| I often see people taking pictures by simply | | | | exact “divine proportion”, we can use two |
| pointing their camera at what they want and then | | | | of the higher numbers: ‘21’ divided by |
| pressing the shutter button. With the main subject | | | | ‘55’ (separated by ‘34’ in the |
| smack in the middle of the frame without giving | | | | series) which is 0.38, slightly more than one-third. |
| any further thought to composition. Do you do | | | | But all this is mostly of theoretical interest. In |
| that? It’s easy and perhaps serves it’s | | | | practice, it doesn’t have to be exactly the |
| purpose. You get a picture of whatever it is you | | | | one-third or the 38% cut you use. The important |
| want to have a picture of. But as a photograph, | | | | thing to remember is to place an attractive part |
| the result is often a bit disappointing to look at | | | | of the image “about a third” into the |
| afterwards, especially if there’s a whole stack | | | | frame. And why, you might ask? Like other |
| of photos looking almost the same. But knowing | | | | tutorials, I could just tell you that it has been |
| some of the basics about composition can | | | | proven by the test of time. Used again and again |
| significantly improve the look and feel of your | | | | for centuries, there’s got to be something |
| photos. | | | | about it. But I think it’s also important to |
| Rule Of Thirds | | | | explain that what it does, is that it places your |
| The rule of thirds is probably the most talked | | | | subject in the scene in a way that opens up for a |
| about of the compositional “rules”. Simply | | | | connection between the subject and the rest of |
| stated, it tells you to place the main focus of | | | | the scene. It leaves a significant space on one |
| attention a third into the frame. It can be a third | | | | side of the subject for the surroundings in stead |
| from the left or right, and it can be a third from | | | | of “cutting it up” into two separate parts, |
| the top or bottom of the frame. The most | | | | as when the subject is placed in the center. |
| attention-grabbing points are the 4 points that are | | | | Understanding this, you can create a very |
| located a third into the frame from both left/right | | | | harmonious visual relation between your main |
| + top/bottom. A third into the frame from each | | | | subject and it’s surroundings. |
| corner, that is. For thousands of years it has been | | | | An important little note here at the end: |
| known that our eyes give particular attention to | | | | What’s actually meant by “the main |
| these points. | | | | subject” and the most |
| It is also known as “The Golden Rule”, | | | | “attention-grabbing” part of your picture? |
| “The Golden Cut”, “The Divine | | | | Generally speaking, the human eye is mostly |
| Proportion” and Eudoxos’ rule. | | | | drawn to lighter areas, to parts with a high |
| If you like math and science, you might be | | | | contrast and strong colors, particularly red, and to |
| interested to know that it can be derived from | | | | shapes that resembles the shape of the human |
| Fibonnaci’s series of numbers. If you’ve | | | | body. If there’s a face in the photo, our eyes |
| ever seen or read Dan Brown’s “The | | | | first move towards it’s eyes, attempting to |
| DaVinci Code”, you’ll perhaps remember | | | | make eye contact. So if any of these elements |
| the “magic” series of numbers, 1, 1, 2, 3, | | | | are in your image, those are the parts that are |
| 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55... Each number in the series is | | | | generally good to place in “the divine |
| obtained by adding the two previous numbers | | | | proportion”. |
| together. Hence, the next number will be | | | | And finally, I’d like to note that, while it’s |
| 55+34=89. Now you get the “divine | | | | called a “rule”, photography is an art form |
| proportion” by dividing any two numbers that | | | | that’s about more than just following a set of |
| are separated by one other number. The higher | | | | rules. This “rule” in particular has been |
| the numbers you use, the more exact it will be. | | | | broken again and again with superb results. In the |
| When we call it “the rule of thirds”, we | | | | larger scheme of things though, the |
| use two of the lower numbers, ‘1’ and | | | | “rules” work quite well, but they should be |
| ‘3’ (separated by ‘2’ in the | | | | taken more as suggestions, especially useful to |
| series). 1 divided by 3 is one-third. To get a more | | | | help beginners achieve interesting compositions. |