The COOPH (the Cooperative of Photography) explains 10 photo composition tips with the help of Steve McCurry’s incredible photographs. McCurry is an award-winning editorial photographer best known for his photograph, “Afghan Girl” (Sharbat Gula), which originally appeared on the June 1985 cover of National Geographic magazine when she was approximately 12 years old.
Be sure to watch the informative video above. I’ve also written out the 10 tips below so you can check back on this post for reference. For more, visit COOPH and Steve McCurry’s official site.
#1 Rule of Thirds
Place points of interest on intersections
Photograph by Steve McCurry
#2 Leading Lines
Use natural lines to lead the eye into the picture
Photograph by Steve McCurry
#3 Diagonals
Diagonal lines create great movement
Photograph by Steve McCurry
#4 Framing
Use natural frames like windows and doors
Photograph by Steve McCurry
#5 Figure to Ground
Find a contrast between subject and background
Photograph by Steve McCurry
#6 Fill the Frame
Get close to your subjects
Photograph by Steve McCurry
#7 Center Dominant Eye
Place the dominant eye in the center of the photo.
This gives the impression the eyes follow you
Photograph by Steve McCurry
#8 Patterns and Repetition
Patterns are aesthetically pleasing.
But the best is when the pattern is interrupted
Photograph by Steve McCurry
#9 Symmetry
Symmetry is pleasing to the eye
Photograph by Steve McCurry
#10 Rules were meant to be broken
Enjoy yourself and photograph in your own way and style
