Why are my pictures boring?

You're not alone. Photographers of all levels ask this question at one time or another (or, for many of us, even for years on end).

The beautiful scene I saw with my eyes didn't translate to a great image. Again, another common complaint that all photographers have to deal with.

One of the best techniques for turning boring images into amazing ones is to learn and practice the rules of composition.

Why is composition so important?

Composition provides a roadmap for the viewer. It can lead them through the photograph or impress them with the beauty of a subject that fills the frame. Learning and practicing some of the tried and true composition techniques will help you go from boring to aesthetically pleasing in no time. These aren't complicated rules that require years to master. They're simple, practical techniques you can start using on your next outdoor adventure.

1. The Rule of Thirds

Let's start with a basic, but helpful composition trick every photographer should practice. The rule of thirds uses a grid of two horizontal and two vertical lines (like a tik-tac-toe grid) to divide the scene into 9 boxes. Our eyes naturally find these off-center grid-intersection positions more interesting and dynamic than objects in the dead center of the frame.

Take this beautiful rufous hummingbird feeding in the hot poker. I shot the image with the bird in the center of the frame to capture maximum sharpness. But when editing, it creates a much more powerful image to crop in and place the bird and flower at two of the grid intersection points. (bonus tip - tight crops almost always help bird and wildlife photos)

Here's a horizontal photo of the fall color near Leavenworth, WA. Placing the foreground rock at the lower left grid intersection creates a more dynamic image than if it was in the center. (see also tip no. 3 - creating depth with a clear foreground, midground, and background)

2. Strong lines

Leading lines You've probably heard of leading lines - images that create a path for your viewer's eye to follow. Leading lines are just one type of strong lines in a photo.

In this picture in Mt. Rainier National Park, I placed my camera and tripod in the middle of the road, as low as possible. The center line of the highway creates a natural line that leads the eye to the beautiful yellows and greens of the fall forest. Leading lines are everywhere once you start looking for them. Rivers winding through valleys, fallen logs pointing toward a distant peak, shorelines curving along a beach, or even animal trails cutting through a meadow.

Creating a visual journey

When lines start in your foreground and lead toward your subject, they transform a flat photo into a three-dimensional experience. Practicing this technique can help you invite viewers deeper into your scene.

Background lines

Here's a different example of strong lines in a photo. The vertical and horizontal lines of the bridge form an interesting, and impactful backdrop for this senior portrait shot. This photo isn't using the lines to lead the viewer anywhere, but rather serve as an interesting set of background elements.

Having the subject stand in the middle of the bridge also creates symmetry on both sides and a natural frame-within-a-frame. More to come on these in a bit.

3. Create depth with a clear foreground, midground, and background

In photography, we're trying to convey a 3D world with a 2D medium. But creating a sense of depth with a clear foreground, midground, and background helps to build a three-dimensional feel.

Foreground elements serve as an entry point into your photograph. The middle ground adds a new layer and another focal point that tells your story. Background elements provide context for the locations and complete the scene.

Let's look at a few examples.

This scene of an old barn in Grand Teton National Park has a clear subject to draw the eye - the barn in the foreground. Then you have the early morning sun-dappled Grand Tetons in the midground. And lastly the sky and dynamic clouds in the background complete the scene.

Without the barn, the mountains and sky are still pretty, but the photo is lacking the dynamism and depth of the first one.

Here's another early morning scene at Rattlesnake Lake in WA. The tree stump is a clear subject drawing in the viewer's eye. Then the soft mist rising over the water in the midground. And lastly the mountains and beautiful sky in the background. All three elements help lead the eye through the image and create a sense of 3D depth that wouldn't exist without the clear foreground subject.

Overlapping layers can be found anywhere

A person walking in front of a building, mountains layered behind each other, or flowers in the foreground with a landscape beyond all use overlapping layers to create depth. The key is to find elements that complement the subject rather than compete or distract.

4. Frame-within-a-Frame

One of my favorite techniques for creating more interesting photos is natural framing. It's like finding nature's own picture frames already set up and waiting for you.

Any kind of opening or structure that naturally frames a subject can act like a spotlight, drawing attention directly to what you want viewers to notice.

This long exposure of the Seattle skyline uses both frame-within-a-frame and a strong s-curve (tip no. 5) to make the image feel more dynamic and interesting. The hole in the fence helps to focus the eye on the subject.

Look for natural frames whenever you can The space between two tree trunks, an archway formed by overhanging branches, domed or curved architecture, cave openings - all offer interesting framing opportunities for the observant photographer.

5. S-shaped curves

S-shaped curves are another type of strong line that viewers naturally find appealing because they offer a sense of visual guidance and direction, leading the eye smoothly through a composition.

As photographers, we're trying to give viewers a reason to linger on a photograph. The S-curve helps to guide the eye through a scene, possibly highlighting important elements along the way.

This photo of Lime Kiln lighthouse on San Juan Island, WA uses a reverse s-curve. The naturally curving rocky shoreline leads you first to the lighthouse and then to the beautiful sunset in the background. Even though the S is reversed, that shape still gives the photo a dynamic feeling.

6. Symmetry

Our eyes tend to naturally look for symmetry in all things. Balanced elements either on the vertical or horizontal center make compelling photographs.

 I cropped this photo so the duck's beak is exactly in the center of the frame. With it looking straight ahead, the symmetry of the image is compelling. Not to mention, humans are drawn to eyes, so bird and wildlife photographers should always strive to have the eyes sharp and prominent.

In Conclusion

Hopefully you've seen that many of these compositional techniques complement each other when combined. The s-curve and the natural frame of the city skyline. The leading line of the highway taking your eye to the fall colors of the forest provides a sense of depth. The strong lines of the bridge in the portrait serve as both interesting background elements and serve as a natural frame, while providing nice symmetry on both sides.

Practice Practice Practice

The most important step is simply getting out there with your camera. Every sunrise offers new lighting, every season brings fresh subjects, and every outing gives you new opportunities to practice these techniques. Start with a couple of composition tips that excite you. Play with them. See what you find.

Remember, the goal isn't to create technically perfect images – it's to capture photos that make you smile and invite viewers to linger a bit longer. We strive for photos that transport others to a beautiful scene, telling the story of the time and place, and playing with composition techniques can help you get there.