People Photography in Asia: A Tale of Evolving Composition for More Dynamic and Meaningful Images

You know me; I don’t like to delve into the technical side because it bores me. Great photos don’t come from using “great settings” on our cameras. Of course, understanding our cameras helps us capture what we want, but great photos are defined by more than just technical prowess.

As we advance in these techniques, we should consider using wider lenses. I’ll describe how we can develop our people photography compositions to tell better stories and capture more dynamic images by gradually including more elements in our frames. I believe the best focal lengths for this are between 16mm and 50mm. Above this range, we tend to restrict ourselves to including only one or two elements, making it harder to tell interesting stories.

I mostly shoot with a 35mm lens and enjoy getting close and interacting with my subjects. This approach may not suit everyone’s tastes or personalities, but it works well for people photography in Asia.

What I’m about to describe can be seen as a natural evolution. This is what has happened to me over the years and what I’ve witnessed with many of my students. This evolution can span years or just a few days if you’re a fast learner! If you are a visual person, this photo selection will show you what I mean by the evolution of composition in travel photography: 

I recommend that my students start by finding a good subject as a warm-up. It’s tough to arrive in a bustling place and immediately start taking complex photos. So let’s start simple.

Begin with one subject. Find someone interesting and use the rule of thirds. You can get very close for a portrait or step back for an environmental portrait—it’s up to you. However, it’s important to move beyond just close-up portraits as they quickly become predictable or even boring (I talked about this here).

Finding a good subject is crucial; don’t just photograph anyone you come across. Shooting only portraits with a 70-200mm lens can become repetitive and boring if you choose uninteresting subjects. Focus on the most captivating people you encounter.

To make these images stand out, work with the best light and backgrounds/foregrounds available. Asia can be messy, and so can your compositions. For those wanting to learn more about using light and backgrounds to take better photos, I’ve discussed it here.

Once you’ve focused on one subject, try adding something else. This is where the rule of thirds becomes really effective. Placing each subject/element on a third will help create balance in your image.

You don’t necessarily have to add another person. Another element could be an interesting background or foreground, or even the use of negative space around your subject. Negative space can be an intriguing element of your composition, even though it’s technically “nothing.”

This technique works well for environmental portraits. Add elements around your subject that place them in their environment, helping viewers understand more about who they are or what they do,

The next step is to add another element to your frame. When doing this, try to fill the frame with these subjects/elements, creating triangles and strong leading lines from one corner to the other.

You can also use two elements in the background to frame your main subject. This requires you to decide who the main character is and who the supporting characters are, which will also help you decide whom to focus on before taking the photo.

Given that we’re talking about busy locations in Asia, it makes sense for the image to reflect that busyness. The challenge is to avoid creating messy, confusing photos.

As you add more layers or elements, pay close attention to the juxtaposition of these layers.. Scan the entire frame from corner to corner, not just the center. This takes concentration and energy, but it helps you reach “the zone”—that state of complete focus on capturing photos.

A common mistake is cropping someone’s fingers or feet, so be mindful of your subjects’ limbs. I recently wrote a new tutorial about playing the layering game to create more creative and unique images. Check it out here.

This step is optional but can help create powerful images. A strong foreground figure adds dynamism and rhythm, making the viewer feel immersed in the scene.

If you find a compelling foreground figure, shift your focus quickly to make them the main character. This requires anticipation and quick decision-making.

Sometimes, I break the “rules” by opening my aperture when shooting layered images. If I find a great foreground subject, I might blur everything behind to make them the star of the show.

By following these steps, you’ll start composing more interesting images. But there’s one more step to achieve, and it’s the most challenging.

This is where the influence of street photography can make your travel images unique. Street photography is about capturing a special moment in time, showing viewers something unique in the scene. Unlike travel photography, which can be more descriptive, street photography requires a twist or an unexpected element.

The magic moment in street photography is often superior to the other compositional techniques mentioned. A single subject in the middle of the frame can create a stunning image if the moment is right.

This moment can also evoke emotions, making viewers feel something special. Capturing such moments requires anticipation and a keen eye for the unexpected.

Composition in photography and the creative choices we make are personal and unique to each individual. Describing a step-by-step process of the evolution of travel and people photography may seem silly, and you might be right.

However, my years of teaching photography have shown that this is a natural evolution for most photographers. Unless you want to be stuck taking close-up portraits forever, this evolution will help you develop your photography style.