>>4453482>>4453612Here's an example using my own image.
In blue I've overlayed a golden ratio -- the photo can be said to generally follow a golden ratio type composition. Note the lady on the left acts as a "tail" to the golden spiral, the handrail acts as the tail going into the spiral, it follows up along her hand, is supported by the frame of the photo, and lands on her head.
Also, generally, there is a rule of thirds present -- the ladies' eyes and sun line up wit the general third line, the hands and railing on the bottom. Both ladies line up on the left and right thirds line respectively.
The handrail and the top of the window both help act as "leading lines", and with an opening geometry, suggest your eye to start on the left (where the tail of the golden spiral is) and to wander to the right.
Balance-wise, the large, black area of the left helps balance with the high contrast of the right.
Multiple compositional elements are supporting this photo.
The two ladies act as the subjects of the photo, even though it's more-so of a photo of the sunset. But the sun hardly acts as a part of the composition. The focus helps emphasize this compositionally. If I had just taken a photo of the sunset, it would've been really boring.
I anticipate one's eyes to start at the left lady's face, the high contrast and composition landing your eyes there first. They might dart to the left looking for details but return as there is little there. They will follow the handrail and golden spiral to the other lady's face where they land as a "resting point". They'll circulate back and forth between her, and the sun and buildings in the back, and even the details and highlights of the left lady's face, before finding their way back to the face of the right lady to rest.
It's not a very interesting photo overall (I'm not doxing myself lol), but I think it's a good example of composition at minimum and it is a photo people generally find pleasant I think for the composition.
