor that cannot be ignored.   If you are presented with a scene that has symmetry you should not ignore that, you should do your best to compose that photograph precisely so that you emphasize and balance the scene.           If you do ignore the apparent symmetry you will create an un-balanced picture that is uncomfortable to the human eye.

 
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                                          feather.JPG (50454 bytes)             leaf.JPG (34043 bytes)
So the above rules .... "rule of thirds", "S" curve, and symmetry are important....  but they are not set in stone.  Look for ways to use the rules ............. Rule of thirds, for instance ....Here, all four points have an element   of interest. johnkids.JPG (20280 bytes)
Or  look for ways to bend the rules a bit ... Scurvea.JPG (29976 bytes) cmhomea.JPG (35113 bytes)
  A variation of that "S" curve ... ...and, breaking away from symmetry to add a touch of dimensionality ... drama ....

  Once you have practised and worked with these rules .... learn how to break them!!!!

A few more tidbits about how we see HERE