(2) Photography without DSLR: How I compose a Portrait

Right now I’m doing a so-called-project where I print out photos that I’ve snapped and frame it. I’ll show you the framed-photos and some lame framing idea in my next post ok. But in today’s post, I’ll be sharing just how I compose a portrait photo. This is not something that I learn, which I’m not claiming this as the standard way of doing it, but this is by self preference. And it is so selfish of me if I don’t sharing it, right?














For those who are in to photography probably already be very familiar with the rule-of-third right? It’s like the genesis of a bible. You should kill yourself for not knowing this. Kidding. So, this is the rule that you should consider doing, though I prefer to call it ‘guidance’ rather that ‘rule’ because photography is very subjective; pertaining to individual expression in photography.



Don’t have to be exact, just as long as it compliments the rule-of-third lines.

Then there is another rule where you give your subject space to look into. When your subject is looking at the right, you must give more space to the right. But we all know that rules are meant to be broken. As you can see on my photo here, my subject (my sister, Anne) is looking at the left and yet I give more space on the right. Why? Let me explain.

The rule was to give your subject space to look into. But how about subjects that don’t have any eyes or head, like trees? Or group people looking at different directions? Though I usually apply the “space to look into” rule, there always an exception for certain case.



This is how I look at my subject. I compose the photo based on the form of the subject poses. I see the side with the curve as the “face” of the subject and the straight line as the “back”. So, I give more space at the “face” side.



Then of course I edit it LAAA….



Now this is another case where we can’t apply the “space to look into” rule. She is looking directly at the front. So, how do we know which side should we give more space at? Left or right? And put her at the middle is so yesterday's photography.



Some goes here. Look at the subject as a collective subject of the girl (Yaya) and the Flamingo Flower tree. The curve side is the face and the straight side is the back. So, more space at the left side.




Then I edit it; “Servicing” her rotten teeth. And my father kept on complaining, “why do make her toothless?!” I’m not! Let me proves it.




There, see her “new teeth”. Now I’m a dentist!

OWH!! SELAMAT HARI RAYA!!