Reading mode: Light Dark

close-up photo...does rule of thirds still apply

Go to last post
D

dboogie

Senior Member
Messages
3,658
Reaction score
8
Location
US
My computer has been "out of commission" for the last few days, so whenever I could I tried to snap a few pictures in the studio (a.k.a. "the kitchen"). Subject composition.

I try to remember the rule of thirds when I take pictures, but as I was taking this closeup I began to wonder if it still applied since the subject pretty much takes up the entire frame. The first picture is the way I initially snapped the photo...I thought it was composed really well in the viewfinder. When I had it in PSP7, I discovered when I rotated it 90 degrees to the left, it took on an entirely new appearance. The second picture is with it rotated 90 degrees. I'm wondering which way would be the most pleasing way for the flowers to be composed. I'm sure this is purely up to each individuals taste and perspective on how they see things...but I'm still looking for comments/input.

http://www.pbase.com/image/1174367/medium
http://www.pbase.com/image/1174371/medium

COME ON SPRING, I'M TIRED OF WINTER!!

dboogie--Free your mind and everything else will follow
 
dbooie,

I agree with Richard, the second shot is better. I like seeing the new bud and the one already opened side by side. As for the rule of thirds I don't think it applies to close ups, but as you can see in the second one it kinda works. I think our eyes are used to "reading" right to left. My 2 cents.

Doug
 
Well geeze,,, there are several other angles that could've been shown so I think the smaller bud under the bigger coming from right to left would've been my choice so neither of those is my choice....LOL...{J/K}...The verticle ones look like a normal corsage so I'll take the growth spurt1
dboogie said:
My computer has been "out of commission" for the last few days, so
whenever I could I tried to snap a few pictures in the studio
(a.k.a. "the kitchen"). Subject composition.
I try to remember the rule of thirds when I take pictures, but as I
was taking this closeup I began to wonder if it still applied since
the subject pretty much takes up the entire frame. The first
picture is the way I initially snapped the photo...I thought it was
composed really well in the viewfinder. When I had it in PSP7, I
discovered when I rotated it 90 degrees to the left, it took on an
entirely new appearance. The second picture is with it rotated 90
degrees. I'm wondering which way would be the most pleasing way
for the flowers to be composed. I'm sure this is purely up to each
individuals taste and perspective on how they see things...but I'm
still looking for comments/input.

http://www.pbase.com/image/1174367/medium
http://www.pbase.com/image/1174371/medium

COME ON SPRING, I'M TIRED OF WINTER!!

dboogie
--
Free your mind and everything else will follow
Click to expand...
--'Happy Shootin' !!!'UZ'P'Shoot'ERS' http://www.pbase.com/rrawzz http://www.pbase.com/otfgallery/uzpshooterMe & My UZI, Strollin Down The Avenue. Me & My UZI, Focusin On Somethin New. To 'UZe' Or Not To 'UZe'? That 'IS' The Question. Weather It 'IS' Nobler To Suffer Natures Outrageous Slings & Arrows? Or Go With Adobe? That's My Story & I'm Stickin To It. Take It Or Leave It c2100uz/e100rs (in that order)
 
Juli Valley said:
I agree with Richard. I like the second one for its diagonal lines.
Click to expand...
We all prefer the second one. I think the rule of thirds still applies when your subject fills most of the frame ... because there are really a few subjects in every picture. The bud itself is up in the corner, about 1/3 the way down, but way off on the left, for example.
 
Folks,

Okay, what exactly is the 'rule of thirds'? I have lots of ideas about what it might be, but I would rather know. I wan't to impress my friends!

I liked the second image too, but it is more than flipped because the in spurt1 the stems are almost horizontal and in 'flipped' it is more veritical and natural looking.

Phil
Forrest said:
Forrest41926 said:
I agree with Richard. I like the second one for its diagonal lines.
Click to expand...
We all prefer the second one. I think the rule of thirds still
applies when your subject fills most of the frame ... because there
are really a few subjects in every picture. The bud itself is up
in the corner, about 1/3 the way down, but way off on the left, for
example.
Click to expand...
--PhiltheOarE-100rs http://www.rrcmn.com
 
I would have to go with the second one. I can't explain it either...

