3 Rare Composition Rules to Experiment With in 2024

Explore your creativity by trying these three compositions

The New Year is a perfect time to start something new, but in this hobby of photography it can sometimes feel as though you have tried everything. A new camera, a new lens, some new expensive filters. But how about really considering your composition, and intentionally going for a composition you wouldn’t normally use?

In this post, we’re shaking up the norms and introducing three unique composition rules that promise to add an extra layer of creativity to your photographic repertoire. From challenging perspectives to embracing asymmetry, let’s explore these unconventional approaches that are set to redefine the way you frame your shots in the year ahead.

1. Using chiaroscuro in photography

Chiaroscuro, originating from the Italian words “chiaro” (light) and “scuro” (dark), is a centuries-old artistic technique that has transcended painting to find a profound place in photography. At its core, chiaroscuro is an exquisite play of contrasts, a visual orchestration where light and shadow converge to create compelling and emotionally charged compositions. This technique has its roots in the masterpieces of Renaissance painters like Caravaggio, who skillfully employed chiaroscuro to infuse their works with an unparalleled depth and intensity. In photography, chiaroscuro becomes a language of its own, inviting photographers to explore the profound interplay between illumination and obscurity to convey emotion, depth, and a heightened sense of visual drama.

Applying Chiaroscuro in Photography: Crafting Shadows and Illuminating Stories

Incorporating chiaroscuro into photography involves a deliberate manipulation of light sources to carve out dramatic contrasts within the frame. This can be achieved by placing subjects in strategic positions to catch light while allowing shadows to gracefully envelop certain areas. The intentional interplay of light and shadow adds a three-dimensional quality to subjects, accentuating their forms and creating a dynamic visual narrative.

Photographers often experiment with the direction, intensity, and quality of light to shape the chiaroscuro effect, whether it’s through natural light streaming through a window, the controlled beams of artificial light, or the interplay of light and shadow in an outdoor setting during the golden hour. By mastering chiaroscuro, photographers unlock a potent tool for storytelling, inviting viewers into compositions that transcend the ordinary, where each shadow and highlight contributes to a visual symphony that resonates with depth and emotion.

2. Breaking the pattern

In photography, “Breaking the Pattern” is about throwing in a curveball to keep things interesting. Instead of sticking to the same old visual rhythm, this technique encourages you to mix it up and introduce a dash of unpredictability. Think of it as a visual shake-up that brings a playful vibe to your photos. Rather than going with the flow, try disrupting the expected pattern. Drop in an element that stands out, mess with symmetry, or throw in a pop of color where it’s least expected. Breaking the Pattern is all about breaking free from the ordinary and injecting a bit of fun and surprise into your shots.

3. Add human interest

Admittedly, this final rule is well-known and certainly not rare, however for some photographers it is easy to forget that adding a human interest can greatly improve an otherwise average image. It adds a sense of scale for your street and landscape photos, and for those images that you think are ok, but are just lacking a main focus point, a person standing in frame can quickly resolve this. Again, this is not rare, but it is surprising how many photographers are uncomfortable or have simply never tried intentionally framing their shots around a human.

For example, the image below gets us to focus on the woman, her clothing, her background, where she’s walking to. All this depth comes simply from adding her into the shot. Without her, it would just be a pretty regular beach photo – one that anyone visiting that beach could take at any time. Whereas this photo, with this woman, can never be replicated.

Applying these rules to your photography

As I have mentioned in a previous article about composition, I may be calling these rules however the art of photography comes not through following strict rules, but by unleashing your full creativity and doing what feels right to you. You may wish to not follow any particular rule, or you may combine multiple (which you definitely should do). Either way, just remember that the most important thing is to have fun.

For more photography tips, check out our archive of Learn articles.