The rule of thirds and the “golden ratio” in photography. The rule of thirds in modern photography

The Rule of Thirds is one of the fundamental photography techniques. Applying it to any subject in the frame will improve the composition and balance of your photo.

The Rule of Thirds is considered one of the most useful compositional techniques in photography. Be sure to learn this concept because it works for all types of shots and always helps create a more attractive and better-balanced image.

Of course, you shouldn’t blindly follow the rules - especially when we're talking about about art. Consider the rule of thirds not a dogma, but rather a flawed but simple and, in many cases, acceptable approach. And yet, more often than not, it only makes a photo better and serves as an excellent starting point when creating a composition.

Rule of Thirds - what is it?

The rule of thirds involves the photographer mentally placing a grid of two horizontal and two vertical lines over an image, as shown below. Important elements of the composition are then placed along these lines or at the points where they intersect.

The rule of thirds is the grid. Important elements (the house and the boundary between the ground and the trees) are located along the lines and at the intersection.

The idea is that an off-center composition has more visual appeal and looks more natural than if the subject is placed directly in the center of the frame. It also encourages the photographer to use negative space creatively ( free space around the subject).

How to use the Rule of Thirds

When choosing a frame, imagine that the image is divided into cells, as described above. Think about what are the most important elements in the photo and try to place them on the lines or intersections of the grid.

The horizon line and subject in this photo were placed near grid lines or intersections.

You may have to walk around your subject, looking for the best composition. This is a good habit to get into, whether you use the rule of thirds or not, because it ensures that you get a well-thought-out shot.

Some cameras have added an option that overlays a grid on the image in the viewfinder, making it much easier to choose the best composition.

Examples of photos using the Rule of Thirds

The universality of the rule of thirds allows it to be applied to any object. Below are examples effective use this approach on different types of images.

Place the horizon along one of the horizontal grid lines.

In case of landscape photographs It is customary for the horizon line to pass through the center of the frame, but this way you risk getting a “split in two” photo. It is better to place the horizon along one of the horizontal grid lines.

Try adding another interesting object - like the tree in the photo above - and position it in the frame according to the rule of thirds. This will create a natural compositional center in the photo, a focal point.

Place the person on one side of the frame.

It's a good idea to place a person on one side of the frame. There will be free space, you will show what surrounds this person, and the photo will no longer look like “the police are looking for them.”

The viewer's attention is most often drawn to the eyes of the people in the photo. Make sure that in the frame they are at the intersection of the grid lines drawn up according to the rule of thirds - this will give the photo a clear focal point.

The main object was placed on one of the grid nodes.

Here the main object was placed on one of the grid nodes, as well as along a vertical line. The branch, one might say, goes along the upper horizontal line. Due to the free space at the bottom left, the photo looks balanced and not overcrowded with compositional elements.

Vertical objects can also split a photo in two.

Vertical objects like this lighthouse can also split a photo in two. To avoid this, do not place them in the center of the composition.

Leave more space in front of an object than after it.

When photographing moving objects, place them in the frame as usual, but pay attention to the direction of movement. General rule This is: leave more space in front of the object than after it, so that it is clear where it is going.

Using editors

The rule of thirds can easily be applied to existing photographs by cropping out any excess. This way you will change the position of important objects, moving them to a more pleasing point in the composition.

The rule of thirds is easy to apply to existing photographs.

To make your task easier, programs seem to have a built-in function “ crop guide overlays" It overlays a rule-of-thirds grid over the image, which allows for better targeting while cropping the photo.

Rules are made to be broken

Like any other rule (by at least, in photography), the rule of thirds does not apply in every situation. Sometimes breaking it can create a much more attractive and interesting photo. Experiment, try it various options compositions, even if they go against all the “rules” you have learned.

However, before you break the rule of thirds, learn how to use it effectively. Then you can confidently say that you are committing violations not without reason, but solely for the sake of a better composition.

