Rule of Thirds

[FusionFoto]

Hey, we are talking about the rule of thirds in one of my classes and about how some photographers swear by it and others do not use it as a rule. I was just wondering where you all stood as far as rule of thirds goes?

[Marko]

For me it's more of a guideline than a rule, but I do use it often.

Sometimes you can put someone/something smack in the middle of a photo and it will work....and in certain cases you almost have to do it (ie formal wedding portraits)...but OFTEN that same portrait would be more dynamic if the rule of thirds was followed more carefully.

[tegan]

The rule of thirds is part of the elements of design that have been used in teaching art for a very long time, but they are also based on scientific work that has tracked how the eye moves through an image. In some magazines and books there are examples of the same scene shot without regard to the rule of thirds and then according to the rule of thirds and the latter is always more effective.

When you think about it, in many shots you cannot emphasize a centre of interest in a totally balanced photo. In a shot split by the horizon, the eye wanders. In a shot with two thirds sky or two thirds foreground, the eye moves directly to that area and the centre of interest if it is well composed.

So, I think every photographer should pay attention to the rule of thirds and follow it whenever possible in composing a shot. I find the only exceptions are where the location of the photographer or centre of interest limits flexibility in composing a shot. It may for example be a choice of getting the super heavy tourist in the pyramid shot following the rule of thirds or not following the rule of thirds and "cropping" him out of the shot. Of course a good zoom lens can aid composition and avoid some of these kinds of compromises too.

By the way, I get tired of hearing the dumb cliché that rules are made to be broken. When it comes to photography rules are NOT made to be broken, unless it produces a better photo and that is most often not the case.

Tegan

[mindforge]

As a graphic designer and in art, the rule of thirds has long been a standard guideline that should be used until you decide that the image might look better a different way. You need to know rules before you can break them.

The rule of thirds should be used almost all the time unless for some reason you cannot do it. Taking a wide angle picture from the bottom of the Chrysler Building might be difficult with rule of thirds, but you should try anyway. When cropping pay very close attention to the rule.

These are all rules that can and should be broken when the time is right. You need to have a very strong grasp of the rule of thirds.

For one, there is not just one thing to pay attention to. There is your horizon line... place it at one of the third horizontals, your subject might fall onto a vertical third. Following these rules will force you to move too. It will help improve your photography and design to pay attention to imaginary grids in your composition.

[tegan]

These are all rules that can and should be broken when the time is right. You need to have a very strong grasp of the rule of thirds..

Time has nothing to do with it. The only important factor is the quality and impact of the photo. The reason a rule of composition exists is because it works to produce a more effective image with impact, assuming the technical quality is already present. The only reason to break it is to produce a BETTER image.

Tegan

[mindforge]

The only reason to break it is to produce a BETTER image.

Tegan

That is exactly what "when the time is right" means. At least, as I meant it.

[tomorrowstreasures]

I use it alot and think that anything in odd numbers is good.