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Rule of thirds???
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Jan 20, 2013 07:10:03   #
Voorhees Loc: Louisiana
 
I'm aware of the rule of thirds i.e. have skyline etc. 1/3 from top or bottom, not in middle. In this photo I put the skyline about 1/3 up from the bottom but am unsure of what to do with the cactus. Is it ok as centered or should I have put it 1/3 from the left or right edge? Your comments will be appreciated. - - Voorhees

p.s. I know this is not a very good quality picture but it serves as an example for my question.

Cactus rule of thirds
Cactus rule of thirds...

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Jan 20, 2013 07:21:17   #
Wilko Loc: Bolton England
 
I would have put the cactus to the left or right when viewing images people’s eyes usually go to one of the intersection points rather than the center of the shot.

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Jan 20, 2013 07:38:40   #
GrahamS Loc: Hertfordshire, U.K
 
Presuming there was nothing else on either side of the cactus to balance it, I like the composition as it is. Rules are meant to be broken.

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Jan 20, 2013 11:47:04   #
Voorhees Loc: Louisiana
 
Thanks for comment Wilko. I'll crop so the cactus is on the left third and see what it looks like. - - Voorhees

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Jan 20, 2013 11:49:35   #
Voorhees Loc: Louisiana
 
Thanks GrahamS. I will certainly keep the "rules are made to be broken" in mind. I guess sometimes guidelines are pretty much taken as the law, and sometimes the law is only taken as a guideline. - - Voorhees

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Jan 20, 2013 11:49:52   #
tilde531 Loc: Seaford Delaware
 
Because the site-line is not flat, but has bushes of varying heights and because the hill on the left is "anchoring" the photo nicely... I'd personally leave it as is!

If the cactus was the only subject of prominence or importance to the shot, then cropping to one side or the other would be in order.
In this particular scene and with the crop as you chose it: the SKY is the main subject of the photograph.

Doing my silly little visual test using one eye and my hand as the cropping mechanism...

1. cropping out part of the left-side of the photo does nothing to "move" the cactus from the center and nothing to enhance the photo or scene.

2. cropping out from the right side of the photo takes away the bit of hill in the background, and does diminish the scene for me, visually. It also would remove the "anchor" which balances out the darkness of the cactus.
However, it is the only crop that WILL visually move the cactus out from the center of the photograph

Just "tilde's two-cents" *blush*

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Jan 20, 2013 11:57:09   #
Voorhees Loc: Louisiana
 
Thanks Tilde. So I have just cropped the picture to see what happens. What do you think? I'm finding that just trying different things is very helpful. I do like the cropped ones better, probably #2 the best. - - Voorhees

Original
Original...

Crop #1
Crop #1...

Crop #2
Crop #2...

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Jan 20, 2013 12:01:47   #
tilde531 Loc: Seaford Delaware
 
Voorhees wrote:
Thanks Tilde. So I have just cropped the picture to see what happens. What do you think? I'm finding that just trying different things is very helpful. I do like the cropped ones better, probably #2 the best. - - Voorhees

__________________________

I think they're equally acceptable shots.
I think that in this instance... it's up to you and your vision for the photograph.

And, because I'm weird maybe... I like the crop which shows the cactus to the left... but I'm right-handed too, so....

*shrugs*

I also think that you've made the scene a lot smaller in the process... so maybe when you're on-location and deciding HOW to capture a scene... you could make the decisions necessary to capture exactly what you want to at that time and not have to worry about post-process cropping at all ;)

Sometimes the perfect shot appears organically and unexpectedly and other times... we get to compose with deliberation and an eye towards a final vision or expression.

Both are equally valid.

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Jan 20, 2013 12:10:33   #
B N Focus Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA
 
The good thing about digital photography is you can take multiple pics of one subject (cactus left, cactus center, cactus right) and then decide which you like best. I think cactus center makes a bold statement. Keep shootin'!

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Jan 20, 2013 12:24:48   #
gonate Loc: sacramento,calif
 
B N Focus wrote:
The good thing about digital photography is you can take multiple pics of one subject (cactus left, cactus center, cactus right) and then decide which you like best. I think cactus center makes a bold statement. Keep shootin'!


Where you are using one single cactus you can place it according to where you want, If there were two or more cactus the rule of thirds would be more into play and the rule of thirds are more important. In this case center ,left, or rite is acceptable.

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Jan 20, 2013 12:58:31   #
acellis Loc: Charleston, SC
 
IMHO I think the sky has the most potential here. I would portrait crop with the cactus off to the right and punch up the sky. I would use the cactus as a lead in subject to the sky.

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Jan 20, 2013 18:23:23   #
Voorhees Loc: Louisiana
 
Thank you everyone. Yes, I'm trying to learn so when I take pictures I will know better what to do next time. All this free advice is well, invaluable! - - Voorhees

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Jan 21, 2013 11:06:50   #
Gary521 Loc: Colorado
 
One more thought on the crop. You started with a rectangular picture and cropped it into a square. Try cropping some just off the left or right a go from there. I personally don't like the square result.

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Jan 21, 2013 12:07:15   #
Cecil Loc: United Kingdom
 
Depends on what your emphasis is. Is it the Cactus or the scenery + skyline? Don't forget, the bottom line is 'the pic has got to be pleasing to YOU'!
cheers
Cecil

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Jan 21, 2013 12:41:04   #
Voorhees Loc: Louisiana
 
Thanks Gary. I agree. The square is not so good.
I used Photoshop elements to do the cropping. I did not see a way to crop with the same aspect ratio as the original. I'll do some searching to see if I can control that other than "by eye". thanks for the comment.

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