4 Composition Techniques for Better Film Photographs

Composition has rules that transcend all visual mediums, but playing to the equipment you're using can still be helpful. In this video, one photographer walks through his favorite techniques for better film photographs.

Film photography has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, which is encouraging to see. Shooting on film, particularly if you've only ever known digital photography, is a singular and rewarding experience. Many of the benefits of shooting digital and raw — no limitations with shots, post-production freedom, and so on — are relinquished, which can narrow your focus.

One of the biggest considerations for me is having a limited number of shots. I take far more time per frame and I am more reluctant to take shots in general. Even if I have multiple rolls of film, I'm hesitant. This more considered approach to photography has its benefits, but some differences need to be catered for. For example, the type of film you're shooting on may play more into some compositions than others. Is the film especially contrasty or has a cooler color cast?

In this video, William Verbeeck walks you through some of his (fantastic) images and the compositional techniques that underpinned them.

Robert K Baggs's picture

Robert K Baggs is a professional portrait and commercial photographer, educator, and consultant from England. Robert has a First-Class degree in Philosophy and a Master's by Research. In 2015 Robert's work on plagiarism in photography was published as part of several universities' photography degree syllabuses.

Log in or register to post comments