Beginner's Exercise # 1 - Rule of Thirds

bricar01 · Jul 16, 2009

I've decided to start a "Beginner's Exercises" series, in which I'll suggest a weekly practice exercise, and people can post their photos that demonstrate some aspect of very basic photography. I'm a beginner, too.

So here's the first exercise: Take a photo of something - anything, and do your best to adhere strictly to the Rule of Thirds. In case you don't know what that is, imagine that your viewfinder is divided into nine squares, three across and three down. Place your subject pleasingly along the lines that divide your viewfinder. Some subjects work well when they are placed exactly on an intersection of a vertical and horizontal line, others work better when they're stretched out along the lines.

Placed at an intersection of two lines:

Stretched out along one of the imaginary vertical line:

Please post up to 3 photos, and we'll offer each other comments and critiques. Others with more experience are welcome to offer polite critique as well. Let's get this first exercises photos posted by end of day Thursday next week. Hopefully by then, I'll think up the next exercise.

Of course, in order to place a subject within the Rule-of-Thirds guidelines, one must have a clear subject chosen. That's the hidden part of this exercise: have an easily identified focal point in your photos.

Oh, and I'll try to post some new Rule-of Thirds photos, too.

Original thread suggesting this topic is here: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1002&thread=32378408

Suggestions for future topics, or modifications to the format of this discussion are welcome

--
Brian

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bricar01/

Enjoihcky247 · Jul 17, 2009

I like this idea, I plan on trying my hand at this tomorrow!

bricar01 said:
I've decided to start a "Beginner's Exercises" series, in which I'll suggest a weekly practice exercise, and people can post their photos that demonstrate some aspect of very basic photography. I'm a beginner, too.

So here's the first exercise: Take a photo of something - anything, and do your best to adhere strictly to the Rule of Thirds. In case you don't know what that is, imagine that your viewfinder is divided into nine squares, three across and three down. Place your subject pleasingly along the lines that divide your viewfinder. Some subjects work well when they are placed exactly on an intersection of a vertical and horizontal line, others work better when they're stretched out along the lines.

Placed at an intersection of two lines:

Stretched out along one of the imaginary vertical line:

Please post up to 3 photos, and we'll offer each other comments and critiques. Others with more experience are welcome to offer polite critique as well. Let's get this first exercises photos posted by end of day Thursday next week. Hopefully by then, I'll think up the next exercise.

Of course, in order to place a subject within the Rule-of-Thirds guidelines, one must have a clear subject chosen. That's the hidden part of this exercise: have an easily identified focal point in your photos.

Oh, and I'll try to post some new Rule-of Thirds photos, too.

Original thread suggesting this topic is here: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1002&thread=32378408

Suggestions for future topics, or modifications to the format of this discussion are welcome

--
Brian

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bricar01/

Jim Kernicky · Jul 19, 2009

Other exercise suggestions: framing, remembering to look at the edges to make sure you don't have an object "sticking in", avoiding lines that guide the viewer out of the pic, 4 options pics (a pic with a fast shutter, a pic with a slow shutter, a pic with a loarge DOF, and one with shallow DOF), side vs. back vs. front lighting, ...

Also, I'd make a point that rules are really just guidelines and do not need to be followed religiously - e.g., I have a really nice shot of the base of a column of a bridge, and it's reflection in the water - it it totally centered - using the rule os 3rds would make that pic strange, at least in my mind.

James Kernicky
http://www.jfk-photo.com

bricar01 · Jul 19, 2009

James,

All good suggestions - thanks very much.

Brian

Jim Kernicky said:
Other exercise suggestions: framing, remembering to look at the edges to make sure you don't have an object "sticking in", avoiding lines that guide the viewer out of the pic, 4 options pics (a pic with a fast shutter, a pic with a slow shutter, a pic with a loarge DOF, and one with shallow DOF), side vs. back vs. front lighting, ...

Also, I'd make a point that rules are really just guidelines and do not need to be followed religiously - e.g., I have a really nice shot of the base of a column of a bridge, and it's reflection in the water - it it totally centered - using the rule os 3rds would make that pic strange, at least in my mind.

James Kernicky
http://www.jfk-photo.com

--
Brian

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bricar01/

LostBoyNZ · Jul 19, 2009

Here's two I took last week trying to use the rule of thirds. Since the "gruff giraffe" is looking to the right, I thought it'd look good putting him on the left third.

On the 2nd photo I put the Meerkat on the right third line to show the whole log because I wanted to get the log and bushes below in the shot so you get some idea of how high off the ground he was.

In both of those I only thought about the rule of thirds horizontally.

What do you think? Any thoughts would be great

( Click the image to expand )

Hosted by http://www.imageshack.us/

Search

Beginner's Exercise # 1 - Rule of Thirds

bricar01

Forum Enthusiast

Enjoihcky247

Leading Member

Jim Kernicky

Member

bricar01

Forum Enthusiast

LostBoyNZ

Well-known member

Keyboard shortcuts