The Rules of photography are ways you can arrange a composition to make it nice to look at and interesting. Here are the 9 main ones and a bonus 11th and 5th, illustrated using some of my photos.
1.Rule of Thirds: Photos are often thought of as divided by an imaginary grid into ninths. Where the lines meet, key points of focus are often placed, drawing the eye towards them, especially on the outside of the vertical lines.
See where Tower Bridge is !
2. Leading lines: Leading lines are real or perceived lines in a photo which draw the eyes through an image, adding visual interest. They can be architectural details, literal lines, the forms of objects, etc.
Leading lines, highlighted in red
3. Patterns and repetition Humans like patterns. They add visual interest to a composition, and when they are broken, they add interest to an image.
The repetition of the flags and in the architecture add interest to this picture of leadenhall market.
4. Symmetry A symmetrical picture is aesthetically pleasing and results in a balanced composition, similar to patterns, but it can also be interesting to break this rule.
The symmetry of Tower Bridge is satisfying-but so is the off-centre placement of HMS Belfast
5.Colour
Colour can be used to make subjects stand out, or to conceal something. A vivid contrasting colour can draw attention to a subject, whereas dull colours can make an image homogenous.
See the difference- colour vs monochrome
6.Diagonals Diagonal lines and objects add a sense of motion to an image.
Who the driver is is a mystery, but he's in a hurry
7. Figure to Ground Figure to ground is the contrast between the subject and the background, which can be achieved through light, colour or focus. It draws us to the subject
The subject stands out from the rest of the masonry of the Natural History Museum, despite being the same colour.
8. Fill the Frame When taking a picture, get up close so your subject dominates the image, drawing the eye to it.
9. Framing Use windows and other openings to frame an image, making it interesting.
This picture of Edinburgh uses an alleyway in the old town to frame the iconic Walter Scott Memorial
10. Centre Dominant eye When taking portrait photos, centering the closest eye makes the subject seem to match your gaze and follow it, making it a powerful image.