Photography Tips & TRICKS by:Meredith Blaché
THIS WEEK’S TIPS:
RULE OF THIRDS & ROOM TO MOVE BEFORE & AFTER EXAMPLE WHEN TO BREAK THE RULES
Rule of Thirds One of the first composition theories to learn about in photography
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to explain, the use of segments creates more tension, energy and interest allowing the even knowing all about your camera does viewers attention to flow through and around not mean you will take great photos. Part of being the image more so than having the attention able to take great photos is understanding some of the just staying focused in the center of the image. theories of photographic composition and lighting. Imagine the viewfinder being split in thirds One of the first theories I introduce to my stuboth horizontally and vertically as in the dents is the Rule Of Thirds. I wish this wasn’t diagram below. Your subject should land on called a Guide of Thirds as I alway have to prefone of the intersects (where the red circles are) ace the lesson with “rule are made to be broken”.
aving an expensive camera or
Let’s start here
with the understanding that many people tend to take photos with the main subject centered in the viewfinder or scene. In most cases, it is the easiest way to get your cameras to focus and meter the light and you are sure to get a photo of what you want, but it doesn’t always make a very interesting photo.
The rule of thirds
is a natural concept that our eyes want to continue to flow through the photo. Using the concept as I am about
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o Right And Wrong
When I give the assignment to my students I like to have them take a photo centered then take the photo again using Rule Of Thirds. This helps you to see what is really going on with the concept.
I call this the Before and After photos, not the Right and Wrong. Sometimes the centered photos are just fine. Here are some examples and some future explanation of the concept.
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as in the photo below on the left. This is perfectly fine using the upper horizon to align the photo.
ertical Photos & Rule of Thirds
Sometimes when taking a photo you only need to think about the horizon lines (high horizon or low I have how ever taken an additional photo closer horizon). When taking a vertical photo you are in using the full Rule of Thirds in the right image. more than likely not going to use the left or right shifts as much but rely just the horizon alignments,
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oom To Move
Understanding the Rule of Thirds comes with a couple more things to think about. The first is Room To Move. It is important to select the intersection that will allow continuous motion within the image and not have your viewers feel like your subject is leaving the photo. If the attention heading out of the frame so will the eyes of the viewer. Sometimes just cropping in an image can help bring the feeling of space and movement within the image. As in this example. The first image the musician seems to be leaving the frame. By cropping in the frame and bringing the trumpet into the rule of thirds, I have created what feels like more space around the musician allowing him room to move in the frame .
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ow How Do I Do It?
The easiest was capture the image in rule of thirds is to first move your subject either left or right of center then decide if you need a high or low horizon. Realizing sometimes the horizon may be referring to the actual horizon or it may be referring to the center of your main subject (such as the eyes or face).
As you move out of center (left or right) and select the high or low horizon, think about the movement of the subject. If the subject continues to move in the frame, will there be room? Even if the subject is stationary like a flower, think about needing room to bloom. Next we will see when we “break� the rules.
Symmetry
When the rules are made to be broken
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ound or symmetrical subjects work great centered. Similar to a bulls-eye, you may want to draw the attention of the viewer to the center of the image.
Rule Breakers
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cenic photos sometimes only need a high horizon or a low
horizon. It may be difficult to determine if there is a focal point or main subject in the horizon to move off center. Finding a way to frame the scene can make the image all the more interesting.
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wo Subjects
look best when you have them placed in diagonal intersections. Upper Left/Lower Right or Upper Right/Lower Left. Diagonal lines help to bring interest to a photo.
For more Photography Tips by Meredith BlachĂŠ check out my blog at: http://blachedesigns.com/blog You can follow my Photography and Photoshop tips on Facebook by Liking Blache Designs Photography and Photoshop Tips Check out my portfolio on Behance https://www.behance.net/meredithblache Check out my professional profile on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithblache