Photography Composition :: Rule of Thirds
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- čas přidán 15. 01. 2013
- Continuing on with our composition series, we'll move to today's installment - Rule of Thirds.
The rule of thirds is quite simple. I covered this before in Episode 5, but since its been a while and for the sake of continuity, we're going to cover it again in this series.
For the rule of thirds, you need to mentally learn how to subdivide your composition into 3 sections (2 lines) vertically and then again horizontally. Mentally this forms a grid of 6 spaces. The Rule of Thirds states that the 4 points where these lines intersect are points of interest. You want to place subjects on these points of interests to create a sense of balance in your composition. Use of these points create a sense of tension, interest and energy in the composition as opposed to placing the subject dead center. It could also be argued that our perception as humans has become accustomed to this technique having seen it in painting, design and other forms of composition. I would personally argue that it creates more balance than it does tension, but either way it is a formal way of creating order in your composition. Learn it well and you can make your own decisions of when or when not to use it.
The term rule of thirds dates back to 1797 in a book by John Thomas Smith titled Remarks on Rural Scenery. Smith used it as a painting concept of balancing dark and light values.
This concept goes back beyond the origins of photography and most of the classical photographers used this concept a great deal in their work. Photographers like Henri Cartier-Bresson and Arnold Newman used this placement extensively in their work as you can see in the examples here.
Left to right, flow.
Up and down, natural progression .
Something like that .
Reverse it too. Create tension if you like.
This is like music.
Just one note can put a completely different feel into something .
It's cool how you framed yourself in the opening sequence with the shades/window panes. Moreover, the content is very informative and much more highbrow (in a good way) than what one typically encounters on CZcams. Great work, my friend...very edifying. Please keep it up! Thank you.
Yep - nearly using the Rule of thirds him self ;-)
Thanks again Ted! i like how you contrastes the pictures that followed the rule of thirds and the ones that did not. Unlike many other ones that say "never place the horizon in the middle," you let our minds fly and follow rules freely.
Another good video once again.
I'd dare to say that, with this series, your channel is certainly among the very best photography channels in youtube.
I'm Chinese and I really into this channel. All those videos are very helpful for lovers of photography like me. If it's possible, I'd like to put Chinese subtitles for those videos and share with my friends.
I have found this channel in the end of 2020 and sure, this is the best channel on CZcams about the art of photography, thank you so much! :)
This topic is so timeless - and ted is doing the best job :)
Ted,
I have two additional uses for the Rule of Thirds:
* I use it--often in post when cropping--to find unused space in the image. For example, a friend once showed me a candid of his son looking off toward camera right. The son was centered in the image, which wasn't bad except it left a lot of dead space on the left side of the image behind him. Changing the crop so he was on the left vertical third line eliminated this unused space.
* I use it to evaluate use of foreground, midrange, and background: I like to define the scene in thirds in the z dimension, too. Although images are 2D, fore, mid, and back often correspond to bottom, middle, and top thirds. Per above, I like having elements at each level of depth. If you have elements that ping-pong from left to right as you traverse them from foreground to background, you can create a powerful sense of depth.
JB
Love your videos. Your really need more attention.
My version would be 'don't put it in the middle', if it's in the middle then it draws all attention as if the rest doesn't matter and you don't really have a photo anymore. Putting the main interest (if there is any) out of the middle creates a kind of dynamic. The thirds are just there because they're not in the middle and not at the edge either, anyway that's my take on it at the end you have to kind of 'feel' a photo. If the main object of attention is not in the middle then that creates a kind of space the whole picture comes into play if it's in the middle than that was that although sometimes it works there's always the exception.
This last Sunday I saw an exhibition of HCB's works at a museum here in Tampa. I wished you were here. It was an impressive collection of 300 images and some of his films. It was amazing and humbling. The man was a master.
Thank You! I enjoy these videos a lot! Interesting that i also enjoy your cadence and rhythm when speaking and teaching. I am learning things i need!
This is great, thank you!
