Composition rules are great, but sometimes you need to break them. Read on for some practical suggestions on how you can do this.
Introduction
Breaking the rules of composition can, when done well, lead to amazing, eye-catching results. Instead of calling them rules, it would probably be more accurate to call them guidelines, but that’s beside the point. Composition rules are tried and tested, so for beginners, it makes sense to follow them closely. Once you’ve mastered them, you can explore how to break them to express yourself and your vision more fully.
1. Breaking the Rule of Thirds
One of the first rules you’ll learn in any art form centered around images is the rule of thirds. This rule suggests placing your key objects and focal points along the lines of a 3 x 3 grid overlaid onto your image. This helps balance your image and provides a pleasing composition. There are times when a scene doesn’t lend itself to following this rule, as well as times when you want to place your subject and focal point differently for creative expression. Striking images, for example, can be created when you place your subject right in the center of your image. This is further emphasized when you also introduce symmetry into the rest of the frame.
Putting your focal point right in the center of your composition can cause your subject to command attention and draw the viewer into the image © Nathan Anderson
2. Breaking the Rule of Odds
The rule of odds suggests that the objects within your scene should be odd in quantity, especially if they are the main objects and focal points in the picture. It’s generally true that an odd number of items is more pleasing to look at, but that isn’t always the case. Sometimes even numbers can create equally appealing compositions. Breaking this rule can be effective if you ensure you implement the rule of thirds, for example. This will help keep your image balanced.
Here we see an even number of objects which are kept balanced using the rule of thirds and a variety of scale © Tom Crew
3. Breaking the Horizontal Horizon Rule
When composing shots, we’re generally encouraged to keep the horizon perfectly horizontal. Viewers expect the horizon to be this way because, for the most part, our world’s horizon is viewed perfectly horizontally. However, that doesn’t mean it can’t be broken. A simple or more drastic tilt of your camera can introduce dynamic energy into your image that wasn’t there previously. This can also be a quick solution if your image lacks impact, but you don’t have time for major changes.
Tilting your camera can quickly and easily add a new dynamism into your images © Ferdinand Stohr
4. Breaking the Rule of Simplification
This rule suggests that keeping things simple will help maintain the viewer’s eye on your focal point. This is often true because the viewer has less to look at, but it doesn’t always create the most interesting pictures. Therefore, this is a great rule to break if you know why you’re breaking it. Breaking this rule doesn’t mean introducing unnecessary complexity, but some scenes are just quite busy. Embrace it and find other ways to make your focal point stand out, such as with lighting, contrast, color, or a shallow depth of field.
This image is incredibly busy, and yet because of the blurred background, your eye is constantly drawn back to the main subject in the image © Christie Kim
Another way to utilize negative space is to make your subject small in the frame. If your subject is positioned alongside something much grander, your viewer will be attracted to the small scale of your focal point.
5. Breaking the Rule of Space for Motion
Composition rules suggest leaving space in the frame in front of your moving subject, whether it’s a person or an object. This is satisfying for a viewer because they can see the space the object is moving into, making sense of what’s happening. Breaking this rule and placing your object in a position where it’s moving out of the frame creates a different type of tension. It’ll make the viewer feel slightly uneasy and make them think about the object’s origin and what it has left behind.
Placing your subject so that they’re walking out of shot will make your viewer consider where they’ve come from © Clem Onojeghuo
6. Breaking the Rule of Filling Your Frame
Sometimes filling your frame is sensible and is often a good rule for beginners to follow. But once you have a better grasp of your tools, this is a great rule to break. You can do this by introducing negative space into your images. This simplifies the overall composition and immediately directs the eye to your image’s subject. Negative space can also create isolation or loneliness. This can be furthered using color or contrast. Another way to use negative space is to make your subject small in the frame. If your subject is positioned alongside something much grander, your viewer will be attracted to the small scale of your focal point.
Using negative space can really accentuate the subject of your image © Justin Campbell
Be Careful About Breaking the Rules
The key is to only break a rule if you understand why. You need a reason, a motivation; otherwise, your composition will look clumsy and unthoughtful. Don’t break the rules just for the sake of it; do it to improve your images. If you want to do this, plan early in your project so you can set up your scene to make it possible and workable.
