A lost of people know about the rule of thirds, the s-curve as well as other elements of photographic composition. Let's have a look at something that is a little more advanced in the world of image composition that was discovered by a 12th century Italian mathematician called Fibonacci.Introducing The Golden SectionThe Golden Section is simply a compositional rule that dictates that a well composed image can be achieved by dividing the frame by 1.6 several times.By doing this, you get a pattern like this:Image courtesy of Nam Nam The Geek ExplanationFibonacci is most famous for developing a series of number sequence which adds the previous two numbers:0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55...When you divide successive numbers, you come up with 1.6 which is a key in mathematics to proportions (hence its relationship to photography). When you apply the Fibinacci sequence to a rectangle you get a tiling with squares whose sides are successive Fibonacci numbers in length. Each square is roughly 1.6 times as big as the last. Like this:How to Use the Golden SectionImages speak louder than words, so have a look at this image and the one below it to see an almost perfect application of the Golden Section in action. The proportions ...

Composing a great photograph can be done in so many different ways that it seems more logical to talk about "guides" to composition rather than "rules" of composition. We have covered several compositional elements of photography previously such as the photographer's rule of thirds and the s-curve, but let's move on to some other less stringent "rules" for composing a great shot. These elements of an image can create spectacular results if done well.Pattern - Repetitious patterns or textures within an image can either draw or direct the viewer within a shot. In some cases it can be what makes the shot. Patterns can often be found in nature (clouds, sand, waves) and sometimes architecture and other human-made elements (farms, gardens etc).Photo by Andrew MorrellPhoto by Garry at www.visionandimagination.com Symmetry - Shots that use symmetry can often be very boring, but if you can incorporate other elements of composition such as shadow, pattern or colour then they can also be quite eye-catching. When using symmetry, look for these other elements also to add extra interest to the shotPhoto by Kicki DOF - Using depth of field well is one of the best weapons a photographer has in their arsenal. Consider which elements ...

A lot of the time, people miss a well composed shot simply because they didn't take the time to seek out a slightly better alternative. When you have found a scene worth shooting, don't forget to consider a few ways that you could improve the composition. It's easier than you might think.Photo by Rob Wood Go for a Walk - Often finding a better place to shoot a scene or object from will give you a better alternative for composing the shot. if possible, take a walk around and look at the scene from different areas. Consider which spot gives you the best chance to compose the shot with good composition rules in mind and whether any of those rules are worth breaking. Tilt the Camera - Simply moving the angle of the camera up and down then left and right will show you what you could get. Does the foreground add or detract from the scene? Can you omit distracting elements like tree branches from the edge of the composition? Horizontal or Vertical - Will your shot be better served by holding the camera vertically or horizontally? Don't forget that you can also consider how you might crop the shot while you ...

Photographing smoke can often be a tricky endeavor as it can throw up all sorts of weird exposure problems. On the upside, however, it can really be used nicely to enhance the composition of a photograph.These photos all use smoke in some way to enhance the composition of the image. Whether it is to provide a sense of movement, to guide the eye with lines or to provide a atmospheric layering effect, they all effectively use smoke to create a more interesting photo.Photo by EggmanPhoto by Fabiana ZoncaPhoto by Hamed MasoumiPhoto by ShutupyourfacePhoto by www.ericcastro.bizPhoto by Thomas MiorinPhoto by Fanboy30Photo by RammorrisonPhoto by RobbiePhoto by Xava duPhoto by KickiPhoto by Looking4PoetryPhoto by Locator

This is a guest post by New Zealand landscape photographer, Chris Gin. Some of you might recognise images from Chris' Flickr stream that we have used in our collections before.I've been into landscape photography for a couple of years now. It's a fantastic hobby and hugely rewarding, but also has a bit of a learning curve. While I would not consider myself anywhere near a pro at this stage, I've picked up on a few useful things here and there. Below are some tips which I hope others who are just starting out in the world of landscape photography will find useful. Why You Should Research Your LocationsIf you are planning a photography trip then it’s important to do some research beforehand. Use the internet to find as much information as you can about your destination. Try to identify potential places of interest and find out the best times of the year to go – some places are much more photogenic in certain seasons while others look great all year round. Try to avoid peak tourist seasons though, as busy places mean more people to get in the way of your shots. There are some great tools to help you prepare for ...

