Skip to main content

Learn how to achieve great composition simply by shifting your perspective

learn achieve great composition shifting perspective educational video mike browne screenshot
Image used with permission by copyright holder
One of the most basic techniques that every photographer – amateur and (aspiring) professional alike – needs to learn is composition. Without proper composition, even the most elaborately arranged scene can look entirely uninspiring, while proper composition can turn even the most mundane objects into a great photograph.

As with all things photographic, there are dozens of rules and techniques that are impossible to always keep in mind, especially when you’re a beginner with little experience. But something that is pretty easy to remember is the fact that by sheer movement of the camera’s position, an entire scene can be completely rearranged and made to look totally different.

That is exactly what British photographer Mike Browne is talking about in this two-part educational video on composition. By explaining some simple tricks involving physical movement of the photographer and camera, he teaches you how to turn chaos into order and end up with a pleasingly composed photograph.

Working with static objects, Browne shows various movements that you can perform with your camera in order to shift around immobile objects inside your frame. While his advice of using vertical and horizontal shifts, as well as pitch and yaw movements, may seem self-evident, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded about these simple compositional tricks and the way they can alter the appearance of an entire scene.

At the end of the second video, Browne has another short line of advice that is even more elementary to all kinds of photography than the knowledge about composition or the ability to manually control your camera: “Get out there and play with it. And don’t worry if people laugh at you.”

If you’d like to learn more, Browne has a whole series of educational videos over in his YouTube channel.

(Via PetaPixel)

Editors' Recommendations

Felix Esser
Felix is a freelance tech journalist with a strong focus on photography. Based out of central Germany, he contributes to…
How to photograph April’s solar eclipse, according to NASA
A total solar eclipse.

How to Photograph a Total Solar Eclipse

Nikon recently shared some tips on photographing April’s total solar eclipse, and NASA is also offering its own ideas.

Read more
The best free photo-editing software for 2024
Side view of a laptop on a desk.

Professional photo-editing applications aren't cheap, nor are they easy to master without formal training. That's why we're taking a look at the best free photo-editing software on the market.
Our top pick is GIMP, an open-source photo editing software available for the big three operating systems. It offers a huge workspace and a wide variety of professional editing tools.
We provide thousands of how-to articles, news articles, and best-of lists to help you build your photography skills, choose the best gear for your photography needs, and make the most out of your photo equipment. And if our top pick isn’t for you, check out the other options on this list. There are great choices for conventional desktop software, mobile apps, and even web-based solutions that don't require installing software.

GIMP

Read more
The best photo printers you can buy in 2024
Alan compares draft, standard, and high-quality photos from Epson's EcoTank ET-8500.

A comparison of draft, standard, and high-quality photos from Epson's EcoTank ET-8500. Tracey Truly / Digital Trends

If you love sharing photo prints or building physical photo albums, you might want to upgrade to a photo printer. When manufacturers optimize printers for pictures, the results can match or exceed that of the best printers available.

Read more