Rules of composition in photography

• Rule of thirds
• Golden ratio rule
• Diagonal rule
• Tips for Beginners

Rules of composition

How to make a photograph interesting, expressive, and eye-catching?
To create a photograph, it is not enough just to take an image. It is necessary to harmoniously place objects in the picture, filling it with meaning. Exist different ways and rules for creating a harmonious composition. Sometimes it is enough to place your subjects in certain places. In other cases, it is enough to choose the right shooting point. A slight shift in camera position can make a big difference in your composition.

To add expressiveness to your photographs, apply the rules of composition.

Rule of thirds

Divide the frame into three equal parts horizontally and vertically. The result is the grid that you see in the image. The rule is based on the fact that objects located at the intersections of lines correspond to the best visual perception. Thus, a significantly important subject should be located either along the lines or at the intersection points of these lines:

When shooting natural landscapes The most interesting photographs are those in which the horizon is positioned according to the rule of thirds. On which line should the horizon be placed? It depends on what you want to focus the viewer's attention on. In the first case it is beautiful landscape on the ground. In the second case, we focus on an interesting, expressive sky:

Golden ratio rule

Diagonal rule

According to the diagonal rule, important image elements should be set along the diagonal lines shown in the examples. Diagonal composition with the direction from the lower left corner to the upper right corner is calmer than one built on the opposite, more dynamic diagonal.

Linear elements such as roads, waterways, and fences set diagonally tend to make the landscape more dynamic than those placed horizontally:

Diagonal Golden Ratio Rule

Another application of the golden ratio rule. Let's apply a diagonal grid to the image as shown in the photo below. The main objects of the image should be located in the resulting sections.

Keep the camera level with your subject. Don't photograph straight up or from your height, unless you want a special effect. For example, if you are photographing children, get down to their eye level, otherwise you will end up with distorted proportions.

Make sure that main object The photo did not blend into the background. If you are shooting a single subject, try to choose a simple background whose details will not distract the viewer. In some cases, it makes sense to make the subject occupy the vast majority of the area of ​​the frame itself.

Use branches, trees, etc. to create a frame effect. This way you will emphasize the main object. A frame can also help create a more voluminous frame (there is no need to make the frame the main semantic element).

If you are photographing a moving object, then leave space in the photo in front of the object, that is, in the direction of its movement. In other words, position the subject as if it had just entered the photograph, rather than leaving it.

Try to ensure that the light source is behind you. And also avoid bright lights or colorful spots away from the main plot. This distracts the viewer.

Try to create a balanced composition so that the top of the photo doesn't look "heavier" than the bottom. This rule also applies to the sides of the image.

Include an odd number of identical objects in the frame. One or three flowers look better than two or four.

If you are photographing a building, choose an angle in which both its façade and side are visible. It will look much more voluminous than just a facade.

The composition should not play an independent role. Just as speech has the meaning of a transmitter of thought, composition serves only as a means for expressing the author's thoughts.

The source of information: http://www.colorpilot.ru/comp_rules.html

additional article for those who could not figure it out: http://cifrovik.ru/publish/open_article/15363/

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Anonymous (09.11.13 21:32):

Anonymous (09.11.13 21:27): the rule of “balanced composition” leads to the placement of the main objects in the center of the vertical and horizontal components, which cancels all principles)

How to build a composition without the rule of thirds.

Tavis Leaf Glover, based in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a fine art photographer, author, and founder of IPOX Photography Studio. He is convinced that the principles of Gestalt psychology apply not only to the psyche, soul, but also to photography and art in general. In his article on the principles of composition, he discusses classical rule thirds in images and why it should be abandoned.

We are all force-fed the idea of ​​the rule of thirds in our creative infancy, and even as our understanding of composition matures, we still can't shake it. Perhaps we can change the future of art if we together abandon the rule of thirds and get acquainted with the priceless compositional techniques which are discussed in this article.

Without composition, art cannot flourish. But by using the rule of thirds to create it, you end up in a dead end of mediocrity. It sounds harsh - but it is true. What I'm trying to show is that the rule of thirds isn't even a rule to be broken, it's the foundation on which you build - or don't build - your writing. This is your choice."

Myth #1 about the rule of thirds: “It makes the image pleasing to the eye.”

