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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Your opinion....two-thirds rule or new approach?
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03/16/2006 12:24:31 PM · #1
Yes, I'd be a newbie and it didn't take long for this rule to be mentioned in a photo critique. Apparently, if I use this rule, scores will soar...lol! I've sinced learned (a general idea, anyways) what it means, but sure could use a few more examples to clarify.

I've always been a rule-breaker though........and in photography, I often try to find a different perspective, viewpoint, angle, crop.......just to bring out my own style....if you know what I mean.

Question is..........stick to the rule of thumb? Or decide that rules are meant for breaking and experiment?

03/16/2006 12:26:44 PM · #2
I am new to.

I am trying to learn the rules so I can break them!

Can't break'em if you dont know what they are.
03/16/2006 12:27:32 PM · #3
From what I've learned the best pictures break the rules, but you have to know them to break them. Take a look here, I learnt loads from reading this:
//morguefile.com/archive/classroom.php
03/16/2006 12:34:33 PM · #4
The rule of thirds is a classic compositional rule-of-thumb that is, by far, the most useful one for the average snapshooter to learn. It breaks you out of the habit of automatically centering your kid's face in the picture area, with too much sky and not enough foreground, if you get my drift? But it's just a rule of thumb.

I rarely compose by rule of thirds. Of my top 7 scoring images, only one approximates the rule of thirds:



My highest-scoring image breaks all the rules :-)



Of the current 6 ribbon-winners on the front page, only one is even close to following rule of thirds:



In general, strong leading lines work well in DPC, as do strong diagonal compositions.

Robt.

Message edited by author 2006-03-16 12:42:09.
03/16/2006 12:39:03 PM · #5
Thanks to all of you....that helps.

Bear....must be nice to be near the Cape.....I would have a field day........every day!
03/16/2006 12:41:29 PM · #6
Originally posted by m_martinhere:

Thanks to all of you....that helps.

Bear....must be nice to be near the Cape.....I would have a field day........every day!


NEAR the Cape? I'm ON the Cape; my house is walking distance from Nantucket Sound, right near the "elbow" in Harwich Port. That fisherman is 1/4 mile from my door :-)

And yes, every day's a field day, assuming I get out anyway. I'm a Southern California native, and I retired to here a few years ago. One of my favorite places on earth.

Robt.

Message edited by author 2006-03-16 12:41:40.
03/16/2006 01:37:54 PM · #7
you could take a look at the Rule of Thirds challenge results. Lots of good examples there of the rule of thirds :-)
03/16/2006 01:43:36 PM · #8
As with most of the "rules" of photography, they don't work and can't work with every single image. Just as b/w doesn't work with every image and center cropped doesn't either.

If you're unsure of whether an image should be shot in 2/3rds or not (and you have the time) shoot it in many different angles and positions then see what feels best to you. You'll never please everone so please yourself (and the client if applies).

good luck.
03/16/2006 02:43:33 PM · #9
There is, IMO, only one photographer who has mastered composition on this site, and I ain't giving him no more plugs. But I think ti should be understood, that composition is the single hardest thing about photography - arguably in fact, it is photography. The rule of thirds is like saying there are 'rules' in music - there aren't. There are certain things that usually work, but there are no rules. You could shoot your whole life, I expect, and still be surprised by a new compositional idea. Ask Robert.

e
03/16/2006 04:27:22 PM · #10
Ayup!

Robt.
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