Photo
School
The Rule of
Thirds
The Rule of Thirds was the creation of
painters in the Renaissance. The aim of this style of composition is to provide
a bit of background in the photo, to allow the photo to tell a story.
Renaissance painters found that the eye doesn't rest on the center of a
photograph.
Figure 1.) The rule or
thirds
Simply the rule of thirds states that object
of attention should be placed at the intersection of the dividing lines. (Green
dots) But you can also place the object along one of dividing lines.
Figure 2.) Can also be expressed
horizontally...
Figure 3.) Horizontal example of the
rule of thirds
Figure 4.) ...or vertically
Figure 5.) Vertical examples of the
rule of thirds
What the whole aim of the rule of thirds is
to create a photograph which captures attention. The rule of thirds does that by
using human instinct. Most people's attention doesn't travel to the center of a
photograph, it scans the edges. This is probably rooted in human instinct
developed when man had to avoid saber-tooth tigers and the like. So if
your attention doesn't go for the middle then why should your subject be
there?
Also you aren't limited to just one subject.
You can two or more. Then it's recommended that you place the main subject on
one dividing line and a secondary subject on another.
Figure 6.) Multiple subjects according
to the rule of thirds
The ROT enhance the impression of action. If
an object is traveling from left to right, then placing it on the left side
would give it the impression that it going to slide into the right side.
Figure 7.) "Sliding into the
frame"
But this isn't an "etched in stone" kind for
rule.
Figure 8.) "Sliding out of the
frame"
Also in landscapes The rule of thirds can
give the pictures a bias. If your horizon is centered, people will wonder if
it's a land shot or a sky shot. Placing the horizon at a line, then tells the
viewer that this is a sky or land shot without having them to guess.
Figure 9.) Sky at sunset
shot.
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Composition - Other Elements
No one photographer knows everything there is
to know about photography. The knowledge in here is the knowledge I have
gathered after taking a lot of pictures and reading a lot of books. I will not
claim to know everything, so don't take my word as final. Go out and learn on
your own too. Also feel free to argue with me.
Michael Fodor quickshotphoto@yahoo.com
