Code 187 -- A Comparision in Composition

Canon EOS Rebel T2i with Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

ISO: 400
Exposure: 1/100 sec
Aperture: 1.4
Focal Length: 50mm

In picture one everything is sort of straight on and the main component of the photo, the numbers, is in the center of the frame.  Everything is very expected.  It's a little "surprise" that the 7 is off kilter when everything else is lined up.  I read somewhere, that it's good practice to add a "surprise" or some sort of punchline to your photos.  And if you can add two, it's even better.  ie if you have a line of black shoes, make the surprise a red shoe.  (PS when you want to take a picture straight on, line up the bottom of the frame with a line in the shot, future self or go back and rotate, kay?)

In picture two, the same set of numbers exist, but it's more interesting.  Your eye travels to the 1 first, then the 8, then the 7.  I did this by narrowing the depth of field (yeah...i'm guilty of making the aperture 1.4 just because I can.  Just because the lens lets me, doesn't mean I should.  Better to close the aperture, get a greater depth of field and make all of the 1 in focus), focusing on the one, and using the ledge that the number sit on as a line the eye can naturally travel along.  This is the same principle behind the photo with the cars.

I think the second of the two pictures is more interesting.  The photos utilize the same subject, but the second has a "story".  The picture starts somewhere, and gives your eye somewhere to go.  

So, remember future Colleen, just because you want to take a picture of something, doesn't mean you can't tell a story and just because your equipment can do something, doesn't mean you should. Technology kills.  And as Andrew says, don't be a dummys.