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Artistic Photo  Photography Composition Rules Official Site Since 2015

Left to Right

Left to Right Photography Artistic Composition Rule from Wise Camera app and Wise Photos app

Video: Left to Right

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Main subject and supporting elements you might need

Good for scenes such as moving main subjects like sports, street photography, and portraits.

Left to Right

Everybody loves the traditional portrait of a person looking straight into the lens. It has serenity and style. It also seems that the subject is gazing straight into your eyes, which forms a connection with you. It’s a classic pose that will never go out of fashion. The only thing that improves a good portrait like this is giving it a sense of mystery.

Including a level of mystique in an image can be achieved in many ways, but we’ll make it happen by introducing direction and movement to your photos. Simply having the subject looking to the right side of the frame makes the viewer wonder what the subject is staring at. Being curious about what has caught their attention incorporates a storytelling aspect to the image. You can build upon this and strengthen the image by repositioning the subject.

Changing your angle, so the subject is on the left of the iPhone screen gives space on the right side of the image. When you move the subject away from the center of the photo, always have them looking towards the empty area, or the image will seem crowded and out of balance. The Wise Camera app on an iPhone makes this form of composition easy to achieve. Select the Left to Right rule and position your subject on the left, looking in the direction of the arrows. This will make your photo much more appealing to viewers. And when you have time, look through your online albums and find previously taken portraits that you’re not happy with. Our Wise Photos app helps you re-crop the photos to produce stunning images with clever composition.

Why Place Your Subject on the Left?

A commonly used marketing technique is to place essential features on the left of a photo, landing page, or magazine ad. People usually take a visual path through an image that starts at the left, moves to the right, then goes down and to the left again before heading back to the right. It’s called the Z Pattern, and in the western world, it mimics what we do when we read a block of text. Our brains have become hardwired to traverse from left to right when reading. We tend to scan a photo in this same pattern when looking at a photograph. Having someone situated on the left of an image is where our eyes are naturally drawn to before they journey through the rest of the picture.

In countries where people read from right to left, studies show the pattern of looking at an image is reversed to western eyes. Those who read Arabic and Hebrew script look to the right of an image and then make their way to the left. So a photographer in the Middle East would place their main subject on the right of the screen.

Another reason for having your subject look to the right is linked to advertising psychology. People from western cultures associate looking to the left as dealing with the past, while facing the right represents looking into the future. Based on the flow of time, this is commonly used in advertising to suggest how good your life will be when using the featured product. Looking to the future is more favorable than looking at the past, where you are moving away from.

You can appreciate the validity of this concept by imagining before and after pictures of a person on a diet. Which one will you put on the left, and which one goes on the right? Most people will place the image of the large person on the left and the slimmer version on the right because the ‘before’ image was in the past. Even a graph of a person’s weight loss always shows progress from left to right as they lose weight.

An Inclusive View Point

This article is written from the western point of view, so positioning a friend on the left side of an iPhone screen and having them look to the right is the first step in this artistic composition rule. But your subject doesn’t have to be static. You can add mystery to the shot by having them walking or running towards the right. This movement creates more questions in the mind of the viewer. Where are they going? What are they running towards? Are they running away from someone? Any image that sparks questions in the viewer’s mind is more appealing than a featureless photo. And adding a sense of motion produces a dynamic element to any image.

Using the Left to Right composition tool isn’t limited to portraits. Street photography is ideal for incorporating the Left to Right rule as people rush to work or do their shopping. Some objects such as racing cars, sailboats, airplanes, and motorbikes have a distinct front and back. When photographing one of these vehicles, make sure it is placed to the left of the frame with its nose facing towards the right. And remember to include more space in front of it than behind.

Final Thoughts

The Left to Right composition rule is simple, but the more you think about it, you’ll realize how powerful it is. Use the Wise Camera app and Wise Photos app, and you’ll see an immediate improvement in your photographic composition. Having an image looking good and feeling right is the aim of any photographer. This rule makes that happen quickly and easily!

