As a photographer starting out, the first place I’d send people wanting learn the principles of photography composition are these following 10 tips by Steve McCurry. From an early age he’s one of the photographers whose images caught my eye and got me hooked on photography and telling stories from behind the lens. For those of you who don’t know, Steve 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.
Here are the 10 rules (all photographs by Steve McCurry):
#1 Rule of Thirds
Place points of interest on intersections
#2 Leading Lines
Use natural lines to lead the eye into the picture
#3 Diagonals
Diagonal lines create great movement
#4 Framing
Use natural frames like windows and doors
#5 Figure to Ground
Find a contrast between subject and background
#6 Fill the Frame
Get close to your subjects
#7 Centre Dominant Eye
Place the dominant eye in the centre of the photo. This gives the impression the eyes follow you.
#8 Patterns and Repetition
Patterns are aesthetically pleasing. But the best is when the pattern is interrupted
#9 Symmetry
Symmetry is pleasing to the eye
#10 Rules were meant to be broken
Enjoy yourself and photograph in your own way and style