I've always used rule of thirds as a "default," but I've never really known when it was appropriate to break that rule. Looks like I gotta go adventure now :)
what an exellent channel!!! Love from Greece!
As always high quality, keep it up Mr. Ted Forbes!
Thanks for these videos and especially the Pinterest boards for further study. As a beginner, but somebody who loves photography, this is great stuff. I did a search and didn't find anything, but perhaps you could do an episode on Jack Delano. Being a rail fan and a fan of glass negatives, his work is probably among my most favorite. His work for the FSA is worth a look by anyone who enjoys timeless images. Thanks, again. :)
incredible channel thank you!
Excellent episode and photos!
Thanks for your video - very helpful!
Great info as always, tks.
Hi Ted. Enjoy the channel. I have been tasked with teaching a basic photography class. Where do you get photos that are big enough files of the masters photographs to use as examples. Most everything I find is small and not clear. Can I take them off of Pintrest?
Very helpful. Thank you
Great episode :)
Really interesting, thanks.
You have a point, but Ted does make it clear that it's more of a guideline. "Rule of Thirds" is just what the concept is called, it would be confusing to use a different title and it's certainly catchier than "Guideline" or "Suggestion" of thirds would be. ;) I agree that perhaps it receives a bit too much credit, but it's useful to know and as people learn more about composition, I think the perceived importance of RoT naturally erodes.
Thanks this was great
I agree. I totally forgot about landscape when I phrase the question. And, yes I think it can be tricky for portraits.
Thanks!
Good stuff. Some of those "off-centre rule of thirds" images almost look like they could be on a rough mirror reflection of a phi grid vertical in the thirds vertical.
Hi Ted. Do you believe that this rule does not apply on square framing? In my square composition i found pretty hard to avoid centered subjects instead of using the rule of thirds.
I think rule of thirds should come naturally when composing, not limiting. I think that being aware of rule of thirds especially helps beginners which might not know why a certain shot speaks to them more than another or need a direction to go if they are uncertain about how a shot could be composed.
i am adicted in this rule
I used this rule instinctively before even knowing for it like 90% of time and when i discovered that it is little bit cliche i tried to exclude it, but didnt tried to replace it so i finshed with just badly composed images xD
Sorry to intrude. I think it would be hard for portrait, but for landscape you can totally place it in the points of interests. you can find this in the works of Kenna.
cool
isn't composing with diagonals just better?
i love ted!!!!?!!?!!!!!!! YEDDDYTOM
of all the photogrpahy channels here on youtube, you seem to know your s**t, esp the formal attire. I'd suggest you show some photos in the background while you explain the concepts, photos come after 5 minutes of a monologue. Other than that this channel rocks, i'ma hit the subscribe button now :)
Great series, Ted. I remember learning this in school. It's always good to refresh your mind. I'm still learning, so this is great. I have some of my photography on Instagram @richardlopezpics if you care to take a look. Thanks.
indeed he has but not with such strenght and not in this series. the Composition Series. :P
did'nt you steal the chipmunks
Haven't you already done an episode in this topic?
And you still don't get it? Is not a real rule. Is a suggestion. A way to teach people the basics of composition. You don't have to repeat 2+2=4 right? it's natural now. But at the beginning it was a good method to learn. RoT is basic stuff.
do these rules apply in a porno?
JARED yes, if it’s in a visual medium then it can apply.
incredibly inarticulate talk, talk, talk,- just keep talking till you think of something to say
What was inaccurate? Nice comment.
JoshSP2022 they never do… ;-)
Is English your first language?
yes, but i find the commentary that he gives most distracting- he speaks to quickly, jumps around to much and does not allow sufficient time for the info to register
case in point- in discussing the gene smith photo of the nun awaiting the andrea dory survivors he rambles on, referencing his other vids, and not concentrating on this image or allowing his commentary to sink in before moving on the the next point.
BTW- he might do well to showcase the steiglits photo "steerage" as this photo had a most significant influence on photography, esp. composition. as can be seen in much of Mr Smith's work- very American.
So there!
Can I call you gross?