Composition Class: Rule of Thirds
Tuesday August 19, 2008
The Rule of Thirds is a basic composition rule popular among photographers, but equally applicable to the composition of paintings. Applying the rule of thirds to a painting means you'll never have a painting that's split in half, either vertically or horizontally, nor one with the main focus right in the centre like a bull's-eye. Read more...
Comments
Marion, I can never stress enough about the “Rule of Thirds”. Many photography students take drawing classes to emphasize this concept, although most of the time it causes BIG stress with those who can’t grasp the photography-to-drawing medium in which they fail to successfully execute the process. I have way too much photography in me to lose a most valuable tool. I just wish I could show other students how to gravitate between photography and drawing. Photography and drawing hold hands, I just wish it were easier for some people to grasp.
The”Rule of thirds” has many applications in art making. In drawing it refers to a natural balance between areas of value Black, white & gray. In composition dividing the rectangle in thirds produces 4 natural points of interest or focus at the intersecting points. While planning for negative space it can refer to positive, negative & detail content to distribute a more enjoyable visual experience. In color theory it refers to creating a balance of thirds to avoid a frequent tendency toward equal parts of 2 complimentary colors. “The Rule of Thirds” in general means trying to avoid the static problems created by limiting your content to 2 only. The conscious effort to add a third can overcome static compositions, static concepts & viewer disinterest created by almost any perfectly equal balance. JMHO jrj