Composition Aids: Opposites Attract

Opposites can work to create balance in a composition.

In a way, this is a continuation of the main point from my non-guide to street photography: learn how to read a room. I thought that I would write a couple of articles on the things I look for and what I pay attention to in a scene. One of the first things that I tend to try and spot, and the subject of this first article, are opposites.

Opposites are attractive. It’s as simple as that. In an image, they can serve as tools to create visual interest or convey meaning. They can be obvious and the centerpiece of the image or just one small piece of the overall composition. When dealing with staged forms of photography, such as portraiture or commercial photography, opposites can be “implemented”. When shooting street or other unposed photography genres one must train oneself to find opposites in a scene.

Here are some examples of opposites I lookout for:

Opposites in position or direction help to create visual interest.

Opposites in behavior help to isolate your subject from the crowd.

Opposites in emotional expression can serve to add a dynamic element to an image, but are hard to catch.