In this post i will be explaining and showing examples of how the rule of thirds work and where this piece of photography took its place.
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. This gives an image stability and accuracy. These photos below will give a deeper understanding.
These images above show the perception involved in an image using 'rule of thirds' , If you have a look at both images above the alignment of the grids both match up to the eyes on the human and the bee. This is acting like a focus point in the image as if the features draw in the most attention. These are both two good examples of photography.
The images above have been taken using the 'rule of thirds' , By following the grid effect made up in photography to give a better display in an image. Portrait images are more compacted to show the detail and features whereas a horizontal image shows more definition.
These images above go into more detail as they are taken from a different angle , horizontal, The way in which these images are addressed are with a focus point with hidden features. If you look at the image with the tree , the image is taken from a wide shot so it is easier to include aspects in the image. Whereas the smoking sign is taken in a close up shot to show an image with meaning throughout, in the far corner of the image, the street shows a different type of scene but all in one image. This doesn't happen as much in a portrait image.
Now that some examples have been shown i transferred my own images into a grid display to see the rule of thirds in both landscape and portrait. The portrait image follows the rules by following the edge of the elbow and the nose line. Whereas the landscape image follows the alignment of the sign and the actual cigarette extingusher. most images in photography use this method for successful imagery.
GOLDEN TRIANGLES
Another rule is the "Golden Triangles". It's more convenient for photos with diagonal lines. There are three triangles with corresponding shapes. Just roughly place three subjects with approximate equal sizes in these triangles and this rule will be kept.
The golden triangle is another good compositional guideline to use when your photograph contains strong diagonal elements. It involves splitting the photo into three triangles that contain the same angles. The golden triangle is simple and works the best with lines but almost every photo will benefit from applying it. All you have to do it to imagine lines going through your photo. The framing does not have to be precise; an approximate framing will do well.
One right-angled triangle runs diagonally from corner to corner, while the other two triangles are created by drawing a line that goes from one of the other corners to meet the diagonal line at a right angle, This is a basic composition of the triangles in use.
One right-angled triangle runs diagonally from corner to corner, while the other two triangles are created by drawing a line that goes from one of the other corners to meet the diagonal line at a right angle, This is a basic composition of the triangles in use.
Here are a few example shots that follow The Golden Triangle rule of photography in composition.
GOLDEN SPRIAL OR GOLDEN RECTANGLE
And one more rule is a "Golden Spiral" or "Golden Rectangle" there should be something, leading the eye to the center of the composition. It could be a line or several subjects. This "something" could just be there without leading the eyes, but it will fulfil its purpose anyway.
The Golden Spiral is created using the Golden Rectangle. Once you have your rectangle of 1,1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 units squared boxes respectively, as shown in the image above, you can start constructing the golden rectangle. Using the square side as you radius, you are to create an arc that touches both the points of the square diagonally. Repeat this for every square within the golden triangle and you’ll end up with a Golden spiral.
This technique has been used in many great and famous piece of art such as the mona Lisa shown below.
Leonardo Di Vinci was also a fan of the Divine proportion (and many other curious subjects as a matter of fact!). The wondrous beauty of the Mona Lisa may be due to the fact that her face and body respect the Golden ratio, as do real human faces in nature.
THE MATHS BEHIND THE GOLDEN MEAN
The Golden Mean is defined by a mathematical sequence of numbers known as the Fibonacci sequence. By definition, the first two Fibonacci numbers are 0 and 1, and each remaining number is the sum of the previous two. So the sequence is:
1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, ....
The ratio of each pair of consecutive numbers approximates phi, or the number 1.618. (5 divided by 3 is 1.666, 8 divided by 5 is 1.60...) By the 40th number in the series, the ratio has stabilized at 1.618, accurate to 15 decimal places.
Now, where does the spiral come from? We draw a rectangle that is divided into squares as in the picture below. The ratio of the length of the side of a larger square to the next smaller square is the golden ratio of 1.618:1.
A Fibonacci spiral is formed by connecting the arcs (quarter circles) joining opposite corners of the squares. As show above in the Mona Lisa.
1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, ....
The ratio of each pair of consecutive numbers approximates phi, or the number 1.618. (5 divided by 3 is 1.666, 8 divided by 5 is 1.60...) By the 40th number in the series, the ratio has stabilized at 1.618, accurate to 15 decimal places.
Now, where does the spiral come from? We draw a rectangle that is divided into squares as in the picture below. The ratio of the length of the side of a larger square to the next smaller square is the golden ratio of 1.618:1.
A Fibonacci spiral is formed by connecting the arcs (quarter circles) joining opposite corners of the squares. As show above in the Mona Lisa.