By the way, even for full frame portraits the thirds rule still comes in handy as far as placing the eyes in the upper third of the frame instead of in the center.

You can also get very nice effects with portraits by "flipping" them. People are used to seeing themselves in the mirror which is the same view that a flipped photo shows. Sometimes a portrait that a person does not care for to much all of a sudden becomes nice to them when you simply flip it.

Bob--www.pbase.com/mofongo'A nod's as good as a wink to a blind horse'
 
... because there
Forrest41926 said:
are really a few subjects in every picture.
Click to expand...
Hmmmm, I hadn't thought of this photo as having 3 DIFFERENT subjects (eventhough its obvious that there are 3 things photographed). I was looking at it as if the three COLLECTIVELY made up the subject. Definitely a good point!! The flowers were part of a bouquet for Valentines Day and photo one is how they appeared in the arrangement. i do think number two looks more natural but the first one still grabs my attention because it is a little different.

Thanks for the comments!!

dboogie
--Free your mind and everything else will follow
 
Bob S said:
I would have to go with the second one. I can't explain it either...

By the way, even for full frame portraits the thirds rule still
comes in handy as far as placing the eyes in the upper third of the
frame instead of in the center.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the input Bob. I guess whenever I thought of close-ups shots I just thought of them as a having one subject (even if there was more than one object photographed....kinda lame/uneducating thinking I guess). I think from now on I'm gonna flip all of my shots while in PSP7, just to see how they may change.
I'm learning.

Thanks
dboogie
--Free your mind and everything else will follow
 
thanks Richard70, Doug, UZp, Julli, Forrest, PhiltheOar, and Bob S!!
I truly appreciate each of your comments!

dboogie

--Free your mind and everything else will follow
 
Remember that the rule of thirds is only 1 of 5 rules of composition. And also remember that rules are meant to be broken. What I mean by all this is simply that every rule will not apply to every photo. what I like about your second shot is the diagonals that draw my eyes to the subject. The second shot is better (IMHO) than the first.

I'll post the link to that thread, in case anybody is interested. If not, please ignore the next line:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1008&message=2121593

DOT
dboogie said:
My computer has been "out of commission" for the last few days, so
whenever I could I tried to snap a few pictures in the studio
(a.k.a. "the kitchen"). Subject composition.
I try to remember the rule of thirds when I take pictures, but as I
was taking this closeup I began to wonder if it still applied since
the subject pretty much takes up the entire frame. The first
picture is the way I initially snapped the photo...I thought it was
composed really well in the viewfinder. When I had it in PSP7, I
discovered when I rotated it 90 degrees to the left, it took on an
entirely new appearance. The second picture is with it rotated 90
degrees. I'm wondering which way would be the most pleasing way
for the flowers to be composed. I'm sure this is purely up to each
individuals taste and perspective on how they see things...but I'm
still looking for comments/input.

http://www.pbase.com/image/1174367/medium
http://www.pbase.com/image/1174371/medium

COME ON SPRING, I'M TIRED OF WINTER!!

dboogie
--
Free your mind and everything else will follow
Click to expand...
--DogOfThunderNikon 8OO8, Pentax K-1OOO andOlympus C-21OOUZ
 
DogOfThunder said:
Remember that the rule of thirds is only 1 of 5 rules of
composition. And also remember that rules are meant to be broken.
What I mean by all this is simply that every rule will not apply to
every photo. what I like about your second shot is the diagonals
that draw my eyes to the subject. The second shot is better (IMHO)
than the first.

I'll post the link to that thread, in case anybody is interested.
If not, please ignore the next line:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1008&message=2121593
Click to expand...
Thanks for the comments Dog. I saved the link to the 5 rules too!

dboogie

--Free your mind and everything else will follow
 
My guess as to why most of us picked the second one as the one we liked the best is as follows:

The eye scans a photo in a Z pattern from top left to right according to the article Forrest provided.

Seeing the diagonal lines went from left to right in the second photo, our eyes more naturally "liked" this composition...

Interesting...but just my guess...

Bob--www.pbase.com/mofongo'A nod's as good as a wink to a blind horse'
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top