Creating a well balanced composed photo?

My compositions I think are one of those areas I need to work on.  I'm sure this question might be faced off with difficulty to explain, but I'm going to fire it off and hope for the best.  I'd be really appreciative to learn how you go about getting balanced composed shots.  What does your approach look like?  

When you find your subject, how are scanning for foreground and background elements?  

Man, I hope this question makes sense!  

One builds language and communication by first listening,
repeating, and comes a time when one can express ideas.

One builds composition and communication by first looking,
appreciating, and comes a time when one can express ideas.

In a place like this forum, just look around. See the different
subjects and the way they were framed. Appreciate them for
yourself, sharpen your observation and critique skills and you
will come to your own way.

Have a good time!

Just to add my 1c worth ,

• suggestion : don't get weighed down too much on rules ;  e.g,  rule-of-thirds , while it may have occasional relevance and validity ,  it should not be totally enforcing your composition ;

• please yourself first :  be satisfied for yourself that the image expresses your intended result ;  does photo show and tell what you wanted it to .  Critique it and analyse if or if not it has achieved your original intention ,  and  if not,  why not ,  what and how could you do better ;

• along similar lines to what NS said ,  observation and appreciation of your subject and all its characteristics ,  and what is happening around it ;

• suggestion : with regard to foreground & background elements :  when  shooting ,  think about whether they effectively contribute to the subject ,  do they have any context connection to the subject , do they reinforce or add to the impact of subject ,  or distract attention from subject .  If so include in view,  if not ,  try to exclude from view .

db3348

db3348 wrote: Just to add my 1c worth ,

• suggestion : don't get weighed down too much on rules ;  e.g,  rule-of-thirds , while it may have occasional relevance and validity ,  it should not be totally enforcing your composition ;

• please yourself first :  be satisfied for yourself that the image expresses your intended result ;  does photo show and tell what you wanted it to .  Critique it and analyse if or if not it has achieved your original intention ,  and  if not,  why not ,  what and how could you do better ;

• along similar lines to what NS said ,  observation and appreciation of your subject and all its characteristics ,  and what is happening around it ;

• suggestion : with regard to foreground & background elements :  when  shooting ,  think about whether they effectively contribute to the subject ,  do they have any context connection to the subject , do they reinforce or add to the impact of subject ,  or distract attention from subject .  If so include in view,  if not ,  try to exclude from view .

db3348

  good post 

G'day Tom

Another suggestion...

next time you're passing the local $2 shop, pop in and buy an empty cardboard photo frame. Cut it into two halves diagonally, leaving you with 2 "oversize Ls"

Play with these onto any printed photos you see around the house ... magazines included, and see for yourself how images behave with varying cropping and layouts applied

It is all part of the learning process
Hope this helps
Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/