Composition.
I was reading a comment from earlier today. The post directed the reader to an article on how the Rule of Thirds should just die. Because it is not my thread, I did not post any photos to explain my comments on using rules to add to the photo.
The Rule of Thirds can be very useful in composition. That doesn't make it a requirement for all compositions, but it can be very useful and used to express the photographer's idea of the photo. With softball I shoot wider than crop later.
I am not storing these on the UHH server as I did not ask the girls' permission. Their posting is for illustration. All comments welcome for discussion.
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An example of the Rule of Thirds. This is suggesting a direction and purpose. It adds movement.
A Rule of Halves. The batter staring across the distance to the pitcher gives the shot some emotion and depth. These girls mean business when they step on the field.
The static aspect of this shot leaves the emotion to the runner. She is expressing her quiet joy to the bench after hitting a triple. She is catching her breath while her team on the bench were cheering wildly.
Centering your subject like a target in pictures should be abolished.
Fotoartist wrote:
Centering your subject like a target in pictures should be abolished.
Something I am much more comfortable doing now is cropping out parts of people. Where I used to think it was sacrilegious, I now see no problem. I did that in # 2 & 3 above.
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This is a little soft but shows that it is permissible to crop out parts of people bodies.
Fotoartist wrote:
Centering your subject like a target in pictures should be abolished.
Yes. Except of course when it is the best.
It is necessary to realize that all Rules of Thumb are never rules for making photographs but are just learning tools. See how it works
... and forget the rule forever.
Edward Weston said following the "rules" of composition is like checking the Law of Gravity before you walk.
Don't check the Rule of Thirds or any other rule, just check your composition and framing and adjust things to look the best!
I was sorry to see admin move that topic to Links & Resources, though I understand the reasoning. Excellent visual examples here, and well described, Joe.
Regarding cutting body parts, I learned once that if you inadvertently cut off part of the body - this was with animal and bird photography - crop in even closer so it doesn't appear to be a mistake
Doing this on several sides, as you did, is very effective at telling a strong story.
Frankly I’m tired of having to conform to thirds all the time. Thirds now looks boring. A centered subject once in a while looks so refreshing
Apaflo wrote:
Yes. Except of course when it is the best.
It is necessary to realize that all Rules of Thumb are never rules for making photographs but are just learning tools. See how it works
... and forget the rule forever.
Edward Weston said following the "rules" of composition is like checking the Law of Gravity before you walk.
Don't check the Rule of Thirds or any other rule, just check your composition and framing and adjust things to look the best!
Yep, and there is one rule when braking rules! To break a rule, one has to know what that rule is!
speters wrote:
Yep, and there is one rule when braking rules! To break a rule, one has to know what that rule is!
I don't think anyone needs to know the rule of thirds to center a subject.
All rules in photography are made to be broken, as long as the result is pleasing to the eye.
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