Composition tip: Creating a sense of urgency

Sunday 8 June 2025, 23:23 by Elja Trum | 2,431 views | 0 comments

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

A composition that conveys haste or speed is all about creating a sense of urgency. You can do this with dynamic lines, diagonally placed elements and a busier image.

f/11, 1/20s, 100 ISO @ 32mm
Another way to create a sense of haste is by using movement or blur in the photo. You can do this by photographing moving subjects, or by blurring the background while keeping the subject sharp.

The placement of elements also plays a role: positioning them diagonally or in unexpected places within the frame creates a sense of imbalance that reinforces the speed in the 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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