Comments on: Rule of Thirds explained http://photocritic.org/rule-of-thirds/ The Photocritic DIY photography projects blog Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:55:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Mr.E http://photocritic.org/rule-of-thirds/#comment-139346 Mr.E Sat, 29 Sep 2007 16:00:19 +0000 http://www.photocritic.org/2006/rule-of-thirds/#comment-139346 I teach photo to JH students and I explain the rule of thirds as a means to tell more of a story with each image. To center the subject places an enormous amount of attention on it, so there better be some added intrigue somewhere in the photo (extremely detailed texture, repetition, color). Most of the time we want to see a relationship with the subject. By cropping the subject to the side or high or low, the image "opens up" to give the viewer a setting, situation, context, or sometimes a plot. I keep telling them, "try to find the story," even if it's just a lonely leaf on a wide open lawn, there's more story than just a leaf. I teach photo to JH students and I explain the rule of thirds as a means to tell more of a story with each image. To center the subject places an enormous amount of attention on it, so there better be some added intrigue somewhere in the photo (extremely detailed texture, repetition, color). Most of the time we want to see a relationship with the subject. By cropping the subject to the side or high or low, the image “opens up” to give the viewer a setting, situation, context, or sometimes a plot. I keep telling them, “try to find the story,” even if it’s just a lonely leaf on a wide open lawn, there’s more story than just a leaf.

]]> By: Max Photography http://photocritic.org/rule-of-thirds/#comment-2577 Max Photography Wed, 26 Jul 2006 04:22:18 +0000 http://www.photocritic.org/2006/rule-of-thirds/#comment-2577 I learned of the Rule of Thirds when I started in '91. Ever hear of the Rule of Fifths? probably getting a little more fine tuned. Headshots follow the rule of thirds; where are the eyes? 1/3 down from the top, generally speaking. This is also why when shooting an horizon, you should try to put the horizon approximately 1/3 from top or bottom, never dead center. Nonetheless, it's not necessarily a rule, because any good photographer has either broken or bent all the "rules" :) I have shots where the subject is dead center, and it works. Look at the gallery on my website for the single child's shoe on the ground. It's virtually dead center. Cory Johnson Max Photography www.coryjohnson.net I learned of the Rule of Thirds when I started in ‘91. Ever hear of the Rule of Fifths? probably getting a little more fine tuned.
Headshots follow the rule of thirds; where are the eyes? 1/3 down from the top, generally speaking.
This is also why when shooting an horizon, you should try to put the horizon approximately 1/3 from top or bottom, never dead center.
Nonetheless, it’s not necessarily a rule, because any good photographer has either broken or bent all the “rules” :)
I have shots where the subject is dead center, and it works. Look at the gallery on my website for the single child’s shoe on the ground. It’s virtually dead center.

Cory Johnson
Max Photography
http://www.coryjohnson.net

]]> By: Stacie’s Photoblog » Rule of Thirds http://photocritic.org/rule-of-thirds/#comment-2529 Stacie’s Photoblog » Rule of Thirds Tue, 25 Jul 2006 12:10:42 +0000 http://www.photocritic.org/2006/rule-of-thirds/#comment-2529 [...] I always thought that it meant that you can divide a photo into thirds and cut one third out. Not so. DIY Photographer gives some great information about the Rule of Thirds. The rule states that an image can be divided into nine equal parts by two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines. The four points formed by the intersections of these lines can be used to align features in the photograph. [...] [...] I always thought that it meant that you can divide a photo into thirds and cut one third out. Not so. DIY Photographer gives some great information about the Rule of Thirds. The rule states that an image can be divided into nine equal parts by two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines. The four points formed by the intersections of these lines can be used to align features in the photograph. [...]

]]> By: Fuzzphoto http://photocritic.org/rule-of-thirds/#comment-2522 Fuzzphoto Tue, 25 Jul 2006 07:13:47 +0000 http://www.photocritic.org/2006/rule-of-thirds/#comment-2522 Ever since I started applying this rule to almost everything I shoot, the quality of my photographs has increased enormously. Especially when shooting stock photos, because it gives an editor the option of copy space. But really, anyone who's serious about photography should know this, and know how to apply it. Once understood, you can break the rules again and take the next step. But in order to break them, you'll have to know the rules first, so you'll know when it's OK to take that next step. In other words: great post! Ever since I started applying this rule to almost everything I shoot, the quality of my photographs has increased enormously. Especially when shooting stock photos, because it gives an editor the option of copy space.

But really, anyone who’s serious about photography should know this, and know how to apply it. Once understood, you can break the rules again and take the next step. But in order to break them, you’ll have to know the rules first, so you’ll know when it’s OK to take that next step.

In other words: great post!

]]> By: Karen http://photocritic.org/rule-of-thirds/#comment-2516 Karen Tue, 25 Jul 2006 03:40:57 +0000 http://www.photocritic.org/2006/rule-of-thirds/#comment-2516 I typically use this technique with pretty good results and when I can't achieve it in camera (due to environment or subject limitations) I usually tend to crop with this in mind. I typically use this technique with pretty good results and when I can’t achieve it in camera (due to environment or subject limitations) I usually tend to crop with this in mind.

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