Rule
of Thirds by Chris Fitzjohn
To
improve photographic techniques, experiment, find
a good teacher, subscribe to magazines, watch instruction
CDs, buy books, but here is one simple technique that
will improve many of your pictures by 50% (make that
2/3rds). The ‘rule of thirds’ is common
to photgraghy and art, basically you are simply moving
the subject to the side, in so doing you can also
see the background. You can focus mid-way between
the subject and the horizon but the best method is
to focus on the subject. This again is easy, with
most cameras.
Lock
the Focus on the subject by pressing and holding the
shutter halfway down, next simply move the camera
until the subject is to the side, then complete the
shutter movement. So Aunty Agnes is no longer blocking
the Grand Canyon behind her. Sorted.
Like
all rules, it is there to be broken, in other words,
we forget. No problem, use the crop tool.
Chris
Fitzjohn teaches at Leigh Park for South Downs College
(which came second in the 2005 national league table).
Chris runs courses on Photoshop, Website Design, Digital
Photgraghy and explains why, not just how.
Chris
is a harsh disciplinarian, never spares the birch,
exclusions from his class are 80% and you have exams
fortnightly. (Slight exaggeration, no exams, and the
Learning Centre has the friendliest atmosphere outside
of Hayling Island. If you want to book ring the college
– 02392 797979 and ask for Leigh Park Learning
Centre - but the classes are always full)
-----------------------
Techniques
for Taking Photos
Placing
the Subject Off-Centre (Rule of Thirds)
Take
a look at the two photos below. It’s natural
that as photographers we want to place the subject
in the centre of the photo, this is particularly true
with pictures of people or animals. However, placing
the subject off-centre often makes the composition
more dynamic and interesting.
Follow
the rule of thirds. An easy way to compose off-centre
pictures is to imagine a noughts and crosses board
over your viewfinder. Avoid placing your subject in
that centre square, and you have followed the rule
of thirds. Try to place your subject along one of
the imaginary lines that divides your frame. Even
if your subject fills the frame, the most important
part of the subject (for example, the eyes in a portrait)
should not be dead centre.
Watch
the horizon. Just as an off-centre subject is usually
best, so is an off-centre and straight horizon line.
Avoid cutting your picture in half by placing the
horizon in the middle of the picture.
To
accent spaciousness, keep the horizon low in the picture.
To suggest closeness, position the horizon high in
your pictures.
Chris
Fitzjohn
So
there you have it. Easy. Make the sky one third or
two thirds of your picture.
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