Your camera does not discriminate when you point your lens toward a subject, so you must "tell" it where the focal point should be.  You are the creative decision maker and your camera is merely a tool.  We will discuss the importance of simplifying a scene for the best results.

Clutter in a scene is not a photographer's friend.  A viewer's eye needs a place to go (or a focal point) when viewing your images.  Understand why clutter is not good and learn how to avoid this common photo composition mistake. 

Viewing other photographer's work is an ideal way to learn how the elements of photo composition are used effectively.  Through a series of images we explore when clutter is bad and when clutter is good.  Sometimes clutter can work to achieve a nice composition despite what the rule tells us.

Strong shadows with a deep contrast of dark and light can lead to a strong photo composition.  Shadows are almost everywhere.  See firsthand how effective use of shadows and light can elevate the composition of your photographs.

It is time to put your knowledge of simplifying a scene and shadows into practice.  Test your understanding of Shadows and Simplifying in photo composition with this creative composition challenge.

Silhouettes are easy to achieve simply by placing your subject directly in front of a light source.  Silhouettes make your subject simply bold and are often used as a good storytelling tool.  In this lesson we take a look at various examples of silhouettes and how they are used to achieve a good photo composition.

Take your knowledge of silhouettes and put them into practice with this creative composition challenge.  Capture images utilising the element of photo composition called silhouettes.

We often identify with textures because we know how most rough and soft surfaces feel by touch.  Textures can be useful to photographers when telling a story or conveying a particular message.  In this lesson we take a look at a variety of textures and discuss how they can be used in combination with other elements to achieve a strong photo composition.

The Texture Composition Challenge puts your knowledge of textures into practice.  Find an interesting texture to create a creative portrait.  Try to convey a message combining a soft or rough texture with your subject.

Our brains react positively to repetition and repetition go hand in hand with patterns.  A pattern simply means something that repeats itself over and over again.  What's more is patterns can be found almost everywhere you look.  We explore various patterns and how they are used to cleverly achieve a strong photo composition.

Have a look around where you are at this very moment.  Do you find a pattern?  Choose a pattern - any pattern - then take a series of photographs while testing your knowledge of how patterns can be used to achieve a nice photo composition.

Minimalist photography is quickly growing in popularity with many photographers, and it’s easy to see why.

In today’s visually-saturated world, the simplistic style of minimalist photography offers visually-soothing results – with plenty of breathing room. Minimalism provides a refreshing visual break from the constant flood of information, and visual noise that we face every day.

You will gain a better understanding of why filling your frame is important in photo composition and how to achieve this.  We will view photo examples showing both too much empty space and getting closer to a subject.  See the difference and grasp the idea that less clutter creates a larger impact.

Filling your frame equals a larger impact.  We take a look at both good and bad examples of Filling The Frame.  Why does too much space in an image ruin an otherwise good composition?  See the answer firsthand and view strong compositions that utilise filling the frame nicely.

A few steps forward toward your subject or zooming in with your camera can result in stunning photos.  Test your understanding of Filling Your Frame in photo composition with this creative exercise.

How often do you think to turn your camera vertically?  Many photographers think holding the camera horizontally is the only way to capture a photo. In fact, our cameras are designed to encourage a horizontal orientation.  We explore which aspect is best.

Unsure whether horizontal of vertical is best?  Try both!  View an example with details to understand how both aspects  work.  Ultimately, it is up to you to decide and your decision is based upon the story you want to tell.

Is every photo destined to be shot horizontally?  Test your understanding of when to capture a photo horizontally and vertically in this creative exercise.  We simply use both orientations.  The truth is one must create a habit to think to turn the camera.

Learn to avoid the common mistake of putting your subject in the middle of your photographs.  Many photographs do this.  Balance can be achieved simply by being off-cantered.  We explore the notion of moving away from the middle to achieve visual balance.

Make your photos more interesting by shifting the balance away from the middle.  View a variety of examples with details to understand why avoiding the middle works.  A simple "fix" can correct a common mistake and lead you to strong photo compositions.

Avoiding the middle is a fantastic rule for strong photo composition.  Let's take a look at breaking this rule.

Test your understanding of balance in photo composition with this creative photo challenge.  Take a series of photographs to show you fully understand how moving your subject away from the middle will strengthen your photo composition.

Understand the importance of lines and how to use them.  Lines can be implied by the direction a person looks or deliberate and they control the way people's eyes move around a picture.  Leading lines can draw a viewer right into your photograph which is good because this involves them.  Leading lines help to create a strong photo composition.

Lines can be important compositional devices.  View examples of photographs with a strong use of leading lines - both predictable and unpredictable.  See firsthand how implied and deliberate lines lead the eye through a photograph and help to achieve a strong photo composition.

Challenge your understanding of leading lines in photo composition with this creative photo challenge.  Choose an obvious leading line or one implied to achieve a strong photo composition.

Understand how a mere shift in position and/or focal length can introduce drama, movement and even uncertainty in a photograph.  When you use emotions effectively in a photograph, your composition strengthens tremendously.  Learn how slightly tilting your camera can produce strong photo compositions.

Using Dutch Tilt with a simple shift of your position or the position of your camera can make a huge impact in photographic composition.  View a variety of Dutch Tilt examples to see how this technique can effectively transform an ordinary photo into a great storytelling image.

Test your understanding of the use of the Dutch Tilt Technique in photo composition with this creative photo challenge.

Sense of movement (Space to Move) can be achieved by having more space in front of your subject than behind it..  Learn how to effectively use a sense of movement to strengthen your photo composition.

View detailed examples of photographs that utilise the Space to Move (Sense of Movement) technique.   Understand why the use of sense of motion works to stengthen photo composition.  This simple technique will take your images from good to wow.

Test your understanding of how Space to Move (Sense of Movement) can strengthen your photo composition with this creative photo challenge.  Create a series of photos utilising the elements we have discussed thus far in the course.

Understand how all parts of a photo can be used to make your subject stand out in a strong composition.  Additionally, learn to incorporate other rules of compositions - such as simplifying a scene and filling the frame to achieve an even stronger photo composition.  You can not eliminate backgrounds, but you can control them.

No matter how dull the background might be, you can use it to your advantage.  View various examples with detailed information to better understand why backgrounds play an important role in photo composition.  See firsthand how backgrounds are controlled effectively to achieve great results.

This creative photo challenge will test your understanding of the use of backgrounds and controlling them to achieve a strong composition.

Creatively use contrasting or complimentary colors to strengthen photo composition.  Color is everywhere we look whether you love bold bright colors, muted colors or monotones.  Train the eye to seek color in almost any scene to create striking photographs.

Simplicity, patterns, filling the frame and color.  Bring them all together into one photograph and see how it all works together for a compelling photo compostion.  View a variety of examples with a detailed explanation to understand how color can bring a photograph to life.