The question asked mostly by my photography students is, "Where do I place my subject". The great thing about this is that they are asking an important question. This is key to photography as without a subject there is no image.
Try this exercise. Go to an old family photo album and start paging through it from the beginning. What I want you to do is count how many of the photos show a very clear subject. The subject must clearly shout out that it is the subject. Whether this is a flower, a photo of a child or adult, a new car or a birthday party, the subject must be clearly defined. What was your count? Low? The chances are high that many of our photos reflect problems with subject placement.
Now that's all in the past. What can be done to improve your images so that in the future your subject takes its rightful place on the photographic stage?
1. The subject is your focal point
The subject must always be the focal point of any photograph. If it's not then what is the point of the photograph? It should never just be another object in a scene of many elements. Giving it the main focus causes it to clearly shout, "I am the subject". Without this clarity your photos will be sub-standard.
2. The subject should not compete
This is not a competition. The subject is the celebrity or winner in the image. It should never compete with other elements in the image or with other potential subjects. A child standing next to a bright red mailbox should not have to compete. The eye of the viewer should automatically be drawn to the child and if the subject is the mailbox then the opposite should be true. Defining your subject clearly will improve your images in leaps and bounds.
3. The subject should be carefully placed
The rule of thirds determines, as a general rule, where the subject is placed in any scene. This is a vital element to any photography. The rule says, divide your image by placing a grid like a tic-tac-toe or noughts and crosses grid over the image. Some cameras allow you to switch on a grid that is superimposed on the lcd screen (not the final photo). The image is now divided into thirds. Where these lines cross or intersect, there are four intersections, is where you place your subject or focal point. I said this is a general rule and can be broken but if you stick to it you will have a great focal point and success in your photography.
4. The subject should not be crowded by clutter
This is very important. Watch what you allow into the image. A beautiful bride in a messy room would make the image sub-standard. The same goes for your images. Make sure there is no mess around the subject or in the image. It links with point two as clutter often competes with the subject for attention.
5. Watch your subject's background
Backgrounds in any image should be simple and clear and not at all busy. They should lift your subject and help focus the eye of the viewer. A busy cluttered background will make it difficult to differentiate between the subject and the background. Keep it uniform and clear, making sure that it contrasts with the subject.
6. Keep it simple
Key to any photography is simplicity but this is especially so when making a subject the most prominent part of the photo. If there are a limited number of elements to your image then the subject won't have to compete, won't be bothered by clutter and the eye will be immediately drawn to the subject and nothing else in the image.
7. Get in closer
This technique is absolutely essential if you are to solve any of the other problems raised in the preceding points. Getting in close automatically makes the subject more prominent. It allows you to exclude clutter from around the subject and excludes any competition or distractions. The great thing about this point is that you see more of the subject and a better memory is created. In years to come you will want to see more of the people you love and you won't require a magnifying glass to get a better view.
Get this fundamental right in your mind and then in practise and the quality of your images will begin to exceed your wildest dreams. You can do it and create stunning images by following these simple steps.
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