Composition tip: Don't let objects overlap

Thursday 14 August 2025, 14:07 by Elja Trum | 2,538 views | 0 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Pay close attention to the elements visible in your background. You want to avoid certain elements overlapping your subject in the wrong place.

Lina - f/2, 1/80s, 1000 ISO @ 50mm
For example, think of a tree or pole positioned directly behind your model. It then looks as though the tree is growing out of your model's head. That looks strange.

By moving something, to the left, right or higher up, you can often prevent elements in your background from overlapping your subject in the wrong place. A few centimetres is often enough to improve your composition.

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About the author

Elja Trum is the founder of Photofacts and online photography course website Photofacts Academy. He has been writing about photography since 2006. Elja is also the author of (Dutch) books on composition, black-and-white photography, flash photography and portrait photography.

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Would you like to take better photos and keep up with what is happening in photography? Photofacts publishes articles that teach you something about photography — from a product announcement to a practical shooting tip or a look at a website. Photofacts covers photography every day and is a hobby project of Elja Trum's that got out of hand. The articles are written by a team of volunteer authors. If you would enjoy writing one or more articles for Photofacts, do get in touch.More about Photofacts

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