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Poster Post
4/02/2009 3:54:40 p.m.

Mel

Posts 166 		Hi MCB Photographers

Keen to hear your opinion…

We’ve had a couple of photographers ask us in the past, how they can improve composition in their images.

The Rule of Thirds often comes to mind, as one of starting points for successful composition, and we’d be interested to know how many of you actively adhere to this ‘rule’ when out and about shooting?

For those who are unfamiliar with the Rule of Thirds it essentially means creating a grid of nine rectangular boxes as you look through your camera viewfinder (3 across and 3 down). That is, imaging that there are 2 vertical lines and 2 horizontal lines spaced evenly, which you then place the main subject matter on or near the points where the lines intersect.
For example placing the horizon on the lower third (or upper third) of the viewfinder (rather than the center) or placing a person’s eyes (in a portrait) on or near the point where the lines cross rather than placing the subject matter in the center of the image.


To illustrate:

____________________________________




------------Eyes -------------------X------------



--------------X-------horizon------X-------------



____________________________________



So, do you think about this when shooting or are there other factors which you feel are more important to creating a strong composition?

Cheers
The Chillys
5/02/2009 4:41:59 p.m.

photohunter

Posts 69 		Not every image has to follow rule of thirds there are other things like diagonal lines to show strength, curves, triangles. Try to avoid having the centre of interest dead centre except in the case of a cross.
6/02/2009 11:54:15 a.m.

kathleen

Posts 221 		Hi all.
The Rule of Thirds is great, something I always keep in mind. Remember though that composition is a personal thing, and what appeals to me may not appeal to others, the image is your own artistic expression. But if you are struggling with composition, the Rule of Thirds may be the best thing you ever learn, not because you should use it for every photo (you shouldn't), but because you should be free to use your own judgment and know when to use it and when to ignore it.
That way, if you choose to compose your photo differently, it is not just a mistake, but a creative choice to improve the impact of the image.

The Rule of Thirds is based on the fact that the human eye is naturally drawn to a point about two-thirds up a page. Photos composed around these guidelines have a balanced look. Objects seem to appear exactly where your eye expects to find them.
For creativity, it's important to consider when rules should be broken just as much as when they should be followed, ignoring the Rule of Thirds doesn’t mean your images are necessarily unbalanced or uninteresting.
However; if you intend to break a rule, learn it first to make sure you’re breaking it for your image to be all the more effective!

In my experience at times, unfortunately the real world is not nearly so neatly organized as the Rule of Thirds, composition can be influenced by circumstances, and I then consider the Rule of Thirds more a guideline than a rule.
Choosing to ignore the Rule of Thirds is not the same thing as not being aware of it.

Sincerely,
Kathleen
6/02/2009 8:39:15 p.m.

Kiwiangel

Posts 101 		The rule of thirds is the photographic rule that I've been acquainted with for a long time, and yet which I find I often forget. I always use it when composing a shot with a horizon in it...at other times I can get so caught up in the beauty of a landscape or fascination with an object that I press that shutter button without a thought to placement.

Fortunately I am forgetting less often as my experience grows, and remembering that what my eye sees is not the same as what the end viewer gets to see, because of the choices I make. Like Kathleen said, the world isn't composed in thirds so much. I read somewhere that sometimes as pretty as a scene may be, it just might not make a good photo because the arrangement of elements doesn't work on paper.

I also find there is so much more to composition. While thirds is straight forward and easily applied (when one remembers/chooses to employ it), there are many other key to great composition which I would love to explore more.

Thank you for starting off this discussion, Mel, and for those who've so far replied. *thumbs up*

It will be interesting to see what others have to say on the subject.
9/02/2009 9:03:43 a.m.

fatsprat

Posts 135 		I follow the rule of thirds pretty much all of the time for environmental shots, and know when I'm breaking it. I agree, thirds don't naturally occur in the environment, it's how you set up the shot that makes it either follow the rule or not. But the rule of thirds is based on scientific and mathematical observations of nature, (Fibonacci's numbers and the golden spiral or golden section) and therefore compositions that follow this rule tend to be more aesthetically pleasing on the eye, which is why they work so well in art.
10/02/2009 3:59:42 p.m.

Mel

Posts 166 		Thanks for the feedback folks, much appreciated and very interesting too!

If there are other factors that you feel are super important when shooting, please do share - as it helps aspiring photographers (like myself) to improve : )


Mel
11/02/2009 1:24:35 a.m.

Canon_S.I.

Posts 283 		As i'm only into my 2nd year of photography and self taught,i'm not to clued up on technical terms or meanings but one thing i have learnt is to always, always check the camera settings before you start shooting your subject.I have buggered a few nice photos by having the camera say on tv instead of av,wrong iso setting {getting to much grain,or brightness}really small things you can't pick up on the camera screen until you get them on the computer,and my favourite......wrong speed setting for those action shots,but i guess that comes with experience,:-)
11/02/2009 5:00:18 p.m.

Ant

Posts 1 		Yep I try to employ them all Thirds, diagonals, 'C' & 'S'. Triangles, leading lines etc. Mixing it up a little and I particularly love using it in portraits. I think the more you think to use them the more natural they become. Of course, when you know how to use them then the fun start's...breaking them all
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