Quick Smartphone Hacks #3 Compose

Bottom line, composition makes your photographs more interesting to look at. So, how do you compose a better photo and do it quickly?

What IS Composition?

Composition in photography is the arrangement of what are called ‘visual elements’ e.g. your cat or a person, within the frame. It guides your viewer’s eye, highlights your main subject, and tells a story.

It is up to you to tell the story with how you compose your picture.

Identify what your photo is about, who the ‘hero’ is, or the main subject. It can be an object, like a tree, or a mood or feeling. Something triggered you, forcing you to take out the camera and peer into infinity, visualising a future shot

Anton Gorlin

A Quick Composition Tip

This is a quick tips series so I will focus on one thing that will improve your smartphone photos and help you start shooting with confidence quicker than you expected.

The Rule of Thirds

This illustration shows what the Rule looks like. Your smartphone can display these lines so check your settings and activate it. Then when you capture an image, such as a cat, add them to a spot where the lines cross (see my sample shot).

This makes your photograph look more pleasing to the eye of the viewer even if your image is a simple one like this ginger cat. Your image might be totally different but having the main focus on one of these lines or where they cross, can make your shot look better than if you sat it in the middle of the frame.

Taking a photo with just a bit more intention can make a positive difference!

Challenge Yourself

Using your grid as a guide, take smartphone photographs of one subject, such as a cat or a plant, placed in different parts of the picture.

Marjorie Dawson

Cat Photographer, Instructor and Writer

Marjorie is an award-winning cat photographer, tutor, and published writer based in New Zealand. A Professional Member of the Cat Writers’ Association, she helps cat lovers strengthen the bond with their pets by improving their photography and editing skills through short how-to videos and encouraging, human written and well-researched posts. Marjorie believes anyone can take amazing photos and show off their cats to purrfection!

Professional Member of the Cat Writers Association,
Winner of the Kuykendall Image Award
Published at the Guardian newspaper