Basic composition principles:
Angle of View – describes the camera position in relationship to the subject. The angle of view may be: a worm’s-eye view, a low-angle, eye-level, a high-angle, a bird’s-eye or aerial or overhead view, or an oblique angle.

Figure to Ground-the relationship between the subject and the background sometimes described as negative and positive space.

Fill the Frame (get closer) – do not leave empty areas that do not add to the composition and plan to crop in later.

Framing –  how the frame brings together the elements inside the rectangle. Framing can also refer to how much information is in a shot and can be described as: a long shot, a medium shot, a close up or an extreme close up.

Leading Lines – lines in the photograph that lead the eye to the main subject

Pattern – repeated elements

Rule of Thirds -Instead of placing the main subject in the center of the frame, divide the frame into thirds horizontally and vertically and place the main subject at one of these intersections

Symmetry – If you fold the image in half the two haves are very similar and have equal visual weight

Resources

Composition Tips by Steve McCurry

Topics: Rule of Thirds, Leading Lines, Diagonals, Framing, Figure to Ground, Fill the Frame, Center Dominant Eye, Patterns and Repetition, Symmetry

 

Composition, Chapter from Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs by Henry Carroll

Topics: Leading Lines, Horizontal or Vertical, Framing, Foreground Interest, Getting Close, Symmetry, The Rule of Thirds

 

Composition, Digital Photography 1 on 1: Episode 32

Topics: Pattern, Angle or Point of View, Rule of Thirds