A haze settled over the plains as golden light filtered in through the trees of Mark Twain National Forest, announcing the arrival of Easter Sunday here in small town Missouri.

Birds sang in the trees overhead, while crickets chirped in the grassy clearing below. I took a deep breath, allowing the cool spring air to fill my lungs.

I knew it would be a great day.

A day filled with sugar,

Love,

Excitement,

And eggs.

Lots and lots of eggs.

My 3-year old daughter, Alana, had a blast hunting for eggs this year.

We hid. She hunted.

Over and over again.

We’re still hiding.

She’s still hunting.

Maybe we should distract her with more sugar instead.

…………………….

We’re sharing a few photography tips each week in the Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge. This week’s tips are centered around composition.

Photography Tip of the Week: Composition

In the world of photography, composition is defined as the conscious placement or arrangement of visual elements in a photograph. Simply put, composition means purposefully framing your photograph in such a way as to create interest and appeal; drawing the viewer in.

Here are a few tips for improving composition and creating compelling photographs.

Learn the Basics, Rule of Thirds

When it comes to composition, many photographers follow the basic Rule of Thirds – a principle in which an image is divided into thirds, vertically and horizontally, resulting in nine equal parts.

The basic principle behind the Rule of Thirds is that elements of interest are positioned at intersecting points of the imaginary grid, creating balance and visual appeal.

Take this bowl of eggs, for example. Composition-wise, it’s quite boring.

But if we were to apply the Rule of Thirds by positioning points of interest along intersecting points of our grid, we’d immediately achieve a more balanced and visually appealing image.

However, while the Rule of Thirds is a great place to start, it’s not an absolute, end-all-be-all, follow-it-or-die rule. In the world of photography, personal creativity reigns supreme.

With that said,

Trust Your Instincts and Ditch the Rule of Thirds

That’s right, I said ditch the Rule of Thirds.

There are some instances in which the Rule of Thirds doesn’t always work. Some subjects require a more symmetric composition, as seen in the image below.

Oddly enough, framing this shot symmetrically goes against everything we’ve been taught. But it works. Photography is very much a creative process. Some rules work and some don’t. Trust your instincts.

Practice Purposeful Composition

Before snapping your next photo, think about the following:

• What is the main subject? What do I want viewers to look at?
• Where should my subject be in relation to the frame?
• How does the light affect my subject?

Keep it Simple, Stupid

Eliminate distracting backgrounds by limiting the amount of visual elements in your frame. Take care to avoid losing your subject in the clutter of  its surroundings. Use a longer focal length to get in close or a use wide aperture to blur your background.

Draw Your Viewer in with Lines

Lines are powerful elements in terms of composition. The viewer’s eye will naturally follow any line in your image. Horizontal lines create the least compelling effect.The viewer’s eye is drawn across the length of the image below, but it lacks interest. Quite simply, it’s boring and ordinary.

Diagonal lines are the most compelling. They create movement and draw the viewer’s eye deeper into the photograph. The end result is an interesting and dynamic image that pulls the viewer in.

We’re sharing photography tips each and every week in Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge. In case you missed it, last week my co-host, Alicia of Project Alicia, shared a few great tips on shooting during the golden hours. Stop by and learn how to make the most of the most magical time of day.

I’m teaming up with Rebecca of Alicia of Project Alicia and Bumbles and Light to bring you the Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge – a 6-week photography challenge aimed at capturing the beauty of spring.

Just a few details:

Not experiencing spring in your part of the world? No problem. All are invited regardless of geographic location.

Two prompts to choose from each week! Share your favorite images inspired by one of our weekly prompts. Or both. It’s totally up to you.

The linky will remain open from 9am Friday – 9am Thursday CST. Leap Into Spring! blog post or Flickr photo, not your blog’s home page or Flickr photostream. Feel free to share your photos in our Leap Into Spring! Flickr Group as well.

We’ll be showcasing some of your lovely photos by pinning our favorite submissions to our Leap Into Spring! Pinterest Board each week.

We love Instagram just as much as you do! We’ll be on the lookout for your lovely spring photos, so be sure to use the #leapintospring hashtag.

Last, but not least, don’t forget to grab our lovely button!

Next week’s prompt will be Blossoms/Trees. For a complete list of upcoming prompts, head on over to the Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge page.