Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share #9 - Rule of Thirds - Photo Composition
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
#9 - Rule of Thirds - Photo Composition
In this episode, I discuss one of the most popular and transformational photo composition techniques; the Rule of thirds. This will also help to understand why you have the grid and grid lines on the iPhone and Android smartphone.
What is the Rule of Thirds?
To create an aesthetically pleasing photograph – there are several compositional guidelines. The rule of thirds is one of the most powerful techniques, to help you position different elements in the photo.
Most modern smartphone cameras now can overlay the lines over the screen before taking the photo. These are referred to as either grids or gridlines - and they do not appear on the photo!
Rule of thirds is the process of placing two equally spaced vertical and horizontal lines across the photo – thus creating nine squares, looking like a Tic-Tac-Toe board. You can have this overlay on the screen of your iPhone and Android smartphone. It does not record on the photo!
Why use the Rule?
When you position the main subject in the centre of the photo – it becomes static. The viewers’ attention goes straight to the centre of the photo and gets stuck there. Imagine now, a photo of a subject positioned off-centre. The viewer is then encouraged to look beyond the main subject and further explore the remaining photo for narrative and context.
Four intersecting points
The ideal position is actually atop one of the four points where two lines intersect. This places the subject off-centre both vertically and horizontally.
Which line do I place the subject?
Now imagine a photo of a person positioned ideally on the left of the two vertical lines. In the first photo, we have the person looking toward the middle of the photo. This allows us to see what they are looking at and quickly interpret the story being communicated. In the second photo, the person is positioned the same – however, they are positioned on the right vertical line and looking toward the edge of the photo. This can create some visual tension, as we cannot see what it is they are looking at. It creates some unease, confusion, mystery and in some instances can completely change the mood.
Rules can be broken - in photography!
The rule of thirds should be renamed guidelines of thirds. It doesn’t quite sound the same does it? It is just that though, it is a guideline – it is there to help you understand a basic theory to consistently create photos that are aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
・・・
Take the14-Day Photo Creativity Challenge to quickly unleash your photo creativity through daily project-based learning: bit.ly/3aBXPhy
・・・
FREE membership – full access to the community forum, unlocked tutorials, downloadable PDFs and 5-part video series: bit.ly/sptgetstarted
・・・
Smartphone photography gear: Struman Optics lens accessories and tripods: bit.ly/3gv9JuC
・・・
Accelerate your learning. Join the Live 6-week small group program: Smartphone Photography Transformation: 5-Step System: bit.ly/sptspt
・・・
Join the email list to stay up to date on the latest articles and tutorials: bit.ly/sptemail
Be passionate, Be creative and Stay curious
- Mike
Read the full article at https://www.smartphonephotographytraining.com/composition/rule-of-thirds
---
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartphonephotoclub/message
View all episodes
By Mike JamesIn this episode, I discuss one of the most popular and transformational photo composition techniques; the Rule of thirds. This will also help to understand why you have the grid and grid lines on the iPhone and Android smartphone.
What is the Rule of Thirds?
To create an aesthetically pleasing photograph – there are several compositional guidelines. The rule of thirds is one of the most powerful techniques, to help you position different elements in the photo.
Most modern smartphone cameras now can overlay the lines over the screen before taking the photo. These are referred to as either grids or gridlines - and they do not appear on the photo!
Rule of thirds is the process of placing two equally spaced vertical and horizontal lines across the photo – thus creating nine squares, looking like a Tic-Tac-Toe board. You can have this overlay on the screen of your iPhone and Android smartphone. It does not record on the photo!
Why use the Rule?
When you position the main subject in the centre of the photo – it becomes static. The viewers’ attention goes straight to the centre of the photo and gets stuck there. Imagine now, a photo of a subject positioned off-centre. The viewer is then encouraged to look beyond the main subject and further explore the remaining photo for narrative and context.
Four intersecting points
The ideal position is actually atop one of the four points where two lines intersect. This places the subject off-centre both vertically and horizontally.
Which line do I place the subject?
Now imagine a photo of a person positioned ideally on the left of the two vertical lines. In the first photo, we have the person looking toward the middle of the photo. This allows us to see what they are looking at and quickly interpret the story being communicated. In the second photo, the person is positioned the same – however, they are positioned on the right vertical line and looking toward the edge of the photo. This can create some visual tension, as we cannot see what it is they are looking at. It creates some unease, confusion, mystery and in some instances can completely change the mood.
Rules can be broken - in photography!
The rule of thirds should be renamed guidelines of thirds. It doesn’t quite sound the same does it? It is just that though, it is a guideline – it is there to help you understand a basic theory to consistently create photos that are aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
・・・
Take the14-Day Photo Creativity Challenge to quickly unleash your photo creativity through daily project-based learning: bit.ly/3aBXPhy
・・・
FREE membership – full access to the community forum, unlocked tutorials, downloadable PDFs and 5-part video series: bit.ly/sptgetstarted
・・・
Smartphone photography gear: Struman Optics lens accessories and tripods: bit.ly/3gv9JuC
・・・
Accelerate your learning. Join the Live 6-week small group program: Smartphone Photography Transformation: 5-Step System: bit.ly/sptspt
・・・
Join the email list to stay up to date on the latest articles and tutorials: bit.ly/sptemail
Be passionate, Be creative and Stay curious
- Mike
Read the full article at https://www.smartphonephotographytraining.com/composition/rule-of-thirds
---
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartphonephotoclub/message