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Patrick Witz

9 Years Ago

Image Rule Of Thirds - 2

Sorry, I accidently "Closed" the original discussion far too early, so I'm repeating it and introducing a different image that hopefully better reflects the subject of the discussion. A huge thank you goes out to the original commenters and their suggestions/opinions.

Original disussion: *I am familiar with the rule of image thirds... However, when it comes to the use of reflections in creating a dynamic image, the horizon line tends to be more centered in the image, wherein dividing the image in half. So, in theory, the overall image subject matter then becomes the measurement of thirds verses the horizon line. What say you?*

Photography Prints

So lets go at it again... I believe the original discussion summury was... rules are not set in concrete, rules are suggestions, and rules can be broken depending on the image...

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Jane McIlroy

9 Years Ago

Here's a thought to add to the discussion. There are two dimensions to an image, so even if the horizon is centered vertically, there's still an opportunity to follow the rule of thirds horizontally. Your Autumn Reed Reflection is a good example of this, with the white patch of reeds one-third in from the left-hand side.

 

Joseph C Hinson

9 Years Ago

Technically, the Rule of Thirds (again, Suggestion of Thirds in my book) covers both horizontal and vertical at the same time with the "tic tac doe" board. Nothing would be centered in the RO3s.

Patrick, when I look at this shot in the OP, I don't think about the RO3s; I just think about how tight it is cropped on the top and bottom. Needs more space in my opinion.

 

JC Findley

9 Years Ago

You can always ask myself or Abbie to reopen a discussion if you accidentally close it.

 

Chuck Staley

9 Years Ago

"rules are not set in concrete, rules are suggestions, and rules can be broken depending on the image... "

This is just me, but when I was pushing a TV camera or pointing a still camera, or working in movies with directors such as Kubrick and Wilder for more than half a century, the rule of thirds never came up with anyone even once.

You framed the shot properly and that was that.

When I look at my own work and the work of others, the rule of thirds is there, but maybe you couldn't avoid it if you tried.

I was talking to my dentist recently after my visit and I noticed I kept moving until I had him framed properly with a painting over his shoulder instead of behind his head.

Maybe we use the rule of thirds daily in real life. Guess I do, anyway.

Chuck Staley Concept Art



 

Mike Savad

9 Years Ago

again there is no rule. you shoot what looks best. if you think having 1/6th of it as sky, and the rest as a small reflection that's fine. if you want a 50-50 thats fine. if it looks better in 3rds, that's fine. getting hung up on rules that don't exist will only restrict you.

for reflections: if the reflection looks better than the background, give more reflection. however if the reflection is bland, show a bit of that and more of the sky. there are no solid rules for these things.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

Rich Franco

9 Years Ago

Paul,

Here's a shot of mine and as you can see I've played with it, but a good example when "thirds" work. The foreground,middle lake and horizon,each share about a third. Obvioulsy, I wasn't thinking "thirds" when I took this, just what "looks best".

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Also, since there are TWO dimensions of an image, the "Rule of Thirds" works vertically also,so JC nice shot of an egret(?) on a piling is an example of the thirds rule and that's why it works so well,

Rich

 

Marlene Burns

9 Years Ago

Of course there are rules....choosing to follow them, is your choice.
Choosing to not familiarize yourself with them, is probably not wise.....you cannot ignore or break what you haven't bothered to learn in the first place.

Know the rules well so you can break them effectively____ Dalai Lama XIV

 

Loree Johnson

9 Years Ago

FWIW, I think people get a little too hung up on the rule of thirds. There are many things that can make a photograph interesting--that is just one of them. There is a whole list of other elements that create dynamic photos.

Movement
Light/Contrast
Color
Leading lines
Diagonals
Spirals
S curves
C curves
Symmetry/Balance
Circles
Triangles
Repeating Patterns

Etc, etc, etc.

 

Rich Franco

9 Years Ago

Loree,

I use the "Etc.,etc.,etc.", probably the most! LOL!

Rich

 

Bill Tomsa

9 Years Ago

Loree Johnson

"FWIW, I think people get a little too hung up on the rule of thirds. There are many things that can make a photograph interesting--that is just one of them. There is a whole list of other elements that create dynamic photos."

Loree - in reply to the above, respectfully, I submit the following quote from Frank Wooton, a very well known English artist, who said at a forum I attended in the 90's:

"These are 3 things that are most important in a painting. They are composition, composition and composition. Everything else can be fixed but if you start out with a poor composition nothing you do with everything else will make it a good painting."

Bill Tomsa
billtomsa.blogspot.com/

 

Jack Torcello

9 Years Ago

I say the only 'rule' to adhere to is
the one that works best. Which is
kind of like saying that there are
no rules...?

 

Kevin Annala

9 Years Ago

I like to think in terms of visual weight and balance.

 

Richard Reeve

9 Years Ago

Absolutely, Kevin. The rule of thirds is just a guideline to help compose an image. there are many times when it is inappropriate and it depends on how you want something emphasized to get across a feeling or expression.

- Richard Reeve
reevephotos.com

 

Loree Johnson

9 Years Ago

@Bill Tomsa-

All the things I listed speak to composition. There is a heck of a lot more to good composition than the rule of thirds. And BTW, the rule of thirds is really just a quick and dirty shortcut to approximate an actual rule of composition--the golden mean.

 

This discussion is closed.