Elements of Composition in Photography

"Good Composition is a key element of good photographs yet is something that is hard to define. Instead of looking at composition as a set of ‘rules’ to follow - I view it as a set of ingredients that can be taken out of the pantry at any point and used to make a great ‘meal’ (photograph). Alternatively I’ve often described it as a set of ‘tools’ that can be taken out of one’s compositional tool belt at any given time in the construction of a great image. The key is to remember that in the same way as a chef rarely uses all the ingredients at their disposal in any dish - that a photographer rarely uses all of the ingredients of composition in the making of an image."

[via digital photography school]