Composing a Portrait
This article merely aims to highlight the key “rules” of composition, and focuses primarily on a head and shoulders portrait of a single sitter.
Principle point of interest
Any image requires a principal point of interest, and in a portrait this is usually the subject’s eyes.
Whether the cross is slightly to the left or right depends on which direction the subject is looking. If they are looking to the left, there should be more background to the left, so the cross is placed the the right of centre. Conversely, if they are looking to the right, the cross should be placed to the left. This helps prevent the viewer’s eye from being drawn out of the picture when it follows the subjects sight line.
When the subject is facing directly towards the camera, consider the direction of the shoulders. Here the aim should be to have a little more space in front of the subject rather than behind them. So, if the right shoulder is nearest the camera, frame the shot so their eyes are also right of centre.
Returning to our imagined cross on a face, if this is upright, the portrait will appear very formal. This is often a good option for more mature subjects. Tilting the cross to either side creates a diagonal axis to the features, which suggests movement an vitality, and is often best for younger subjects.
Triangles
Composition is always improved by the creation of triangles. When composing a portrait, try to visualize the outline of the subject fitting into a triangle.
Tall triangles in an upright format suggest height and dignity. In a landscape format they hint at confinement or struggle. Low triangles in a landscape format imply stability. In an upright format they give an impression of weakness. Triangles tilted forward suggest movement, and titled backwards they imply liveliness. Tilt too far in any direction, and stability will be lost unless a second stabilizing element is introduced. If someone looks like they are about to fall over, it should tell you that the composition of the shot is wrong (e.g. A head tilted greatly to one side may need a hand to support it. Introducing an arm bent at the elbow creates another triangle and so restores stability).
Lines can be broken so long as the eye can easily skip them. Lines can also be imaginary, or implied. For example, a viewers eye will always tend to follow the subject’s line of sight.
Tones
Our eyes are always more attracted to light tones than dark tones. Directional tendencies can be created by tones, so for example, if there are two or more adjacent light areas, the eye will travel from one to the other.
In a portrait, the face should be the principal attraction, and therefore lighter. Any other light area (clothing, hands) need to be subdued in tone, Avoid strong patterns (e.g. clothing), as these can compete with the face for attention.
A portrait needs to be tonally balanced. This means not having all the dark tones on one side, and all the light tones on the other (Unfortunately, this is what we see in a typical wedding photo of the Bride and Groom!).
Backgrounds
Working as a portrait artist, I rarely reproduce the background in a reference photo, for good reasons, and choosing the background for a portrait is probably worthy of a dedicated article (see Backgrounds).
All I am going to say here is that the simplest consideration is either a light or dark background. Dark backgrounds are commonly see in classic portraits. Light backgrounds are currently trendy in modern photography. For my purposes, a light background works best, because it is makes the outline of the subject easier to see.
Colour
Colour harmony and behaviors are an important element of composition. Colours convey mood and depth. Cool colours appear to recede (blue-greens, blues, purples), while warm colours appear to advance (yellows. oranges, reds). Cool or neutral colours work best for backgrounds, while warm colours in clothing help give a portrait depth.
Colour choices depend on the subject. Blondes and brunets have differing requirements; blue works well with the former, while blue-greens/greens better suits the latter. Somber colours suit older subjects, while vibrant colours go well with young subjects.
The key aim should be to choose colours that compliment, and are sympathetic to, the subject’s colouring.
Footnote: There are circumstances when these “rules” may be broken, but the intention of this article is to convey simple guidelines applicable to most situations.
Portrait photography from a Portrait Artist’s perspective. Portraits by John Burton
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_A_Burton
http://EzineArticles.com/?Composing-a-Portrait&id=1886214
20 Beginner Tips For Taking Digital Photography
Digital cameras are one of the greatest inventions of modern times. We are so fortunate to have this modern convenience called 
Digital Photography. To be able to capture a precious moment or beautiful scene at the click of a button, is something we should not take for granted.
Many beginners find digital photography rather challenging and rightly so. Today, more and more digital cameras are being created and it seems like the more digital cameras they make, the more difficult they become to use.
I own a Canon Powershot S3 IS. I purchased this digital camera about a year ago and I still haven’t utilized all of the awesome little features this camera has to offer. Now you may not want or even need a camera with tons of features. It really depends on the type of pictures you plan on taking.
Regardless of the camera you own or are planning to own, you should have a well rounded knowledge of digital photography. I hope the following 20 
tips for taking digital photography will prove to be useful in your quest for taking better photographs.
1. Know your camera. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is not taking time to learn about the features of your camera. Don’t be lazy. Read your instruction manual.
3 – If you are looking for superior image quality, the ability to use a variety of lenses and print large high quality photos, then considering a Digital SLR Camera.
4 – Use your flash outdoors. Sometimes, even on a sunny day outdoors, there is still a need for a flash. If the sun is directly over head or behind your subject, this can cause dark shadows to appear on the face. The flash will help lighten the subjects face.
5- Sometimes simply turning your camera and taking vertical shots can make a world of difference. Experiment more with vertical picture taking.
6 – Do not put your subjects directly in the center of your shot. Move your subject off center to inject more life into your photos.
7 – Learn how to hold your digital camera. One of the most common problems beginners face is the shaking of the camera because they are not holding it properly. Of course, the best way to avoid shaking the camera is to use a tripod. If you don’t have a tripod, then you should be holding your camera with two hands. Put one hand on the right hand side of your camera where you actually snap the photo and the other hand will support the weight of your camera. Depending on the camera, your left hand will either be positioned on the bottom or around your lens.
8 – Learn about the “Rule of Thirds”. This is a well known principle of photographic composition that every beginner should become familiar with. Do a search online and you will find many tutorials on this subject.
9 – Look at other photographers work. Just spending time studying the work of other photographers can provide loads of inspiration.
10 – Join online photography communities. Get active and ask questions.
11 – Do not compare your photography to anyone else.
12 – Do not copy the work of other photographers. Try and develop your own unique style.
13 – Do not leave your batteries in your camera if you don’t plan on using your camera for long periods of time. Some batteries run the risk of leaking and this can damage your camera.
14 – Subscribe to a good photography magazine. Read books on photography.
15 – Find experienced photographers to go out on shoots with.
16 – Post your photographs in online forums. Learn to accept criticism.
17 – Try taking your pictures in RAW format. RAW is a powerful option available in today’s digital cameras where no in-camera processing takes place. This allows you to do all processing using your favorite image editing software.
18 – Don’t buy the most expensive photography equipment right away. Practice and learn about photography using cheaper equipment first. After you have been taking pictures for a while, you will then know what kind of equipment you will need.
19 – Invest in a tripod. Some of us have very shaky hands. If you can’t stop the shakes, then get a tripod. It will make a world of difference.
20 – If you are not able to carry your equipment with you everywhere, make sure you have a note pad handy. This way if you find a nice shot, you can write it down and visit that location at a later date.
Be sure to also visit our other sites on digital photography:
Click here for digital photography tips and tutorials from CreativeSpotlite.com.
Click here for digital photography tips and tutorials on our Squidoo Lens.
FREE ebook, "Inside The Artist's Studio" - includes step by step art demonstrations by professional artists! To receive this FREE ebook right away delivered to your email, simply fill in the form below. By filling in your name and email below, you will also be subscribed to our free monthly newsletter.
