Quick Links
Having tried multiple photo compositions with my smartphone, here’s a list of the different results I achieved. To give you an idea of what you can expect, I’ll outline my intention behind each image, what I think worked well, and the things I’d do differently.
1Negative Space
Negative space is one of the most difficult photography styles to get right. It typically involves isolating a subject with a vast area of nothingness, with the sky and sea commonly being used as buffers. In this attempt, I tried to use the sky as my main aspect of negative space—with the primary subject being the plane wing.
I always think that negative space works best in moody conditions, such as foggy weather. The visibility was pretty poor on this flight as we were leaving the airport, making it quite easy to isolate the wing. And I took this picture shortly after takeoff when we weren’t fully in the sky, which also helped.
If I were to try negative space photography on the ground, I’d probably pick something that’s naturally quite imposing (e.g. a person or a tree). I would also aim to pick a day or scene where it was quite easy to get rid of surrounding distractions. Reading this guide onhow and why to use negative space in photographyis a good starting point.
2Filling the Frame
Filling the frame is something I always recommend with smartphone photos because it helps you maximize the detail in your primary subject. In this instance, I took a photo of a sculpture at a light festival. It was an easy way to make my nighttime photos stand out, but beyond that, I also felt like this was an interesting subject to focus on.
I like this picture because of the interesting lighting patterns, and having artificial light was another advantage. you’re able to try filling the frame with numerous other subjects, though, such as people and buildings. If I were to take this picture again, I would probably wait until there were no other people in the scene.
While this was a fun experiment, I’d argue that it’s easier to take photos where you fill the frame during the day.
3Leading Lines
Leading linesis one of my all-time favorite photography composition techniques, and I’ve been using it ever since picking up my first camera. If you’re a complete beginner to photography, I would suggest starting with this technique and then branching out to others.
In this example of leading lines, I used the canal to guide the viewer’s eyes toward the church in the background. I really like how both sides of the shore make it easy for them to know where they should look, and the trees along the right-hand side are a nice extra touch.
I wouldn’t change a huge amount about this picture, to be honest. Perhaps it would be nice to have a small boat in the canal, but other than that, I’m happy with how this turned out.
4Frame Within a Frame
Another cool technique to try is using a frame within a frame. This is where you use something like an arch doorway and create another frame within this (e.g. a skyline). It’s more difficult to get this right than leading lines, but the effort is normally worthwhile. In this example, I used an arched wooden structure and included a building in the background.
I also included some people in this photo, which adds another unique dimension. Taking this picture at golden hour meant that there was a nice soft glow.
If I were to take this photo again, I probably would get a bit closer to the arched frame and ensure that some of the other aspects—such as the people on the floor—weren’t so prominent.
5The Horizon Line
The horizon line is when you naturally use the horizon in your picture. You may have used this technique without even realizing it, such as whentaking landscape photos with your smartphone. One important thing to note is that you don’t need to have a horizon line with no subject, like my image below.
I took this photo on a morning run and utilized the buildings and trees in the background to give off a sense of how far away they were. I think that the ripples in the water also contributed to this. Again, I wouldn’t change too much about this picture other than perhaps removing some of the extras on both sides of the water; this would mainly be to achieve a minimalist look.
Symmetry is one of many coolsmartphone photography tricks that actually work, and I strongly recommend trying to take more symmetrical images if you want to make your pictures look more unique. I’ve spoken extensively about using water and mirrors to create symmetry in your photos, but you can also create these kinds of photos by using your landscape (e.g. three similar-looking buildings).
In this photo, I used the water. I’ve been past this spot multiple times, and always liked how the signs reflect on the lake.
I would remove the truck from this picture if I could take it again. On top of that, I’d make more of an effort tostop the picture from being so blurry.
7The Horizontal Rule of Thirds
You’ve probably heard of the rule of thirds before, and I recommend using this technique in your photos. However, when many photographers talk about it, they focus on vertical parts of the image being different. So, I chose to switch things up and focus on the horizontal rule of thirds.
In this picture, I decided to try something a bit different and use three completely different aspects. In the first part on the left, you’ll see a line of buildings. I then split these with the cycling path and trees. The third part of this image involves the lake and some of the buildings in the background.
I think that the buildings on the left consume a bit too much of this photo, but other than that, I’m relatively happy with it.
8Photographing From Above
I love going to a new city (or exploring my own) and finding a cool place to capture my surroundings from above, and I’ve taken countless photos from rooftops and observation decks. In the example below, I took a photo of a city from the top of a tower—with the church being the primary focus.
This image also unintentionally features leading lines from the street. I’ve tried taking this same picture on a sunny day, and I have to say that it’s much better doing so on a cloudy day. The main reason why is that the light is diffused more effectively.
I’d remove more of the roof in front if I were to retake it. Moreover, I’d probably take it in portrait orientation to focus more on the church.
9Using Opposing Subjects
Another easy way to make your photos stand out is by using subjects that are the complete opposite of one another. For example, if it’s rainy on one side of your image but sunny on the other, this can work really well. In my example, I took some old architecture and paired it with newer buildings.
I also like the lighting in this picture as it was taken at golden hour, and the two main buildings complement each other. In my opinion, this would work better if you got closer to the subjects in your photo than I did with mine.
10Using Straight Lines and Shapes
Focusing on one main subject is one of the variousrules that leveled up my smartphone photos, and you’re able to improve this even further by focusing on unique lines and shapes in your pictures. In this photo, I focused primarily on the white building as I found its slopes and whatnot quite interesting.
The cranes around it also add to the frame, and I think that this picture looks quite sleek altogether. I would have loved for there to be some snow on the ground and preferably less of a blue sky, but I sadly cannot control either of those.
Trying numerous composition techniques will make your photos better in the long run, and I recommend starting with the ones on this list. Your results will likely vary, and you’ll get better with time.