What does “makes the image pleasing to the eye” mean? I assure you, this has nothing to do with placing people and objects at the intersection of certain lines. A composition that is pleasing to the eye is one that is clearly perceived by the viewer, without distracting elements, without confusion or inconsistency. How to achieve this?

First, we need to understand how the brain perceives visual stimuli. For clarification, we will use concepts from Gestalt psychology. For example, this photo uses the Figure-Ground Interaction technique, which makes it possible to clearly separate the subject of the photo from the background.

Photo caption: A photograph of Henri Cartier-Bresson that demonstrates the magnificent "interaction of figure and ground")

Here is the "Law of Continuation", which allows you to create curved arabesques using a variety of objects.

Here is the "Greatest Area of ​​Contrast" which helps direct the viewer's eye to the main character.

(Photo caption: “Largest area of ​​contrast”)

Myth No. 2: “Professionals use this rule”

Another common myth. Let's take Annie Leibovitz for example. She is definitely a professional and one of the most inspiring photographers of our time. Let's put a rule of thirds grid over one of her shots and see if she used the rule of thirds or not.

As you can see, the mantelpiece runs exactly along the line. Hmm, apparently Annie did use the rule of thirds... but wait, how did she arrange the models? How did she manage to create such a wonderful composition if you can only use vertical and horizontal guides? Some of the models are laid out on a grid, but what next? How to place their arms, legs, dresses, looks? And this is where dynamic symmetry comes into play.

Annie arranged the models according to dynamic symmetry, or in other words, a lattice system.

Dynamic symmetry helps us organize a composition; it uses vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines to create rhythm and unity in the image. Whether it's a painting, a photograph or a sculpture, dynamic symmetry works for everything.

Myth #3: “The rule of thirds helps the eye move through an image.”

This statement is very far from the truth. Arranging objects at one point without considering how the image as a whole will look does not help create movement in the composition.

The "Law of Continuation" from Gestalt psychology gives us several tools for creating movement and unity that will move the viewer's eye throughout a photograph or painting. The most visually attractive of them is “arabesque”.

An "arabesque" is a curved element that you can include in your image; she will create on him the image of a beautiful, graceful movement. Many artists actively used this tool in their works.

Another technique for creating movement is "matching". It defines the relationships between edges and unifies numerous elements in the image, which helps create sideways and up-and-down movement.

“Leading Lines” are not continuous stripes, as the name might suggest. It is torn, invisible, and the trick is that the brain easily perceives it and “completes” the missing parts of the line itself.

This photo shows Annie Leibovitz building edges using the arms and legs of a man and a woman.

We see the same thing in the painting “Mona Lisa” by da Vinci and in the complex composition of “The Birth of Venus” by Bouguereau.

Myth #4: “The Rule of Thirds takes the character out of the center.”

First of all, who decided that centering a character was a bad thing? Why are we forced to believe this?

In Gestalt psychology there is a technique called the “Law of Symmetry”. IN in general terms it means that the human brain is always trying to find balance in visual stimuli. So if we use the rule of thirds and move a character off center, we need to balance it out with something. Failure to do this will result in a poorly balanced composition.

There is vertical and horizontal balance (I call them “airspace” and “eye direction”); to get a well-balanced image, we need to learn how to control both of them.

In this photograph of mine, the main characters are in the center, but the image is well balanced because there is both vertical and horizontal balance.

It took me several years to get rid of the influence of the rule of thirds on my compositions. In the past, I always positioned characters on one side or the other, without thinking about the shot as a whole.

Myth #5: “The rule of thirds is the basis for a balanced and interesting photo”

We have already talked about the “Law of Symmetry”, which ensures the correct balance of the image. Now we should mention that the rule of thirds creates unwanted negative space.

If we simply place a character at one of the intersections of the grid, without thinking about the image as a whole and without balancing it, negative space appears in the photo, which distracts the viewer's eye from the main character.

Negative space can be used intentionally to create a feeling of loneliness and disconnection from the world. But if it appeared in the photo by accident, it means that the photo was taken by an inexperienced beginner.

