sonicbuffalo_RIP
Senior Member
Pretty much what HF said.....you have to understand the rule before you know which rule you are breaking and why?
When to or When to not use rule of thirds?
- Thread starter Camera Fun
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BackdoorArts
Senior Member
Know that my post speaks not of the naturally gifted, but more to the idea that rules don't have to be treated as "rules" and there's an inherent danger in feeling the need to learn them first as rules, because it then begs this very question, "When is it OK to break them?"
Understanding the value of good composition is extremely important, but it's sort of like learning math - it's either going to cripple you because you really don't understand it completely and can't possibly figure out how you're going to apply it in real life, or it's going to be a fundamental undercurrent to whatever you do that you barely have to think about. The more you expose yourself to good composition the more you're going to understand the way in which "rules" were applied once you learn them. My admonition is to make the study of great works a priority over the studying of the rules, for as you learn the math behind what makes for a great photograph you will be able to apply it to the images already in your mind's eye. If you learn the rules first, I posit that most people will go searching for what fits the box in their mind instead of approaching subjects openly and finding the composition that lies beyond a particular rule. I tend to see far more photographs that are compositionally correct and utterly lack in impact than those who grab your eyes and won't let go, and yet require you to think hard about just what compositional rules could be applied to this amazing photograph.
There are many other rules that go into good composition than the Rule of Thirds, but because it's the one that's easiest to understand it's the one that is always taught first, and it's a boat anchor to so many photographers. I think it's far more important to learn about the use of light, color and contrast in composition, but they are the ones that take a lot more practice and study, and you can't simply choose an overlay in your editing software to see if you have it right. I just bang my head against the wall every time I see a wonderful photograph out on a forum and the first comment is chastising them for not having the horizon on a 1/3 line, because the commenter is reacting to the "rule violation" and not the art staring them in the face.
Understanding the value of good composition is extremely important, but it's sort of like learning math - it's either going to cripple you because you really don't understand it completely and can't possibly figure out how you're going to apply it in real life, or it's going to be a fundamental undercurrent to whatever you do that you barely have to think about. The more you expose yourself to good composition the more you're going to understand the way in which "rules" were applied once you learn them. My admonition is to make the study of great works a priority over the studying of the rules, for as you learn the math behind what makes for a great photograph you will be able to apply it to the images already in your mind's eye. If you learn the rules first, I posit that most people will go searching for what fits the box in their mind instead of approaching subjects openly and finding the composition that lies beyond a particular rule. I tend to see far more photographs that are compositionally correct and utterly lack in impact than those who grab your eyes and won't let go, and yet require you to think hard about just what compositional rules could be applied to this amazing photograph.
There are many other rules that go into good composition than the Rule of Thirds, but because it's the one that's easiest to understand it's the one that is always taught first, and it's a boat anchor to so many photographers. I think it's far more important to learn about the use of light, color and contrast in composition, but they are the ones that take a lot more practice and study, and you can't simply choose an overlay in your editing software to see if you have it right. I just bang my head against the wall every time I see a wonderful photograph out on a forum and the first comment is chastising them for not having the horizon on a 1/3 line, because the commenter is reacting to the "rule violation" and not the art staring them in the face.
sonicbuffalo_RIP
Senior Member
I look at it the way.....those "critics or commenters as you put it", are NOT going to be the ones buying your photograph. I try to take images that people of all persuasians would buy. I am more inclined to give the "buyers" what THEY want. For the most part, they know nothing about the rule of thirds, but they know about the rule of buying a photograph. They know what captures them, and inspires them. Those are the ones I want to hear from.
wtlwdwgn
Senior Member
Regardless of the rules and critiques, first please yourself. For many subjects the Rule of Nerds, I mean Thirds, makes for a pleasing composition. Most of the time having the subject smack dab in the middle of the image just doesn't look right. It takes a lot of looking at images of all kinds to see compositions that look right and those that don't. I'm certainly not an expert and I have to rap my fingers with the Ruler of Thirds when I get it wrong. Just my $0.02. 