KEY PHOTOGRAPHIC AND COMPOSITIONAL PRINCIPLES TO USE
WHEN ASSESSING AND TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS
• Rule of thirds Did the photographer use this? Did they use more than one of the four
crash points to create interest? What did they use at each crash point?
• KEEP IT SIMPLE Is the composition cluttered or simple. What is making it
cluttered or simple?
• Background compliments or detracts from composition Are there
things in the background that compete for attention or do they help complete the picture.
Is the background in or out of focus (depth of field)?
• Use of lines (converging, curves, diagonals, etc.) How do the lines or curves work
with the rule of thirds? Do the lines or curves take your attention toward the subject or
away from it to something else? Does the main subject break up lines?
• Obvious main subject, about ¼ to 2/3 of image area. How big is the
main subject? Does it crowd the edges or is it very small. What would happen to the
impact of the image if certain objects were left out?