Myth #6: “The Rule of Thirds is a great starting point for beginners.”

My own experience suggests that the rule of thirds can only lead to dead ends. At first I thought of it as something revolutionary, bragging about using it to newbie photographers.

But later I found myself at a “plateau”, not understanding how to further build a composition - and all because I followed the rule of thirds.

If artists and photographers apply dynamic symmetry rather than the rule of thirds from the very beginning, they will be able to use not only vertical and horizontal lines, but also diagonals, and create rhythm with them - no matter whether this is done by the correct pose of the models or the direction of the strokes brushes

The number of available diagonals in a rectangle limits the number possible directions, and this allows for a stronger composition rather than a chaotic scatter.

Myth No. 7: “The rule of thirds was created by Renaissance artists, or even the ancient Greeks”

The first documented mention of the rule of thirds is in a book by the English artist and engraver John Thomas Smith, dated 1797. And judging by his works, it is difficult to call him a great master.

Did Da Vinci use the rule of thirds? Da Vinci would turn over in his grave if he heard this. He devoted so much time and effort to improving his compositions, studied and practiced so much - for what? For someone to reduce all his efforts to simple rule third? In no case.

Da Vinci, like other great masters, including the ancient Greeks, used dynamic symmetry, the golden ratio, and others artistic techniques, such as arabesque, gamma, coincidence, diverging rays, figure-ground interaction, ellipses, fences and so on.

Myth #8: “The eye is automatically drawn to power points”

If only it were that simple. Place your character at the intersection of the lines indicated by the rule of thirds, and BAM! - you already control the viewer’s gaze. Not so. What about the fact that the eye is drawn to areas of high contrast?

When we make a character the "highest area of ​​contrast", wouldn't we be looking at him first, regardless of his pose or positioning?

Another thing that catches the eye is the "shimmer edge" as I call it. This refers to high-contrast elements at the edges of the image that draw attention to themselves.

Creating a sequence of contrasts and removing any distractions from the edges will help control your viewers' eye movement within the image.

Myth #9: “Cropping an image using the rule of thirds is a great way to save a photo.”

Cropping a photo with poor composition and poor lighting will not make it better. Cropping a photo to improve it is like working backwards. You need to compose your shot before, not after, shooting.

Study the principles of composition and Gestalt psychology so that you know in advance what you want to get in the end and understand how to achieve it correctly. Don't sacrifice pixels to the rule of thirds. Your creativity deserves better.

Myth #10: “Power dots and golden dots create drama.”

As we have already understood, the arrangement of characters in thirds alone does not add dramatic tension to the image.

To get the desired drama, let’s turn to the “law of proximity” from Gestalt psychology.

Let's look at this fresco from the ceiling Sistine Chapel. The characters are clearly united by their closeness and similarities. But also, the drama is heightened by the fact that their hands are almost, but not quite, touching. This is the moment before the touch.

Or this photo in which a man almost reached out to his dying wife. The drama here is created by close proximity.

The Law of Proximity allows you to use distance and negative space to create tension, as in this photo.

Conclusion

There are many composition methods and techniques that you can use to interact with your viewers.

Forget the rule of thirds and embrace dynamic symmetry. Its grid is as easy to use as the rule of thirds grid, but the former gives you significantly more options for structuring your photo. Understand how to create a strong composition and you will become a master of your craft.”

The Rule of Thirds is a powerful compositional technique for making photographs more interesting and dynamic. In addition, he is perhaps one of the most famous. This article demonstrates with examples how and why this rule works, when it's appropriate to break it, and how to make the most of it to improve the quality of your photography.

General concepts

The rule of thirds states that an image looks most interesting when the objects or areas depicted in it are separated by imaginary lines that divide the image into thirds - both vertically and horizontally:

It's actually extremely funny that a rule that seems like a mathematical rule can apply to something as varied and subjective as photography. But it works, and surprisingly well. The Rule of Thirds is all about aesthetic compromise. It often creates a sense of balance - without making the image too static - and a sense of complexity - without overwhelming the image.

