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Judge:
Emily Belz
Beyond Rule of Thirds
Essdras Suarez
Beyond Rule of Thirds
Essdras Suarez
Monday, January 11, 2027
7:30 PM
Hybrid Meeting (See Instructions/Get Zoom Link Emailed)
United Parish of Auburndale
64 Hancock Street
Auburndale, MA
Beyond the Rule of Thirds, Understanding Composition
Once you've mastered the technical foundations of photography—aperture, shutter speed, and ISO—the next step is learning how to shape what appears within the frame. This is where composition begins.
In this presentation, you'll discover how composition serves as the foundation of visual communication and the gateway to powerful visual storytelling. You'll learn how thoughtful placement of subjects, lines, shapes, and visual elements can transform an ordinary scene into a compelling photograph.
Even when a scene lacks dramatic action or a decisive moment, strong composition can elevate an image from average to memorable. You'll explore not only the Rule of Thirds and its practical applications, but also the psychological principles behind why certain compositions naturally attract attention and create visual impact. By understanding how viewers perceive and organize visual information, you'll gain valuable insight into creating photographs that communicate more effectively.
This presentation goes beyond memorizing rules. You'll develop a deeper understanding of the compositional principles that influence how people experience your images, allowing you to make more intentional creative decisions and refine your own photographic style.
Topics include points of entry and points of escape, visual flow, broken horizons, tridimensional approaches, clean backgrounds, balance, visual weight, and many other essential elements that help create stronger, more engaging photographs.
By the end of this presentation, you'll have practical tools to strengthen your compositions, guide the viewer's eye with purpose, and create photographs that communicate with greater clarity, impact, and storytelling power.
Essdras Suarez
2X Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, educator, author, and speaker
Essdras M Suarez is a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, educator, author, and international speaker whose career spans more than three decades. Renowned for his visual storytelling, he spent twenty years as a photojournalist at major U.S. newspapers before transitioning into freelance editorial and commercial photography. His work has appeared in publications including Time, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Le Figaro, among many others.
Today, Essdras is the founder of EMS Photo Adventures and Panama Photo Adventures, where he leads photography workshops and bird photography expeditions in the United States and Panama.
He has judged prestigious international competitions, including Xposure and Travel Photographer of the Year, and has presented at Boston University, Harvard University, MIT, Northeastern University, and numerous camera clubs and photography conferences throughout North America. He also served as Chief Photographer for the Israeli startup Million Eyez and hosted the Panamanian television series Enfoque Natural in 2022 and 2023.
Among his honors are two Pulitzer Prizes, the Robert F. Kennedy International Photojournalism Award, multiple Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards, formal recognition from the City of Panama and Universidad Santa María la Antigua, and selection as one of only 20 finalists in the Dearmoon Project from more than one million applicants worldwide.
Originally from Panama City, Essdras is a passionate educator, martial artist, and the creator of visYoga and the 365 Daily Fitness Challenge, which he has followed every single day since 2018.
For more information:
https://emsphotoadventures.com/
https://www.facebook.com/essdras.m.suarez
