Composition
One of my favorite parts of this assignment was having an excuse to spend a cloudy afternoon walking through Old Town Albuquerque with my camera. The overcast skies created soft, even lighting that let me focus less on harsh shadows and more on the way each scene was composed. Rather than looking for the "perfect" photograph, I intentionally searched for opportunities to demonstrate how small changes in camera position could completely transform an image.
Composition is one of the most powerful tools a photographer has. Principles such as asymmetry, leading lines, the rule of thirds, and symmetry help guide the viewer's eye, establish balance, and create visual interest. While these guidelines aren't meant to be followed in every photograph, understanding when and how to use them allows a photographer to make more intentional creative decisions. The examples below show each composition rule first being broken and then corrected, demonstrating how thoughtful adjustments can strengthen the overall impact of an image.
Rule of Thirds -Incorrect
Breaking the Rule: The subject was centered, making the composition feel more static and less visually interesting.
Rule of Thirds - Correct
Following the Rule: Placing the subject along one of the rule of thirds intersections creates better balance and naturally draws the viewer's attention.
Asymmetrical - Incorrect
Breaking the Rule: I positioned the subject in a way that made the composition feel visually unbalanced and less engaging.
Following the Rule: By repositioning the subject and adjusting my camera angle, I created an asymmetrical composition that feels balanced through visual weight rather than perfect symmetry.
Asymmetrical - Correct
Leading Lines - Incorrect
Breaking the Rule: The lines in the scene did not guide the viewer toward the subject, causing the composition to feel disconnected.
Following the Rule: After changing my position, the natural lines lead the viewer's eye directly to the subject, creating a much stronger composition.
Leading Lines - Correct
Symettrical - Incorrect
Breaking the Rule: The camera angle was slightly off-center, preventing the scene from creating a true sense of symmetry.
Symettrical - Correct
Following the Rule: By aligning the camera with the center of the subject, both sides mirror one another, creating a clean and balanced symmetrical composition.