A photograph can often be made more interesting when it is taken from a different angle. This one, taken from the second floor landing in the University of Memphis library is a good example. The "Compass Rose" graphic is a strong design element and the two people add human interest. The curve along the top part of the image is repeated with a pattern of reflections from the lights in the ceiling, reinforcing the pattern. If this image was taken from eye level, it would have been just a photo of two people standing on a fancy terrazzo floor. Another advantage of shooting from a high angle is that it simplifies the background by eliminating clutter. You should always look high and low as well as walk around any subject, if that is a possibility, paying attention to foreground and background. Make pictures as you move around the subject. When shooting digital, there's no additional cost involved making multiple exposures, and you can always discard the ones you don't like. I'm constantly amazed at my students who will often shoot a single photo of something and walk away. In this instance I probably made 30 or 40 exposures from different points of view, including some from the third floor. Also, as I stood there, people came and went across the floor below and the scene was constantly changing. When you decide to shoot photos of something, you'll do better if you're not in a hurry.
I like this one as the two figures fit neatly at the intersection of the upper right rectangle. I don't go by the "rule of thirds" all of the time (a subject for later discussion) but there's no question that it often makes a photo stronger.
One additional point about this particular photo is the cropping. One of my favorite formats is 16 X 9 and when a subject fits, I will often crop it that way. (16 X 9 is the format of HD video)
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