RULE OF THIRDS
Perhaps the most well known principle of photographic composition is the ‘Rule of Thirds‘.
What is the Rule of Thirds?
The basic principle behind the rule of thirds is to imagine breaking an image down into thirds (both horizontally and vertically) so that you have 9 parts. As
follows.
Perhaps the most well known principle of photographic composition is the ‘Rule of Thirds‘.
What is the Rule of Thirds?
The basic principle behind the rule of thirds is to imagine breaking an image down into thirds (both horizontally and vertically) so that you have 9 parts. As
follows.
With this grid in mind the ‘rule of thirds’ now identifies four important parts of the image that you should consider placing points of interest in as you frame
your image
your image
Exercises
a) Students are required to take 5 photos based upon set compositional technique
b) Using the techniques developed students are required to develop an image titled:
a) Students are required to take 5 photos based upon set compositional technique
b) Using the techniques developed students are required to develop an image titled:
Landscapes in HDR (High Dynamic Range)
Photos courtesy of Trey Ratcliff http://www.stuckincustoms.com/
The Idea
Landscape photography is one of the most relaxing types of Photography. You don't have to worry about people adversely affecting your images, it's just you and the big, wide world. You can get lost in wide open spaces so composition is crucial here, which is where the rule of thirds comes in.
Most landscape scenes have a wide dynamic range (that is the difference between the brightest parts and the darkest shadows), this range cannot be captured, even with the best cameras. What you get is either over exposed highlights in the sky or a foreground that is too dark.
The way to fix this is by using a High Dynamic Range of exposures:
- One that is a normal exposure for the midtone details
- Another one is underexposed to capture the dark elements and
- Another one that is overexposed to register the highlights.
The Ingredients
- Digital Camera
- Wide open space
- HDR Action
The Idea
Landscape photography is one of the most relaxing types of Photography. You don't have to worry about people adversely affecting your images, it's just you and the big, wide world. You can get lost in wide open spaces so composition is crucial here, which is where the rule of thirds comes in.
Most landscape scenes have a wide dynamic range (that is the difference between the brightest parts and the darkest shadows), this range cannot be captured, even with the best cameras. What you get is either over exposed highlights in the sky or a foreground that is too dark.
The way to fix this is by using a High Dynamic Range of exposures:
- One that is a normal exposure for the midtone details
- Another one is underexposed to capture the dark elements and
- Another one that is overexposed to register the highlights.
The Ingredients
- Digital Camera
- Wide open space
- HDR Action
The Process
a) Take your Landscapes Photos
Composition:
With any photography composition is crucial and this is evident in landscape photography, so it's important you spend some time considering it.
- If the horizon is going to be obvious in your image, don't put it in the middle of your composition. It's better to give more weight to either the sky or the land. Follow the rule of thirds here and set your horizon either one thirds or two thirds of the way down the image.
- If it is a wide open landscape make sure you have something good for the viewer to focus on, otherwise their eye will wander. Having a point of interest, especially in the foreground, helps to give a sense of depth to the image.
b) HDR Action
STEP 1
IMAGE MODIFICATION:
• Your photo must be a flattened image. Check the layer panel and make sure your photo has only a single
layer called 'Background'. To set your photo as a background: Go to menu bar, then select Layer > Flatten Image.
• Your photo must in RGB colour mode. To set the colour mode: Go to menu bar, then select Image >
Mode > RGB Colour
• Your photo must have 8 bits colour. To set the colour bit: Go to menu bar, then select Image > Mode > 8
Bits/Channel.
STEP 2
HOW TO RUN THE ACTION
1. Open a photo you want to work with
2. Run the action. Go to action panel. Select the action you have been installed, open the action
set/group, select the action you want to run (Play icon), then click the play button to run the action.
a) Take your Landscapes Photos
Composition:
With any photography composition is crucial and this is evident in landscape photography, so it's important you spend some time considering it.
- If the horizon is going to be obvious in your image, don't put it in the middle of your composition. It's better to give more weight to either the sky or the land. Follow the rule of thirds here and set your horizon either one thirds or two thirds of the way down the image.
- If it is a wide open landscape make sure you have something good for the viewer to focus on, otherwise their eye will wander. Having a point of interest, especially in the foreground, helps to give a sense of depth to the image.
b) HDR Action
STEP 1
IMAGE MODIFICATION:
• Your photo must be a flattened image. Check the layer panel and make sure your photo has only a single
layer called 'Background'. To set your photo as a background: Go to menu bar, then select Layer > Flatten Image.
• Your photo must in RGB colour mode. To set the colour mode: Go to menu bar, then select Image >
Mode > RGB Colour
• Your photo must have 8 bits colour. To set the colour bit: Go to menu bar, then select Image > Mode > 8
Bits/Channel.
STEP 2
HOW TO RUN THE ACTION
1. Open a photo you want to work with
2. Run the action. Go to action panel. Select the action you have been installed, open the action
set/group, select the action you want to run (Play icon), then click the play button to run the action.