The rule of thirds says that you should position the most important elements in your scene along these lines, or at the points where they intersect.
![lighthouse-rule-of-thirds](https://blogs.egusd.net/fortiert/files/2014/08/lighthouse-rule-of-thirds-2hx4m81.jpg)
Placing your main subject off-center creates a more interesting photo, but it can leave a void in the scene which can make it feel empty. You should balance the weight of your subject by including another object to fill space.
![out-road-sign](https://blogs.egusd.net/fortiert/files/2014/08/out-road-sign-1ezq2o3.jpg)
By thinking about how you place lines in your composition, you can affect the way we view the image. There are many different types of line – straight, diagonal, curvy, and zigzag, and each can be used to enhance the photo.
![winding-mountain-road](https://blogs.egusd.net/fortiert/files/2014/08/winding-mountain-road-1anrvaa.jpg)
We are surrounded by symmetry and patterns, both natural and man-made. A great way to use them is to break the symmetry or pattern in some way, introducing tension and a focal point to the scene.
![orange-chapel](https://blogs.egusd.net/fortiert/files/2014/08/orange-chapel-26bmacz.jpg)
Viewpoint has a big impact on the composition of our photo, and as a result it can greatly affect the message that the shot conveys. Consider photographing from high above, down at ground level, from the side, from the back, from a long way away, from very close up, and so on.
![man-on-beach](https://blogs.egusd.net/fortiert/files/2014/08/man-on-beach-1i9xqty.jpg)
The human eye is excellent at distinguishing between different elements in a scene, whereas a camera has a tendency to flatten the foreground and background. Look around for a plain background and compose your shot so that it doesn’t distract or detract from the subject.
![violinist](https://blogs.egusd.net/fortiert/files/2014/08/violinist-2l0wfp7.jpg)
You can create depth in a photo by including objects in the foreground, middle ground and background. Another useful composition technique is overlapping.
![sheep-hills](https://blogs.egusd.net/fortiert/files/2014/08/sheep-hills-25x0nbc.jpg)
The world is full of objects which make perfect natural frames, such as trees, archways and holes. By placing these around the edge of the composition, the result is a more focused image which draws your eye naturally to the main point of interest.
![chateau-lake-louise](https://blogs.egusd.net/fortiert/files/2014/08/chateau-lake-louise-25louit.jpg)
By cropping tight around the subject you eliminate the background noise, ensuring the subject gets the viewer’s attention.
![hugging-ornaments](https://blogs.egusd.net/fortiert/files/2014/08/hugging-ornaments-1p8b1bn.jpg)
You can fire off tons of shots and delete the unwanted ones later at no cost. Take advantage of this fact and experiment with your composition, you never know whether an idea will work until you try it.
![tree-golden-field](https://blogs.egusd.net/fortiert/files/2014/08/tree-golden-field-1jso3ra.jpg)