• Have a single, dominant center of interest.
• Place the center of interest away from the edge of the picture. Follow the "rule of thirds."
• Keep the horizon level, placing it according to the rule of thirds. Don't cut the picture into two equal parts either horizontally or vertically.
• The horizon level must be parallel to the edge of the frame.
• Don't allow important tones and texture in your subject to merege with the backgound.
• Fill the frame.
• Do most of your cropping in the camera viewfinder instead of in the darkroom.
• Keep extraneous details out of the picture.
• Don't amputate parts of your main subject at awkward places.
• Avoid distracting shapes at the edges of the photographs.
• Have the main subject facing or voing into the frame, rather than out of it.
• Frame the principal subject with a complimentary foreground or background object.
• Employ strong diagonal lines to imply action or conflict.
• Compose vertically to emphasize height and dignity.
• Compose horizontally to suggest peace and rest.

  Taking better pictures

• The key is to photograph things that interest you.
• Good pictures result from careful attention to some basic elements of composition.
• To photograph the things that interest you consider the point of view of the image.
• Practice, practice, and practice. Even professionals are constantly learning from their mistakes.

Tips

• Compose pictures that get attention and deliver your message.
• Identify the primary point of interest before taking the picture. Then you can compose to emphasize it.
• Study advertising photographs. It is a good way to get yourself acquainted with emphasis in composition.