Main subject not in the middle: One quick tip: You should compose images with the subject or subjects of interest away from the middle of the photo. Try composing these areas...

Momsince1980

One quick tip: You should compose images with the subject or subjects of interest away from the middle of the photo. Try composing these areas off-center and see how this might improve your shots.

This has me puzzled. If I don't put my main subject in the middle, the white backboard will be in focus, but my subject will be out of focus. How can this possibly be good?
What am I missing? Does this have anything to do with the rule of three?

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

It's called the rule of thirds.

Supposedly if you put a subject in either the right or left third of a total picture you get good results.

To me, one rule of thirds is your subject in the middle third. Works for me.

Sarge69 :thumbup: :thumbup:

Steinmetz Loc: Oregon based

Momsince1980 wrote:

One quick tip: You should compose images with the subject or subjects of interest away from the middle of the photo. Try composing these areas off-center and see how this might improve your shots.

This has me puzzled. If I don't put my main subject in the middle, the white backboard will be in focus, but my subject will be out of focus. How can this possibly be good?
What am I missing? Does this have anything to do with the rule of three?

Top picture -- cool cat... but put focus on eyes of cat and then reframe in camera to get a different less cluttered background... or Set your aperture at 2- 3.5 and try to blur background

Rule of thirds is okay, but a rule that can be broken... ;=)

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

Momsince1980 wrote:

One quick tip: You should compose images with the subject or subjects of interest away from the middle of the photo. Try composing these areas off-center and see how this might improve your shots.

This has me puzzled. If I don't put my main subject in the middle, the white backboard will be in focus, but my subject will be out of focus. How can this possibly be good?
What am I missing? Does this have anything to do with the rule of three?

You don't have to have your focus point or your exposure point in the middle of the photo.
Read your manual to determine how to separate these 3 things and your photography will improve immensely.

sloscheider Loc: Minnesota

Assuming you're using auto focus, point at your subject and get your focus locked on then compose your photo without releasing the focus lock. Take the photo.

Momsince1980

Thank you all

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

Just dont lose sight of the fact that its YOUR photograph. If a rule gets in the way of you capturing a shot the way YOU want to shoot it then forget the rule. Sometimes you just have to make YOU happy and forget the critics. JMHO of course.

Kestrel1029 Loc: Philadelphia, PA

Pepper wrote:

Just dont lose sight of the fact that its YOUR photograph. If a rule gets in the way of you capturing a shot the way YOU want to shoot it then forget the rule. Sometimes you just have to make YOU happy and forget the critics. JMHO of course.

I agree with this. The rule of thirds doesn't always work for every shot. If you like it that's all that matters.

As was mentioned earlier, focus on your subject, most cameras have a focus lock button, press and hold that button down then re-compose your shot. Or you could use one of the many focus points in your viewfinder.

And practice. You don't get good overnight. You must practice and take your time. Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Tim

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

Sometimes rules of photography contridict each other. Example, if you fill the frame with your subject (i.e. a flower), I doubt you will compose thinking of the rule of thirds. Actually, I like the Golden Ratio as a better guide of placing things in a picture. It is almost the rule of thirds, but a little different.

Momsince1980

A lot to think about and practice.

krispix Loc: London - UK

Remember that the Rule of Thirds is a rule, not a law, and rules are made to be broken. In reality the rule of thirds is a guide and generally speaking if you place your horizon on the top or bottom third of your image the result will be pleasing to the eye. But, if doing so cuts the hull of a boat (which is the focus of your picture), or it destroys an interesting cloud formation. Then ignore it.

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

I once heard of a guy getting busted for a "rule of thirds" violation.
Back button focusing works well in this case, focus on the cat then pan over to get it composed how you would like it without changing focus and shoot.

Hando Rei Loc: Long Island New York

Rule of thirds is a general guide ...especially for nubies who feel they do not know how to compose a photo. As said above rules are meant to be broken so that you get the photo you want without the authority of others . Try an experiment with centering all your subjects and you will see where the focus of attention is . Sometimes it works but not always . My two cents !

digiman Loc: Brooklyn, NY/Greenville, SC

Momsince1980 wrote:

One quick tip: You should compose images with the subject or subjects of interest away from the middle of the photo. Try composing these areas off-center and see how this might improve your shots.

This has me puzzled. If I don't put my main subject in the middle, the white backboard will be in focus, but my subject will be out of focus. How can this possibly be good?
What am I missing? Does this have anything to do with the rule of three?

Use your depth of field by opening up your f stop. When you do this it will blur other areas of the photo.

thegrover Loc: Yorba Linda, CA

Rules are meant to be broken. I had the attached picture in color and with the subject centered. But I was not pleased with it. I tried recomposing it on the computer and came up with this. Black and white and off center. I love it this way. Maybe no one else does, but I am happy.

The second one I love in color and centered. Go figure?

China Girl

Claims to be my Wife