I should really be posting a pic right now, since I'm 3 days behind (sorry) - but I thought I'd catch up on your shots instead, AND start a series of discussions for keeners like myself who would like to learn more about the Rules of Photography. I've heard it said that you should learn the rules first, and then break em (and not the other way around, apparently!) I'm not claiming to be any sort of expert. In fact, just the opposite - so I thought this would be helpful for anyone else in the same boat. Anyways, thought I'd start with composition, ie: the rule of thirds, etc. Post a shot of yours that relies heavily on composition to make the shot - with a few words about it, if you feel so inclined. I'll start with this one, although it's a bit of a bad example, since it technically breaks the rules of composition, being divided exactly in half - but the way it's composed is the reason I loved the shot so much. Let's see your compositions!
This is just a silly shot of my kitty and i had to go and break the rule of thirds;) it just looked best when the focus was in the middle. i took some with her off center, but decided this one was best......even if it did break the rule!
I do a lot with the rule of thirds, but break it too. This shot was captured trying over and over again. I originally hated it, but once I plugged in the rule of thirds, I like it more.
I love your discussion and like you I should be posting pictures rather than replying but hey! I like the composition in this one with their heads at one end looking into the picture. Is that what you mean?? ;)
@kiwichick it does follow the rule of thirds, so yes:) Heads in one third of the shot, looking towards the negative space in the other two thirds! (I'll post a shot tomorrow that I think you might like;-)
@elizabeth264 that's exactly why I wanted to post a series of discussions like this - to get these conversations going. And I don't think dividing a shot in half is breaking the rules per se - sometimes a little symmetry is called for. But in my shot there's no symmetry at all, but I still liked it:)
i've been making an effort to try rule of thirds... the pigeon is a good example... my original crop had his eye dead center... that seemed intuitive to me... but once i recropped as below, it felt better... but it still doesn't quite come naturally to me!
Ok, I just usually shot what looks "good to my eye" which is probably not technically correct. This is todays, I thought it looked liked the rule of the thirds.
I think this shot works because he is not centered and he is looking out of the frame. I use the rule of thirds quite a bit and find that I like the overall composition better if the subject is not perfectly centered.
I'm really bad about sticking to the rule of thirds. I'll do it occasionally if it feels like the right shot for it, but most of the time....nope. I had to search for awhile to find one of mine that actually used the rule of thirds and looked decent. An oldie but a goodie.
Um, I should be working or at least commenting, but Paula you have lured me into this, you seductress, you. Even though it isn't perfect, I really liked the composition of this because I tend to like things in threes. So the woman, her shadow and the rock formed a triangle I found pleasing, especially compared to the rock jetty receding and the golden weeds advancing in opposite directions.
I end up, quite a bit of the time, centering my shot, then cropping to the rule of thirds after the fact. That way, I'm sure of a good sharp focus. Too many times I've composed in my camera lens only to find the thing that I really wanted in focus, wasn't. So that's what I did with this one.
@webfoot you know, that honestly never occured to me. That would solve a lot of my soft focus issues when it comes to composition. Thanks for the tip! (Also that's a beautiful shot)
It's a "face" on the side of a donut box. The "nose" is the flap that goes into the "mouth" when the box is closed. If I didn't compose my shot this way, it simply wouldn't have worked.
Anyone that has dealings with me knows I am a strong believer of the rule of thirds so I thought I would post two photos that use those principles.
The first is a selfie where I placed my in the frame to give mood as there is a dark negative space. The dramatic light helps
The second is some bullets I put on the 1/3 across and 2/3 down. I also had the lines of the table move across and up the image to lead the eye into the bullets and the trail of blood to both lead the eye away, while making the viewer think about what the image is all about.
I think this photo works because of the rule of thirds, the negative space is filled with the soft tulle and pattern. You also follow the line from the toes to the top of the {my} legs :)
Generally my landscapes are well in "landscape" and follow the rule of thirds. This one breaks it but has been received very well. Sometimes composition does over "rule" it.
@pwallis But wouldn't your shot follow the rule of thirds since your subject is in the right hand 3rd even though the red bar splits the picture......just wondering. thanks for the post, I can never look at enough pictures!
@jtrudell I think it technically breaks the rules because the shot is divided in half and has more than one focal point. If the pole wasn't there, I think it would be composed according to the rule of thirds:) Your snowy shot is LOVELY!
@webfoot I do it that way all the time. I often feel like I take too much time if I try to compose in the camera. It's easier to get the shot, then go in and crop to get the composition I want.
This is one of my favorite kinds of shots...the classic "reflection turned upside down". I think that part of the reason that they work is because they confuse your brain a bit at first, and make you take a second look. Another reason that they work is because they are usually a bit brighter and shinier that the real thing. In this photo, the leaves floating on the water look like they are flying about, which just looks wrong, but so right at the same time. I could be wrong, but I think it breaks more rules than it follows.
I am learning the rules after the event too and composition is something I find really difficult. Often I know what I want to see but can't make it do what I want! Some days I get it, some days (such as todays...I really don't). But this shot was yesterdays and I think the composition worked pretty well (given that I don't know 'the rules'!!)
The scattered helms and swords etc lead your eye in and up the picture, to the warrior lying on the top third line, with his head/body over on the right third of the picture. The sword in the bottom left balances the helm in the top right, giving a bit of a diagonal to break up the static feel. This one took a bit of cropping until I was happy with the feel of it.