Examples of the rule of thirds

Well, you may have seen its usefulness - but the previous example was simple and extremely geometric. How does the rule of thirds work with more abstract subjects? Let's see if you can spot it in the following picture:

Notice how the tallest rock formation (tuff pillar) falls into the right third, and the horizon line corresponds to the top third. The darker stone in the foreground is also aligned with the bottom and left thirds of the photo. Even in an apparently abstract photograph there can be a reasonable degree of order and organization.

Does this mean you should worry about aligning all significant elements of the image neatly in thirds? Not necessarily - this is just a rough guide. What is usually most important is not to place the main subject or area directly in the center of the photo. For landscapes, this usually means the horizon line in the upper or lower thirds. For product photography, this usually means moving the subject to either side. This can make landscapes much more dynamic and give subjects a sense of direction.

In the examples above, the cyclist is more or less placed in the left third as he moves to the right. Likewise, a bird off-center gives the impression that it could fly to the right at any moment. Decentering the composition is a powerful tool conveying or expressing movement.

Enhancing your photos by cropping

So far we've looked at pictures that satisfy the rule - but what if they don't? Is it possible to give them interesting view? Possibly, but usually not. The following set of examples shows situations where framing to comply with a rule provides a clear improvement. It can be surprising how easy it is to breathe life into an old photo with something as simple as cropping.

IN in this example part of the clear sky was cropped so that the horizon lined up with the top third of the image - increasing the emphasis on the foreground and mountains.

Restrictions

What if there is simply nothing to align in thirds in the frame? Although rare, this can happen in extremely abstract compositions. However, the "spirit of the rule" can still be applied: giving the photo a sense of balance without making it overly static and frozen.

In the example on the right, there is not a single line in the object that could be aligned with thirds. It's possible that the C-shaped illuminated area could be classified as the top, middle, and bottom thirds, but that would probably be a stretch. Either way, the photo is on average brighter on the left than on the right - essentially creating a decentered composition.

Violation of the rule of thirds

An example of useful symmetry

By this point, free spirited and creative artist, as you probably are, will probably feel somewhat constrained by the seeming rigidity of this rule. However, all rules exist to be broken sooner or later - and this particular one is no exception. It's time to release our inner protest. A rule is useful where it is useful.

The central principle of the rule of thirds is that placing the subject in the center of the photo is not ideal. But what if you want to express the symmetry of an object? This is exactly what the example on the left does.

Likewise, there are many other situations in which it is better to ignore the rule of thirds than to apply it. For example, you may want to make your subject appear more confrontational. Or, let's say, upset the balance.

It is important to ask yourself: what is special about the subject of the photograph that I want to highlight in it? What mood do I want to convey? If the rule of thirds helps you achieve your goals, use it. If not, don’t let it interfere with your composition.

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To begin with, let's think about how the shooting process occurs. Probably everyone frames the shot differently: some intuitively press the shutter at the right moment, others follow certain requirements. What is the main rule of an excellent shot? And at the same time... is it always necessary to follow the rules, won't it turn out to be a boring and predictable picture?

Today we will try to understand the secrets of creating the perfect photograph and its basis - composition. You can find out more about what a composition is.

What does the golden ratio mean in photography?

The golden ratio rule is the rule of thirds in photography, or more precisely, we are talking about the formation of six parts, or three thirds, into which the photo is mentally divided. It is represented like this: two vertical and two horizontal lines pass at equal intervals across the frame and intersect, respectively, at four points - the most active areas of any photograph.

This rule is not difficult to understand, but at the same time it very effectively directs the viewer’s gaze, attracts him to consider important elements in the photo, and also generally organizes the composition. The photograph becomes aesthetically more pleasing to look at.

Setting up the grid in the camera

Is everyone familiar with the menu of their camera? If yes, then great, and if not, then it's time to do it. Almost all optics, especially when it comes to SLR cameras, have a function for displaying a grid on the screen. And you don’t need to measure these thirds of the frame by eye, they are in front of you!

