Photography of people and animals: blank space for eye direction and movement
Introduces compositional suggestions for characters and animals oriented toward the inside of the picture, blank space in the direction of subject movement, and the applicable boundaries of these suggestions; does not claim the existence of fixed gaze psychology, closed narrative, or emotional effects.
Observe the subject's orientation
When photographing people or animals, try pointing the subject toward the inside of the frame. Then compare the different framing effects of the space in front of the subject and behind it; this is a composition suggestion, not a rule that must be followed. 〔G-GAZE-01, G-GAZE-03〕
Leave space for movement direction
If the scene contains action, leave some extra space on one side of the subject in the direction the subject is heading. Nikon's guidelines suggest that this looks more natural and allows the viewer to feel where the subject is going. Whether or not to use it still depends on how you want the image to look. 〔G-GAZE-02, G-GAZE-03〕
Use comparison instead of psychological laws to decide
There are two framing options you can try: one that leaves more space in the direction of the subject's orientation/movement, and one that places the subject near the edges and see if they match your shooting goals. Don’t infer character emotions, narrative, or the viewer’s inevitable reaction based solely on the direction of your gaze. 〔G-GAZE-03〕
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