The specific phrase, rule of thirds, slightly predates photography and, if I’m not mistaken, is coined in reference to landscape painting. But, yes, it was more of a phrase after the fact surveying “successful” paintings.
Related: the same can be said of the Golden Ratio in art, except most “successful” works don’t follow it.
Yes! A sense of composition comes within, from experience, from a sensibility. If I stopped to think about rules, lines, and whatnot I'd never be able to make a photograph.
Painting, actually, and the Google points to John Thomas Smith’s “Remarks on a Rural Scenery”. It is a simplification of the golden ratio that is easier to eyeball. It’s really about getting away from dead center compositions.
Dead center compositions. Stephen Shore photographed dead center as he questioned those 'rules'. Our eyes normally focus on the main subject dead center, so why should that he different in photography?
The two-dimensional space defined by the extent of a photograph or painting (I'm treating them equitably here) isn't the same as looking at something. Yes, our eyes find and focus on something that is central to our field of vision. But crafting a scene is about capturing the interest of the viewer and holding it. Composition is one of the tools that we use to accomplish that goal. And I think that even good use of centering involves other elements within the frame to encourage the eye to move about and explore. Putting the thing into the center of the frame (e.g. most portraits) is fine, but if it's just the one thing, I think you run the risk of the viewer losing interest.
FWIW a quick look at Shore's website today (Topographies) leads me to conclude that his centered compositions are more complex than can be categorized thusly. My $0.02.
Right. But like in all forms of art, it’s better to learn the rules and then discard them, than not knowing them at all. They can often save one’s ass in difficult situations.
The specific phrase, rule of thirds, slightly predates photography and, if I’m not mistaken, is coined in reference to landscape painting. But, yes, it was more of a phrase after the fact surveying “successful” paintings.
Related: the same can be said of the Golden Ratio in art, except most “successful” works don’t follow it.
Yes! A sense of composition comes within, from experience, from a sensibility. If I stopped to think about rules, lines, and whatnot I'd never be able to make a photograph.
Good advice, Marcel.
Painting, actually, and the Google points to John Thomas Smith’s “Remarks on a Rural Scenery”. It is a simplification of the golden ratio that is easier to eyeball. It’s really about getting away from dead center compositions.
That said, ya gotta learn to see.
Dead center compositions. Stephen Shore photographed dead center as he questioned those 'rules'. Our eyes normally focus on the main subject dead center, so why should that he different in photography?
The two-dimensional space defined by the extent of a photograph or painting (I'm treating them equitably here) isn't the same as looking at something. Yes, our eyes find and focus on something that is central to our field of vision. But crafting a scene is about capturing the interest of the viewer and holding it. Composition is one of the tools that we use to accomplish that goal. And I think that even good use of centering involves other elements within the frame to encourage the eye to move about and explore. Putting the thing into the center of the frame (e.g. most portraits) is fine, but if it's just the one thing, I think you run the risk of the viewer losing interest.
FWIW a quick look at Shore's website today (Topographies) leads me to conclude that his centered compositions are more complex than can be categorized thusly. My $0.02.
Right. But like in all forms of art, it’s better to learn the rules and then discard them, than not knowing them at all. They can often save one’s ass in difficult situations.
Yes, I agree, but treat them as guidelines. The Japanese have this interesting philosophy of Shuhari (on mastery):
Learn the rules - Break the rules - Become the rules
I like this philosophy!! It is to know the rules and master the craft in order to break them and make your own. Nice!