Photography Tips (2)

SIMPLE PHOTOGRAPHY

Simple tips on the basics of photography by Trevor James @ www.trevorjamesphotography.com

CORRECT COMPOSITION

Rule of Thirds Graph

Composition, or positioning, within the picture is important in all efforts of achieving success in your photography. Whereas there is that temptation to position your subject in the centre of the frame (picture) for most when beginning photography - and though this may work in symmetrical photography - the finished work soon becomes competitive, and unfruitful, and boring. This graph showing pointers to the four centre square corners (intersecting points) are the principal elements of where subjects are better placed and therefore more pleasing to view. This is known as the Rule of Thirds. The following image makes use of this graph to show brilliantly how the Rule of Thirds is put to work. Some cameras may have this facility in the setting, and if this is the situation my advice would be to make full use of this facility until you have mastered the 'habit'.

Utilising the graph

There is no 'golden rule' that this method should and needs to be adopted per se but should be the base of starting out in photography and creating lively, pleasing images that make good copy for showing at all levels. However, how you do compose the subject, foreground, and background is probably the most important decision you'll make before depressing the shutter release button. Please don't use this as a 'hard and fast rule' but merely as a guide until you master the art of composition - it can be broken. the following image shows how a photograph taken using the subject in the centre of the image and cropped to utilise the Rule of Thirds has totally changed the overall 'pleasingness' of viewing it.

cropping to use the Rule of Thirds

Here you can see why it is important to use and understand this Rule.  The image on the left does not highlight the subject, not does it have any appeal - it is more likely to be a snap shot quickly taken before the subject disappears. But the shot on the right after the use of the cropping tool has produced an very pleasant looking image indeed. 

As we first set out to show, making use of the Rule of Thirds can produce pleasing images that will gather discussion and increase your likelihood of wanting to show them to everyone. This is evidenced in the images above. not using this Rule will nor ender your images unsightly as this is not a hard and fast Rule. 

EXERCISE

When you get the opportunity go out and take some random shots of sceneries, subjects, and the like, and give examples of using the Rule of Thirds in one image and not using it in the other. Compare the images yourself and see what is achieved with either method. Which do you prefer?

Next week we will be looking at probably the very most important element in photography: Light. I guess without it photography may not have even been invented, after all the very nature of the word PHOTO is light.

For further information or what I can offer on my photography courses send me an email highlighting your needs and interests on this link - Contact Trevor

Images courtesy of Google Images