There are no absolute rules which need to be followed rigidly in order to produce a great picture.
However, there are principles that, if followed, will generally result in good composition. A budding artist has to understand the basic principles of painting but Picasso hardly stuck to these principles (or did he?).
Generally, the more experienced you become, the better you will be able to judge when to vary from the principles. For now, apply them and you will be amazed at how your pictures improve.
The Golden Rectangle and the Rule of Thirds
Greek artists used the “Golden Rectangle” as, generally, the most pleasing proportion in which to view a picture. Without going into the technical why’s and wherefore’s, this proportion appears everywhere around you, in nature and in the man-made world. The proportion is 5 X 8 or 8 X 5, which is the proportion chosen for photographs when the 35mm camera was designed. Current digital cameras adhere to the same proportion. This does not mean that other proportions don’t work. For instance panorama landscape pictures are often really impressive.
The Rule of Thirds is based on the Golden Rectangle. If you divide the rectangle into 9 equal rectangles by drawing equidistant lines, vertically and horizontally, you will divide the rectangle into thirds.
If you place the centres of interest on the intersection points of the lines, a balanced composition will result. If the main feature of the picture is placed on an intersection point on the left, then the counterpoint of the feature should be placed on one of the intersection points on the right. Remember, this is a rough guide – precise placement is not possible but applying the principle will create a far better picture than if you have no regard for placement.
In this outstanding composition of mother and baby, note the way in which they are positioned.in relation to the Rule of Thirds. Even the mother’s hair leads your eye into the picture
In a landscape shot, never place the horizon in the centre of the frame. Either place the horizon one third from the bottom or one third from the top depending on whether you want a “big sky” picture or “big foreground” picture.
In this “big sky” picture, the horizon is placed approximately one third from the bottom so that the interesting cloud formation dominates the scene.
In the following picture, the horizon is placed more than two thirds from the bottom so that the landscape foreground dominates the picture. The sky is still a very important element but the colours and textures of the bushes and grass in the foreground would have been lost if the photographer had decided on a “big sky” picture. In this case, the Rule of Thirds has not been strictly applied but the principle to use it as a guide still applies.
When taking landscape shots a golden rule is never to cut the landscape in two by placing the horizon in the centre of the frame. In the first picture, although the lighthouse does tend to improve the picture the horizon has been placed in the centre of the frame. However, the second picture is a far more interesting scene and the composition is more balanced.
In Lesson 2 (Focus) you learnt that you should focus on the nearest and most important feature such as the eyes in a portrait. You also learnt how to focus by holding the shutter halfway down and then keeping the shutter in this position and re-composing the picture. Using this technique you will be able to ensure that the main point of interest is in focus and that the composition is good.
In an action shot, place the moving object in the first third of the direction of movement so that the perception is created that there is room for movement – otherwise the object will appear to be about to fall out of the picture.
In this surfing shot, the photographer focused on the surfer in the foreground and then re-composed to place him in the first 3rd of the frame in the direction of movement.
To summarize
- The Golden Rectangle has historically and naturally proved to be the the most pleasing proportion for pictures.
- The Rule of Thirds is a rough but very important guide for composing pictures.
- Wherever there is movement, place the moving object in the first 3rd in the direction of movement.
- Use your camera’s focus and hold function to re-compose once you have focused on the point of interest.
In Mini-lesson number 4 – composition 2, we will examine the role that colour and lines play in creating a good composition and how these factors can affect the mood of the picture.
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