In
response to my last
post, I got a wonderful critique from an old pastor friend, who is also
dabbling in photography. One thing that stood out was the rule of thirds.
5 steps to great indoor photos on VocalPoint also mentions the rule of thirds. I've
heard it before, but never bothered to look it up until now.
From Wikipedia
Basically,
the most interesting/important parts of a photo should either fall on these lines or at their intersection. Let's see what I can do with the
photo from my last
post.
Well, now
half of J's head is cropped out. Oh, well. Now I know why some cameras lay out
a 3x3 grid for you on the LCD screen.
Related to
composition, my husband is always
talking about the lines in a photo. Below
is one of his favorite photos - not only because it's a sweet moment from J's
infancy but also because it contains all the lines he likes.
Using horizontal lines in photography on Digital Photography
School.com says that horizontal lines convey stability and permanence. If
you can't keep your horizontal lines horizontal, use software to fix it, like
the author did here. See how the horizon in the left picture is tilted? It's fixed in the right photo.
Using diagonal lines in photography says that diagonal help to draw viewers
through a photograph. They can also help to create depth and add a sense of
action.
So I'm guessing my husband is the vertical line (strength) in the photo above and J is the diagonal (action).
So I'm guessing my husband is the vertical line (strength) in the photo above and J is the diagonal (action).
What do you think of the cropped photo of J?
Other tips about composition?
Other tips about composition?
very cool to learn some of the why's and wherefore's of composition. and to study images and your personal sense of "does the photog's chosen composition help or hurt in my opinion" kinda thing.
ReplyDeletebut "rule of thirds" is really a misnomer... :o)
As mentioned earlier, the "Rule of Thirds" is not a rule at all; it's a guideline, intended to help you when you are uncertain as to the placement of elements in a scene when you are framing the picture. By ignoring the rule, you may still have a great picture, depending on the content of the image and how well its elements are balanced. For example, if you want your viewer to ignore all other parts of your composition, then place your center of interest smack in the middle, like a bull's eye. The important thing is to note the reasons for object placement in your images. Knowing why you do something and what effect it will have leads to good composition.
http://photoinf.com/Golden_Mean/John_Longenecker/Rule_of_Thirds.htm
one man's opinion: I think I like your first compo of J where his head was kept in frame. tho I do like your cropped version too because it makes J bigger in the image...
Robert Capa, the legendary Hungarian-born photojournalist who set the prevailing standard for war photographers, spoke seven languages — none very well. He didn't need to. For over 20 of the bloodiest years of the 20th century, Capa let his cameras do the talking. "If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough," he famously declared.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,267730,00.html#ixzz1Wd7ihjFw
...lots of schools of thought... :o)
tks for the (school of) thoughts!
ReplyDeleteI like what David Rowse says in his Digital Photography School.com article:
ReplyDelete"I will say right up front however that rules are meant to be broken and ignoring this one doesn’t mean your images are necessarily unbalanced or uninteresting. However a wise person once told me that if you intend to break a rule you should always learn it first to make sure your breaking of it is all the more effective!"
http://www.digital-photography-school.com/rule-of-thirds
A fun discussion!
Yes, I agree. I want to learn the rule before I break it! Hahahaa
ReplyDelete