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Description
Visual Composition Guide

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I developed this for myself so that my own composition improves (so that i don't waste so much film). It is my first attempt at making a concise composition guide that can be carried or stuck on the back of a camera. Hopefully it will be useful to other people. Although it was written for photography many of the same principles can be used for rendering drawing or painting.
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The top section is a visual guide to composition it consists of:

Blue lines - rule of thirds, place key points at the intersection and use the lines to guide the horizon (or other strong lines).

Green lines - golden triangle, use for leading lines and when the image allows, to balance diagonal elements.

Red lines - golden spiral, use the spiral to guide the flow of the image, for example by placing a face in the center and using clothes to guide the eye.

Center mark - generally it's better to avoid placing things dead in the center.

Lead the eye - the eye will follow lines given to it use this to your advantage.

Perspective - use perspective to give depth to an image.

S is sexy - the eye likes s shapes (the curves of a river, rolling hills).

Diagonal lines and framing add action and impact.
Horizontal framing is relaxing and maybe boring.
Vertical framing captures feelings.

Light - just a reminder that this is what forms the image so it has to be a priority.

The bottom half is a set of guidelines and reminders which I hope are self explanatory.

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Disclaimer: I am not a great photographer (or an expert on photography) so this is more a reinterpretation of the written advice of others , if you can think any suggestions for improvement please let me know.

The following books and websites were used as sources:
Travel Photography, Richard I'Anson, Lonely Planet
The Essential Photography Manual, Tim Daly, Rotovision
Tao of Photography, Tom Ang, Mitchell Beazley
Complete Guide To Black And White Photography, John Hedgecoe, Collins & Brown
photoinf
photo.net
agfanet

Description
Visual Composition Guide

--------
I developed this for myself so that my own composition improves (so that i don't waste so much film). It is my first attempt at making a concise composition guide that can be carried or stuck on the back of a camera. Hopefully it will be useful to other people. Although it was written for photography many of the same principles can be used for rendering drawing or painting.
--------

The top section is a visual guide to composition it consists of:

Blue lines - rule of thirds, place key points at the intersection and use the lines to guide the horizon (or other strong lines).

Green lines - golden triangle, use for leading lines and when the image allows, to balance diagonal elements.

Red lines - golden spiral, use the spiral to guide the flow of the image, for example by placing a face in the center and using clothes to guide the eye.

Center mark - generally it's better to avoid placing things dead in the center.

Lead the eye - the eye will follow lines given to it use this to your advantage.

Perspective - use perspective to give depth to an image.

S is sexy - the eye likes s shapes (the curves of a river, rolling hills).

Diagonal lines and framing add action and impact.
Horizontal framing is relaxing and maybe boring.
Vertical framing captures feelings.

Light - just a reminder that this is what forms the image so it has to be a priority.

The bottom half is a set of guidelines and reminders which I hope are self explanatory.

--------
Disclaimer: I am not a great photographer (or an expert on photography) so this is more a reinterpretation of the written advice of others , if you can think any suggestions for improvement please let me know.

The following books and websites were used as sources:
Travel Photography, Richard I'Anson, Lonely Planet
The Essential Photography Manual, Tim Daly, Rotovision
Tao of Photography, Tom Ang, Mitchell Beazley
Complete Guide To Black And White Photography, John Hedgecoe, Collins & Brown
photoinf
photo.net
agfanet