Subject right or left? (Page 4): The instructor in one of my photography courses years ago was adamant that there is no right or wrong with the flow or direction of composition, that...

Mitzis

The instructor in one of my photography courses years ago was adamant that there is no right or wrong with the flow or direction of composition, that preference for what seems right or ‘comfortable’ is a cultural response based much on the direction in which the viewers’ language is written. We how use western languages, he asserted, seem to prefer composition to flow from left to right, while sematic language uses like flow from right to left, and Asian language writers think of composition direction as up and down. I agreed with him in theory, but I and most people looking at my pictures are ‘left to right’ viewers as I am. I don’t know how much my being left-handed influences my thinking.

Also, many years ago my art classes taught that composition should flow from left to right, (and at an angle) to create motion, and from right to left creating a mood of distress or impedance. This probably also is a cultural influence, but it’s the culture within I live and react.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

jerryc41 wrote:

The right side seems to work, but if the subject is looking to the right, then the left side would be better. Of course, you have to make a choice on the spot.

Not nowadays. It takes one click to flip the image horizontally. The question is about which way to present it to satisfy more lookers.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I find this photo to be rather odd in that the subject is walking off the frame to the right. I'd feel more comfortable with the subject walking into the frame from either right or left.
--Bob

artBob wrote:

Hmmm--left? Right? I call this shot "Displacement."

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

The photos of the male are good in my opinion. Considering they're wedding photographs, the looking upward hints at optimism and the future. The bride, on the other hand, is placed nicely, but looking off the frame, instead of into it, seems awkward.
--Bob

Tomfl101 wrote:

Here's a couple images I recently photographed. The male subject was originally oriented on the left side of the frame and is looking into the composition supporting the left to right rule. The female was also oriented on the left but she's also looking left. This would seen to break some of the rules aforementioned but I like them both either way. Opinions?

anotherview Loc: California

The Rule of Thirds functions as a principle of visual balance in an image. It presents a starting point in achieving visual balance.

Note that some others, in knee-jerk rebellion or for cheap attention, deliberately violate this principle.

I note that the weight of certain elements or their compelling interest in an image may allow or even call for a deviation from this principle.

Here the eye of the photographer may inform him of an arrangement within the frame more conducive to flattering the subject and gaining viewer attention.

At bottom, effective composition however produced lays a foundation for a worthy photograph.

G Brown wrote:

Depends upon which way the subject is facing/walki... (show quote)

GregWCIL Loc: Illinois

IDguy wrote:

Here are the supporting examples:

Well, the author blew it with his first example. All combines have the unloading auger on the left side. So photos of them should never be flipped.

Also never flip a photo of anything that has writing on it such as a car, unless of course it just says racecar.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

OK, so I paged through some of my photos and find that my gaze varies in direction depending on the photo. I tend to center my one-subject closeups, and use rule of thirds, whichever third is dominant, on my landscapes. Judging from the results, I tend to shoot to the right more often than to the left, but not exclusively.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

IDguy wrote:

Bryan Peterson suggests having the main subject in the right third of the frame usually works better. (Learning to see Creatively, p. 101). He offers a couple of examples that seem to confirm this. And one that does not, with explanation.

I see the two in support have leading lines to the subject.

I get the idea that ( at least in cultures that read left to right ) the eye enters the frame from the left and if the subject is there stops.

Which do you prefer and why?

In general, I agree viewing from left to right is more comfortable, at least for western nations. In this image flipping the buildings to the right caused it to feel better to my eye. However for this image there is another reason beyond reading left to right, it is more comfortable to think (subconsciously ) of walking down the hill to the farm buildings than walking up the hill from them.
Subject placement is an important part of composition and hand in hand with that is viewing angle when hanging your images. This photo should be hung a bit below eye level, when possible, so it is viewed approximately at the angle it was taken. If it was an image that was taken with the camera pointing up, then above eye level.

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canonclicker

In the 60's I belonged to the Padre Trails Camera Club on he Monterey Peninsula with members including Wynn Bullock, and Ansel Adams. When we were on the subject of rules. We were told "Learn the rules, then forget them." This has been my rule ever sense.

skingfong Loc: Sacramento

canonclicker wrote:

In the 60's I belonged to the Padre Trails Camera Club on he Monterey Peninsula with members including Wynn Bullock, and Ansel Adams. When we were on the subject of rules. We were told "Learn the rules, then forget them." This has been my rule ever sense.

That's kind of like what Miles Davis said about music theory. "You learn all that stuff and then you forget about it."

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Thanks, all, for some great thoughts. I’m now buying Peterson’s argument.

James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

artBob wrote:

Excuse the abruptness, but that, and "The Rul... (show quote)

=====================

I most often used the "Rule of Thirds" -- However -- Not as a conscious effort.

Ansel Adams is credited with saying = "The Rule of Thirds..... A good place to start." -- And sometimes around a campfire = "Always Use The "Rule of Thirds" ........ When THAT does not work...... ((Reaches under his folding camp stool and has a whiskey bottle)) .... Use the "Rule of Fifths".

:-)

Here is an example I show to students of the TOTAL use of the "Rule of Thirds"....... And YES - I planed this as "Rule of Thirds". Have not used the rule consciously since.

BrentHarder Loc: Southern California

James R wrote:

===================== br br I most often used the... (show quote)

Looks awesome! The rule really works for this image! It also helps to have a great sunset, be in sharp focus and excellent saturation.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

jayd wrote:

I prefer that the subject has room to progress through the frame.
As in a BIF left to right should not be flying directly off of the right side, it should be left with room to go right. JMHO

10MPlayer Loc: California

IDguy wrote:

Bryan Peterson suggests having the main subject in the right third of the frame usually works better. (Learning to see Creatively, p. 101). He offers a couple of examples that seem to confirm this. And one that does not, with explanation.

I see the two in support have leading lines to the subject.

I get the idea that ( at least in cultures that read left to right ) the eye enters the frame from the left and if the subject is there stops.

Which do you prefer and why?

Makes me wonder is people who grew up reading Arabic, from right to left, view images the same way. Or Chinese or Japanese readers who read from top to bottom? Just wondering.