Really you only need to capture a single pattern to compose an interesting image, but this photograph has two: (1) the rows of French macarons and (2) the stars and stripes cloth underneath. Credit: Jennifer Ring

Really you only need to capture a single pattern to compose an interesting image, but this photograph has two: (1) the rows of French macarons and (2) the stars and stripes cloth underneath. Credit: Jennifer Ring

CL asked Jen Ring to sit in on one of the photography classes at the Florida Museum of Arts so our readers could get a sense of what the classes entail. This is her third week of Photography 101 (read about week one and week two).

Want to turn your photos into works of art? It’s all about composition, or how you choose to make your photograph.

It’s “the best way to elevate your images,” Cathy Dutertre tells the class.

Of all the photographic variables and concerns, composition has the greatest power to capture an individual’s attention. This is why the Dutertres devote an entire class to lecturing on this one subject.

For the next two hours, we looked at photograph after photograph, learning what distinguishes a great photograph from a mediocre one. For the most part, it’s what you put into it.

The best photographers thoughtfully choose their subject matter and backgrounds, paying attention to patterns, lines, shapes, colors, textures, scale, light and shadow.

In a sense, composition is the great social equalizer. It doesn’t matter how much money a person spends on their camera if they are always pointing it in the wrong direction. Even if you are shooting with a cell phone, you can still capture something beautiful and interesting if you have a good understanding of composition.

The rule of thirds is the most basic rule of composition, so let’s start with that. You basically draw an imaginary tic-tac-toe board over your image, and place your subject(s) at the intersecting points. It’s way easier to understand it if you see it in action.

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Using the rule of thirds is a great way to quickly improve your photography, but there’s a lot more to composition than just the rule of thirds. There are also patterns, leading lines, and repetition — three of my personal favorites. You can see me using them in a few of my vacation photos below.

Really you only need to capture a single pattern to compose an interesting image, but this photograph has two: (1) the rows of French macarons and (2) the stars and stripes cloth underneath. Credit: Jennifer Ring

This photograph utilizes repetition to create a more interesting composition. Ford Edsels are kind of rare, so a picture containing a whole row of them in pastel colors is more exciting than a picture of a single Edsel. Credit: Jennifer Ring

This photograph of a hotel hallway is practically an orgy of pattern and repetition. It also shows strong leading lines. Credit: Jennifer Ring

Most of the time, I’m not even thinking about the rules. Before this class, I couldn’t even name most of them. I’m not ticking off some great list in my mind of how my photographs should look as I’m taking them. My best photographs are a result of seeing something beautiful, then carefully considering how to capture it best.

Sometimes composition is as simple as that.

This article appears in Aug 24-31, 2017.

Jen began her storytelling journey in 2017, writing and taking photographs for Creative Loafing Tampa. Since then, she’s told the story of art in Tampa Bay through more than 200 art reviews, artist profiles,...