Composition 

There are probably as many opinions on what characterises a really good photo as there are photographers. Image quality is to some extent a matter of taste. Some prefer photos with pronounced lines, some like photos with a surprising content, and some like photos that are aesthetically pleasing. Nevertheless, there are some basic rules for composing images that you should pay attention to. Still, there is no rule without an exception. Sometimes you can compose a great photo by breaking all the rules. 

What Is Composition?
Before you shoot you make various decisions. To begin with, you choose a camera and a lens that you want to use. Next, you choose a spot to take the shot from and you choose what you want in the background. You choose a perspective, that is, if you want to shoot the subject looking down or looking up. You zoom in or you zoom out, and you decide whether you want your photo exposed horizontally or vertically.
        The total of these considerations is called composition. You get perfect photos only by making the right decision every time.
        Take a familiar tourist attraction such as the Eiffel tower in Paris and consider the staggering amount of photos taken of it. If you were to examine all of them we guarantee that you would be surprised by the many different ways this subject has been composed. Composition is highly individual.
 
Choosing a Lens
When composing a photo it is always extremely important to understand the weaknesses and strengths of different types of lenses.  You need to be able to choose the right lens for a particular shot. Wide-angle lenses, tele lenses, and ordinary-perspective lenses all have very different characteristics.

There is a wealth of lenses on the market, each one with a specific purpose.

 
The Rule of Thirds
When looking through your viewfinder, try to imagine two horizontal and two vertical lines that are placed at equal distances from each other. Try placing the important elements of the scene you are shooting near the intersection points of these lines. These intersection points create the golden ratio or rather they provide one way of calculating the golden ratio. If you are not already using this technique in your photography, using it will allow you to get much more powerful photos in no time.

The Rule of Thirds is just one of many hundred compositional tools.

Never assume that your usual perspective is necessarily best for the subject you are shooting. Perhaps taking a few steps to your left or to your right, going up or down stairs or getting down on your knees will make your photo much more interesting. You should, however, always remember to take photos of children at their eye level. Being a photographer you will often have to assume complicated acrobatic poses in order to get the perfect shot. Follow this link to read more about perspective.
        When you compose a photo you should give some thought to where you place your focus. If something besides the main subject of your photo is in focus, the attention of a viewer will drawn to the wrong part of the photo. If, however, the main subject of the photo is the only thing that is sharp, no one will doubt the purpose of the photographer in taking the photo.
 

In this photo, focusing is used in order to really cut to the bone.

Nikon D200, 70-200mm VR, F2.8, 1/1000 second, ISO 400.
 
Emphasizing the Content of the Photo

An important aspect of composition is going straight for what is essential in a subject. As far as possible, you should avoid disturbing elements that direct attention away from the main subject. Disturbing elements could be high tension wires in front of a beautiful old museum, an overturned garbage can behind children playing in the park or a withered leaf of grass in front of a butterfly sitting on a yellow flower. The elements that you choose to leave out of your photo are just as important as the elements you choose to focus on.
        Any subject can generally be captured with your camera held horizontally as well as vertically. Holding the camera horizontally comes natural to most people, this might explain why so few photos are taken in the vertical format. Nevertheless, you should try working with both types of perspective. Afterwards, you can always choose to keep the photo that turned out best. If reading about composition was helpful to you, you may also want to read about the nature of light and action photography. 
          
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