The grid, moreover, can be non-standard, that is, not just the intersection of four lines, but a breakdown into larger number straight In some devices, the grid is difficult to find in the menu, so just turn on Live View mode. Framing may vary. Those who like to meticulously frame their frames should try the grids available in graphic editors, I use Photoshop.

Photographing people and inanimate objects

In still life composition, the main difficulty lies in the arrangement of objects throughout the frame. In this case, you need to evaluate the height and shape of objects. For a piece for the viewer positive effect things must be in active points, which were already mentioned above. Using two or three points is quite enough; there is no need to overload the image with a mass of elements.

We will pay more attention to photographs of a person and a group of people. First, determine the scale of the portrait and then remember the rule of thirds:

1. In a head portrait, eyes or lips (usually eyes) are usually highlighted, so it is logical to enhance the impression by placing them at the intersection points of the mentioned lines that make up the rule.
2. In a bust and half-length portrait, not only the position of a person’s head and his emotions, but also the torso acquires significance. In addition, your hands may become important point the entire photo. Why not place them just on the section line? Let's try!
3. When shooting knee-length and tall, the person himself can be slightly shifted to the right or left in the frame, so he will be clearly positioned with the three-thirds rule.
4. If you want not just to photograph several people in the center, but to take an artistic photograph, then position the people so that they fall exactly on two lines or points of the golden ratio. An example could be family photo: children standing in front on the first line, and parents located a little further - on the second.

Harmonious photo composition in a landscape

Regardless of the genre of photography, be it portrait, still life, etc., this rule applies everywhere. It is especially worth mentioning about architectural and landscape photography, where in addition to the correct distribution of the main objects, the horizon line matters. So, two points:

• In most cases, this should be a straight and horizontal line between heaven and earth.

Have you heard of the expression “the horizon is blocked” in any direction? So, try not to allow this to happen. We don't want to get a falling person or building in the frame! To do this, it is important to stabilize your position and camera, and also monitor the situation in the viewfinder.

• It is also important where the line is located, in what area of ​​the frame - the lower third or the upper.

Do you think there should be more space for the earth or for the sky? There is no correct answer, since it all depends on the specific case: the more curious objects or more activity occurs in the sky area, accordingly, more space needs to be left there. This statement is also true regarding the ground surface.

Below we give one of the clear examples of the classic use of this rule in composition. Take a look, the ground line almost coincides with one of the horizontal lines in the section. The border is at the bottom, but most of it - two thirds - is occupied by a magnificent cloudy sky.

A necessary exception to the rule: mirror landscape

So, why did we spend so much time studying the rule of thirds if it can be broken? Moreover, this rule must be broken! But do this extremely carefully and, most importantly, expediently. Here it is revealed before you unearthly beauty landscape reflected in a river or lake. And you need to be able to capture all this beauty.

If we place the horizon at the bottom of the frame, we will miss the reflection, and the horizon at the top of the frame will focus on the water, but may cut off the rest of the area. But there is a way out! The only option is to place the horizon strictly in the middle. Thanks to this, the top and bottom of the photo will repeat each other, creating a feeling of a fantastic looking glass.

Remember that following the rules is quite easy, but using them correctly and, if necessary, violating them requires a subtle perception of photography and its tasks, the presence of taste and own style which the author wishes to express in the photograph taken. Go ahead, don’t be afraid to experiment and let your shot be original and memorable!

Well, what do you think of the article? I hope she answered your questions? I'm more than sure that yes! And so, if you are focused on an in-depth study of the basics of photography, then my blog is just for you, and a video course from a wonderful photographer will also help you “ Digital SLR for a beginner 2.0", which will simply not be replaced in your endeavor. Which will become a guide to the world of photographs.

And of course, any photograph, after shooting, undergoes digital processing in programs such as Photoshp and/or Lightroom. I use them too. To get started, I recommend starting with Lightroom and luckily for you, there is a video course that has helped my fellow aspiring photographers a lot, “ Lightroom wizard. Secrets of high-speed photo processing" So go ahead, create miracles, everything is in your hands!

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All the best to you, Timur Mustaev.