This is a guest post by New Jersey wedding photographer, Julianne Markow. Check out her photography blog here too.Bokeh is something that makes non photographers say to you “Wow, that is an amazing photograph,” and the professionals tend to agree with them. The definition of bokeh is simply “blur” and comes from the Japanese word boke, meaning “blur quality.”  Bokeh is really just a fancy way of saying that a photograph is aesthetically appealing by having a shallow depth of field.Bokeh must be done right. It is not difficult to set your camera up to do some of the work for you, but if you don’t follow these 5 tips, your results may be less than desirable.Open your lens up wide. This goes without saying. Many DSLR cameras come with a kit lens that varies from f/3.5-5.6, this means that at your shortest zoom level you can set your aperture to f3.5 and as you zoom into the subject, the aperture will change to f5.6. A 2.8 lens or faster is of course desirable, but if this is too much for your pocket to handle, remember a 5.6 kit lens can go a long way if you follow the next ...

We have covered before some important elements of landscape composition such as the s curve and rule of thirds and how sometimes it's even ok to go outside these "rules." Well, we thought you might also like to look at some great shots that take some of these guidelines into account by using rivers to enhance the composition or draw the eye. Plus, they're just damn nice photos!Photo by Kaneda99Photo by SergioTudelaPhoto by MargottaPhoto by Nicholas TPhoto by Dicktay2000Photo by law_kevinPhoto by BulliverPhoto by Hari_krPhoto by law_kevinPhoto by Paolo MargariPhoto by Nicholas TPhoto by JTravism

Once upon a time the camera body of an SLR system would last you several decades, and then some.  Technology made advancements, but for the most part you won't see any groundbreaking advancements from the late 60's to early 80's when the autofocus system came out, at which point camera bodies started a fast track and then digital came to market about 12 years ago.With the digital age, technology advances very rapidly and our needs and wants from our hardware have continued to grow with each passing day.  The major manufactures are putting out new bodies anywhere from 8-16 months right now.  That means the model you buy today will be surpassed by a newer version in the next 8-16 months.  The trouble is, if you continue to wait till the next newest model to buy, you'll be waiting forever.  Complicating matters, you may not need to upgrade your current camera body yet.Photo by Sikachu! To examine whether or not you are really ready to upgrade a camera body, lets break down what features are most important to photographers, as this will help determine if an upgrade is needed.  This article assumes you already own a DSLR body and it isn't ...

Landscape photography is very subjective, but most will agree that, to some form or another, following the rule of thirds will help achieve a great looking photo.  One way to do this is incorporating roads and paths into your frame that will enhance the overall composition of the photograph.  We've already showed you how to utilize the S-Curve in photography and many of these examples show you just how it's done.Breaking up the frame with properly placed lines from roads, paths and trails can really help bring your photograph to the next level.Photo by NrbelexPhoto by cindy47452Photo by Chuck “Caveman” CokerPhoto by conner395Photo by Kat...Photo by PörröPhoto by Shahram SharifPhoto by ecstaticistPhoto by Tambako the JaguarPhoto by Aitor EscauriazaPhoto by AuraeliusPhoto by telmo32Photo by /\/\ichael Patric|{Photo by caesePhoto by fdPhoto by Tony the MisfitPhoto by **Mary**Photo by GilmothPhoto by jenny downingPhoto by geoftherefPhoto by Amy V. MillerPhoto by rogilde - roberto la forgiaPhoto by Thomas HawkPhoto by MaxChuPhoto by m o d e

There are a few key subjects that draw both the eye of photographers and people who enjoy the art form.  They include, among many others, train tracks, running water, sunsets / sunrises and old, desolate buildings.  It's the later of the bunch that we'll focus on now, especially since we've shown you 21 stunning shots of urban decay.  This article focuses on giving tips for urban decay photography for your next outing that will surely get you memorable photos.Photo by Bob Jagendorf Dress for the occasion. Most all of the places you are going to haven't been occupied in a long time and are far from safe.  Broken glass, loose boards with nails sticking out, snakes, thorn bushes and all kinds of other nasty stuff is bound to be around.  Wear thick soled boots with long pants, regardless of how hot it might be.  There is a reason the military has bloused their pants for decades, it works.  Tuck your pants into your boots to prevent them from getting hung up or caught on anything loose, or from something crawling up your leg.  Wear gloves and take insect spray with you.Light the way. Since you'll be exploring in and around structures, ...