Posts Tagged ‘Rule of Thirds’

There are many 'rules' of photography (I prefer to think of them as guidelines) that we can follow in the effort for outstanding photos. But sometimes not following the rules can result in a more interesting and engaging photograph.

Now, I'm not saying that you shouldn't bother learning the 'rules' of photography, or that you should ignore them completely. Rather, once you have learned the rules, and how they work, you will then know when to make a conscious decision to break a rule.

• Bad: Breaking a rule because you don't know any better.
• Good: Breaking a rule because you want (or don't want) to achieve a certain effect.

With that out of the way, let's look at some examples of where breaking the rules can work well.

There are certain photos that evoke an immediate reaction from us, and force us to pay attention. To take a photo like this is what every photographer is after (at least, it is for the majority of us who photograph for the love of photography).

Taking a stunning photo isn't something that just happens (though sometimes you can get lucky). Most often there is a lot of time and effort behind the photo. In this article I'll share some tips to help you get closer to the goal of capturing that beautiful shot.

simple by Robb North on flickr (licensed CC-BY)

The rule of thirds is a compositional aid used to help photographers and artists arrange the elements of a picture in such a way as to actively engage the attention of the viewer. This method can be very effective in creating a strong focal point in an otherwise bland image. It can be applied to most scenes you may come across, from landscapes to portraits, still life to abstracts.

When you find an interesting subject or location for landscape photography, it makes sense to think about the composition of your image in order to maximize the photos impact, rather than just taking a quick snapshot. If the light is changing quickly it may be a good idea to set up your camera and take a quick shot, just so you have at least one shot 'in the bag'. But after that, take a look around the area, and think in more detail about the composition of the photo.

House on the green sea by Luigi Torreggiani on flickr (licensed CC-BY)