Beginners Guide to the Art of Photography and Composition

 

Beginners Guide to the Art of Photography and Composition

By: Joshua Waller


1. 5W + 1H

  • Who – The article is written by Joshua Waller, as part of the "Improve Your Photography" series on Amateur Photographer, with editorial contribution by Jessica Miller.

  • What – A comprehensive guide for beginners looking to improve their understanding of the art of photography and composition. It covers image orientation, decisive moments, creative vision, use of color or black and white, light, and various compositional principles like rule of thirds, leading lines, negative space, framing, and foreground/midground/background.

  • When – Published on April 4, 2022, and last updated on March 4, 2025.

  • Where – Published on Amateur Photographer website, under the "Improve Your Photography" category.

  • Why – To help readers move beyond basic technical mastery and develop their ability to see photographically, through deeper artistic and compositional understanding.

  • How – By explaining key photography concepts in a simple, accessible way with practical advice and visual examples, guiding beginners to train their eyes and think creatively when composing a photo.

2. Nominal & Verbal Usage

  • Nominal (Nouns) – Heavily used to identify key concepts and techniques, such as:
    orientation, decisive moment, creative vision, color, black and white, light, negative space, symmetry, reflections, angles, foreground, midground, background, composition, rule of thirds, leading lines, framing.

  • Verbal (Verbs) – Used to give instructions or describe actions:
    capture, previsualize, develop, train, experiment, consider, look for, shoot through, frame, create, guide.

This balance between nouns and verbs makes the article both conceptual and practical.

3. Tense

  • The article is written entirely in Simple Present Tense, appropriate for instructional writing and general truths:

    • “Light is everywhere.”

    • “Find where the light is in a scene…”

    • “Creative vision will develop over time with practice.”

    • “Rule of thirds divides up your image…”

This makes the advice feel timeless and universally applicable.

4. Active & Passive Construction

  • The article primarily uses active voice, such as:

    • “Find where the light is…”

    • “Consider your perspective…”

    • “Look for natural symmetry…”

    • “Shoot through a natural frame…”

  • Very few passive constructions appear, making the writing more direct and engaging.

5. Writer’s Reason (Purpose)

The writer provides clear reasoning for each technique:

  • Family photos might be meaningful to the photographer, but to improve your work, you need to understand composition.

  • Orientation (landscape vs portrait) affects framing and subject presentation.

  • The decisive moment requires pre-visualization and anticipation.

  • Creative vision comes from practice and observing other works.

  • Color vs. Black and White offer different visual interpretations.

  • Light sets the mood and tone, and is crucial for visual impact.

  • Composition elements (like negative space, framing, symmetry, and reflections) create stronger visual narratives.

Each concept is introduced with a practical “why it matters” explanation.

6. Vocabulary (Key Terms)

Some essential terms explained in the article include:

  • Orientation (landscape, portrait), focus-lock

  • Decisive moment, creative vision

  • Color, black and white, abstract

  • Light, chiaroscuro

  • Texture, patterns, negative space, symmetry, reflections, angles

  • Foreground, midground, background

  • Framing

  • Rule of thirds, leading lines, visual flow

These are foundational for visual storytelling and developing photographic artistry.

7. Conclusion

This article does more than just teach techniques—it encourages the reader to “see” more creatively and intentionally. Using simple present tense and active voice, the author explains concepts in a clear, direct way. Each section is supported by reasoning that emphasizes not just what to do, but why it matters visually and emotionally. Readers are encouraged to go beyond snapshots and start crafting meaningful, visually compelling images through thoughtful composition. The article ends by empowering beginners to experiment, observe, and trust their creative instincts—highlighting that composition is an evolving art, not a rigid formula.

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