This definitely follows the "Rule of Thirds" as the snow line follows the top third, and the subject is at the intersection of the top & left third. Brings your focus exactly to the snowflake.
I initially took this one as quite a centred shot as I wanted to have the flexibility to play around with the composition in post. Once I cropped it, it seemed to have more of a draw to that wonderful wooden door.
Leading lines
in this shot the arc of the harbour promenade and the railings lead the eye towards the lighthouse this is the composition of leading lines, this is also the compositional element that works in @claireclinch road picture and @flagged picture of the Jetty, lines which lead the eye into the picture giving it depth, you should be careful using leading lines as they can draw your eye away from the point you want to focus on.
The rule of Symmetry
another rule that is often overlooked keeping the shot symmetrical, this is the rule in force in all those under the boardwalk shots also @paulaag cat shot and @myautofocuslife box face shot are influenced by this rule.
Rule of framing
besides having a leading line in the path this shot also has a natural frame made from the trees on either side this is the rule of framing, this style of composition works with all manner of objects holes, arches, bridges the list goes on
I haven't read up on the rule of thirds (tisk tisk) but it seems that I just do it without thinking.
I'm pretty sure this is a good example....
and this one is too..
but what about this one?
I spent some time framing this shot to follow the rule of thirds so the path would be on the left vertical line and the horizontal path on the lower one.
But in this one I made sure to put the horizon in the middle as I felt the rocks in the foreground and the sky both deserved attention.
In this one, 'Stroppy Poppy', the leading line of the lead takes your eye to the dog, but also literally underlines her eyes, emphasising the look she is giving me! LOL!
"In regards to composition - there is a basic rule of thirds here, with the tree, her face, and the negative space all taking about 1/3 of the frame. The break of the rule is in having her eye - the focus - in the centre of the frame. This was carefully framed and shot, and only one shot taken."
This one was a fibonacci spiral composition. I had the composition in mind when I took it, but it was difficult to judge by eye alone. I used the crop overlay tool in lightroom to get it spot on. Turns out my eye was pretty good, I only had to crop it a tiny little bit :)
Thank you so much for this thread with so many wonderful examples. I'm soaking it all in! New at all this so really trying to compose using 3rds without having to crop too much. This shot I took lots of (as the clouds moved unhelpfully!) trying to get the power pole in the right spot. I tried having it on the LH side, but it didn't look right. Now I know why.. the lines had to lead to it. I'm learning!
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I do a lot with the rule of thirds, but break it too. This shot was captured trying over and over again. I originally hated it, but once I plugged in the rule of thirds, I like it more.
I love how the shoes really stand out :)
I think this shot works because he is not centered and he is looking out of the frame. I use the rule of thirds quite a bit and find that I like the overall composition better if the subject is not perfectly centered.
Keeners?
Working on thirds, bokeh and capturing the moments I like best.
The first is a selfie where I placed my in the frame to give mood as there is a dark negative space. The dramatic light helps
The second is some bullets I put on the 1/3 across and 2/3 down. I also had the lines of the table move across and up the image to lead the eye into the bullets and the trail of blood to both lead the eye away, while making the viewer think about what the image is all about.
This relies heavily on rule of thirds, and vertical stripes, which draws your eyes down to the strawberry.
love this one too. Draws your eyes up the road.
... rule of thirds:
This one follows the thirds rule.
This is one of my favorite kinds of shots...the classic "reflection turned upside down". I think that part of the reason that they work is because they confuse your brain a bit at first, and make you take a second look. Another reason that they work is because they are usually a bit brighter and shinier that the real thing. In this photo, the leaves floating on the water look like they are flying about, which just looks wrong, but so right at the same time. I could be wrong, but I think it breaks more rules than it follows.
Leading lines
in this shot the arc of the harbour promenade and the railings lead the eye towards the lighthouse this is the composition of leading lines, this is also the compositional element that works in @claireclinch road picture and @flagged picture of the Jetty, lines which lead the eye into the picture giving it depth, you should be careful using leading lines as they can draw your eye away from the point you want to focus on.
The rule of Symmetry
another rule that is often overlooked keeping the shot symmetrical, this is the rule in force in all those under the boardwalk shots also @paulaag cat shot and @myautofocuslife box face shot are influenced by this rule.
Rule of framing
besides having a leading line in the path this shot also has a natural frame made from the trees on either side this is the rule of framing, this style of composition works with all manner of objects holes, arches, bridges the list goes on
And a natural frame:
I'm pretty sure this is a good example....
and this one is too..
but what about this one?
But in this one I made sure to put the horizon in the middle as I felt the rocks in the foreground and the sky both deserved attention.
After my most recent terse response on another thread, I really do think I need to compose myself.
Pasted from my photo description...
"In regards to composition - there is a basic rule of thirds here, with the tree, her face, and the negative space all taking about 1/3 of the frame. The break of the rule is in having her eye - the focus - in the centre of the frame. This was carefully framed and shot, and only one shot taken."
oh and for anyone who is not familiar with fibonacci composition.... here is a link that explains it: http://www.digital-photography-school.com/divine-composition-with-fibonaccis-ratio-the-rule-of-thirds-on-steroids
Leading Lines
Rule of Thirds