How to Use Triangles for Better Composition

triangle composition

How to Use Triangles to Improve Your Composition

triangle composition

Triangles are one of the most powerful tools for improving composition. Learn how to use them.

There is nothing like a triangle to make a picture look more interesting. They can add energy, drama, movement and rhythm to a still life. They can suggest tension, give structure to a pattern, or indicate a place for the viewer’s eyes to rest. They can also be used to suggest a range of possibilities or to draw attention to a particular feature.

They can be very subtle, almost invisible, and yet very effective. Take this simple vase of flowers. The flowers are placed on a table, each on its own level. The stems of the flowers form a triangle of equal sides. The stems of the flowers are parallel with the diagonal of the picture. There is no suggestion of a base, but the shape of the vase and the diagonal give a suggestion of symmetry and balance.

The same kind of thinking applies to the arrangement of the flowers in this picture. Each one is placed on its own level. The petals overlap and form an equilateral triangle. The stems are parallel to the diagonal of the picture. They create a structure that gives shape to the picture, but the flowers themselves are free to move around the edge of the frame. This suggests movement and drama to the picture.

triangle composition

Sometimes, the triangles of the arrangement can be more obvious. This bowl of fruit is made up of three sections of equal size and height. The fruits are grouped together and form two triangles. Each one is roughly the same height and width, which helps to give the bowl of fruit a balanced and symmetrical shape.

If you think about arranging your picture in terms of triangles, it can help you to look at it in a new way. It can help you to improve your composition.

Make sure that you think about the placement of the elements within your picture. Is the space too crowded? Is there enough room for the viewer’s eyes to rest comfortably? Does it need more movement or less? Are the objects evenly spaced and at the right height and angle? Are there any distracting details that might distract the viewer from the main idea of your picture?

Are you happy with the way your picture looks? If not, do think about it. How could you arrange it to make it more interesting? Perhaps you could try placing some of the items further apart. Move some of the objects around. Add or remove a few objects, and try out different angles to see how they affect the picture.

Use your imagination.

triangle composition

If you are not happy with your composition, you can experiment with different ideas. Use triangles to give the picture more interest. Make sure that your picture is symmetrical. Try placing one object slightly higher than another to give the picture more tension. You might even try moving the main elements around, or changing their scale, shape, position or size.

Think of triangles.

The more times you look at a triangle, the easier it becomes to see the structure of its shape. The same principle applies to composing an image. As you practice, the shapes will become more familiar and you will find the elements of a good composition much easier to recognize and place in your picture.

triangle composition