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

  • What is the Rule of Thirds?
    The Rule of Thirds is a composition technique used in photography where the frame is divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines. Positioning the subject along these lines or at their intersections moves the subject away from the center, creating a more balanced and engaging image.
  • Why is the Rule of Thirds important in photography?
    It adds a simple but dynamic element to photo composition, moving the subject away from the center of the frame to create a well-balanced, harmonious image. This technique makes the photo more interesting and engaging by shifting the weight of the image and providing an unconscious appreciation for its balance.
  • Can the Rule of Thirds be applied to all types of photography?
    Yes, the Rule of Thirds is versatile and can be used for various types of photography including landscapes, portraits, street photography, wildlife, fashion photos, and more. It works well in both horizontal and vertical formats, making it applicable to a wide range of subjects and scenes.
  • How does the Rule of Thirds benefit landscape photography specifically?
    For landscape shots, positioning the horizon one-third of the way from the top or bottom of the frame rather than in the center can make the photo more compelling. This technique allows the photographer to emphasize interesting textures in the foreground or dramatic skies, depending on the horizon's placement.
  • What are hot spots in the Rule of Thirds and how are they used?
    Hot spots refer to the points where the grid lines intersect in the Rule of Thirds grid. Placing your subject at one of these intersecting points incorporates an extra key element into the photo's design. For example, in portraits, aligning the person’s head or an eye at a hot spot can significantly enhance the image's impact.
  • How can the Rule of Thirds improve photos that seem lacking?
    Revisiting photos with the wisdom of hindsight and applying the Rule of Thirds can breathe new life into images that may not have received the attention they deserve. Using this composition technique can often reveal it as the missing piece in the composition puzzle, making the photo more appealing and well-composed.
  • What is negative space in photography?
    Negative space refers to the area around the main subject of a photograph that is left empty or uncluttered. This compositional technique emphasizes the main subject by providing lots of room around it, directing the viewer's focus to the subject and adding a sense of calmness and contemplation to the image.
  • How does negative space impact the viewer's perception of a photo?
    Negative space creates a dramatic effect that makes the viewer stop and consider the impact of the photo. It draws attention to the main subject, induces feelings of solitude and peacefulness, and provokes curiosity about the photographer's intent by breaking traditional photography rules.
  • What is the difference between positive and negative space?
    Positive space in a photo is the area occupied by the subject, whereas negative space is the area around the subject. Using a lot of negative space can make the subject stand out more prominently, offering a clear contrast between the subject and its surroundings without making the image feel crowded or cluttered.
  • Can negative space have color or texture?
    Yes, negative space doesn't have to be completely white or blank. It can include color or texture, such as a blue sky or a field of grass, as long as these elements do not distract from the main subject. The key is to maintain contrast and ensure that the background objects in the negative space do not draw attention away from the focal point.
  • How can photographers effectively use negative space in their compositions?
    Photographers can use negative space by ensuring that the background occupies more space in the frame than the subject. Using the Wise Camera app, photographers can position their subject within a guided area, leaving ample space around it as indicated by the app's guidelines. This approach helps in isolating the subject and drawing the viewer's attention directly to it.
  • What are some tips for creating negative space in photos taken with an iPhone?
    When using an iPhone, photographers can take advantage of its wide angle of view to leave extra space around the subject, emphasizing the negative space. If necessary, photos can be cropped afterward using the Wise Photos app to adjust the composition and create a more impactful negative space image.
  • What is the Left to Right composition rule in photography?
    The Left to Right composition rule involves positioning the subject on the left side of the frame, making them look or move towards the right. This technique leverages the natural way viewers scan an image, particularly in cultures accustomed to reading from left to right, creating a dynamic and engaging visual flow.
  • Why position the subject on the left side of the image?
    Positioning the subject on the left side of the image takes advantage of the natural reading and viewing habits of people in Western cultures, who tend to scan images starting from the left. This positioning guides viewers through the image in a comfortable and familiar pattern, enhancing the photo's impact.
  • How does the Left to Right rule enhance storytelling in photographs?
    By having the subject look or move towards the right, photographers can introduce a sense of direction, movement, and mystery to their images. This technique encourages viewers to ponder what has captured the subject's attention or where they are heading, adding a storytelling aspect to the photograph.
  • Can the Left to Right rule be applied to all types of photography?
    Yes, the Left to Right rule can be applied across various photography genres, including sports, street photography, portraits, and more. It is especially effective in scenes with moving subjects, such as racing cars, sailboats, airplanes, and people walking or running.
  • How does cultural reading direction influence the effectiveness of this composition rule?
    Cultural reading direction significantly influences how viewers perceive an image. In cultures where reading occurs from right to left, such as those using Arabic and Hebrew scripts, the visual path through an image may be reversed. Photographers working in these cultures might place the main subject on the right side of the frame for a more natural viewing experience for their audience.
  • How can photographers implement the Left to Right rule in their work?
    Photographers can implement the Left to Right rule by using tools like the Wise Camera app, which offers guidelines for positioning subjects. They should ensure the subject is placed on the left, looking or moving towards the right, and leave ample space on the right side of the frame for the subject to "move into." This composition approach makes photos more appealing and engaging to viewers, encouraging them to explore the entire image.

Do you have a question? Feel free to ask us!

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