 MLOK5My Reality Check BouncedPremium,MVM
join:2000-08-17
Plano, TX | Technique! Week 1
Welcome to our first technique thread. The goal of this thread is for one of the members of the forum to share a photographic technique with the rest of the forum. Then we can all practice this technique & upload our results. The technique doesn't have to be limited to digital editing. It can be related to other things as well, like exposure, depth-of-field, etc. A good example of a technique thread can be found here:
'»Nice Photoshop effect.
Since this is the first week, I'll kick this off. I thought it might be fun to talk about the Rule of Thirds.
The "rule of thirds" is a guideline to good photographic composition. It dictates that you divide your camera's viewfinder into nine sections using imaginary horizontal and vertical lines. (See image-1). The goal is to place the subject of your pictures on one of the four points of intersection on the grid. This creates a more pleasing and interesting composition.
I'm including some examples that I found on the web that show you how to line up your pictures along this grid. (See images 2-4).
Here is a link that has a lot more detail on how to do this:
Rule of Thirds
If you're taking a picture of a landscape or something with a defined horizon, you can still apply this rule. Place your horizon along the top-third or bottom-third of the grid as opposed to dividing the picture in half by placing it in the center of the frame. The last two pictures illustrate this point. One shows the horizon in the center of the picture, and the other is placed according to the rule of thirds. You decide which one is more interesting. (See images 5-6).
Remember, this is a guideline, not a hard and fast rule. Sometimes it makes sense to put a subject in the center or slightly off center of the picture. Use your judgement accordingly.
For this week, let's all upload pics that apply this rule & see what we can do. 
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MLOK5My Reality Check BouncedPremium,MVM
join:2000-08-17
Plano, TX |
Here's image-1 in a .jpeg format -- sorry for the error above!
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MLOK5My Reality Check BouncedPremium,MVM
join:2000-08-17
Plano, TX | reply to MLOK5
Here's my picture. |
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 mikekyPremium
join:2001-12-07
Kentucky
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NIKON E5700
71mm 1/283th F4.2 ISO100
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Fritty, it looks like your photo worked well using the horizon at about two-thirds.
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[text was edited by author 2003-07-20 21:23:40] |
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MLOK5My Reality Check BouncedPremium,MVM
join:2000-08-17
Plano, TX | said by mikeky:
I tried to apply this rule, assuming the head was the most interesting part. Don't know how well it suceeded. (Sorry for another turtle photo.)
It looks great to me! (And I love the turtle pics!)
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"...the only church that truly feeds the soul, day in, day out, is the Church of Baseball." |
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Well, I obviously have no clue what I'm doing. All those lines and circles are just too much like math. 
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 eliasPremium,VIP
join:2000-07-24
Miami, FL | reply to MLOK5
I posted this:
»Re: A question of cropping...
Not too long ago. I had a few good pictures (the I found on Google Images) demonstrating the rule, plus some explanations.
-- Elias
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DSLi Forum. Crunching the Midnight Oil. |
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 CamarePremium
join:2003-05-15
Mckinleyville, CA | reply to MLOK5
Here's my contribution. A sunrise taken about 7:00 am on the way to work one morning looking over a river.
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I think your photo should be in our gallery.
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 MnRPremium
join:2002-05-27
Iron Mountain, MI
kudos:3 | reply to tiggerstales
Hi tiggerstales,
You know that is a great shot, But I think you should have your camera checked. It giving you a window effect. LOL.
bluwing
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 bokambaChengdu RocksPremium
join:2002-04-05
Falls Church, VA | reply to MLOK5
Awesome technique tip. This is one of the most important guidelines in going from "clueless point-and-shoot" to "well-planned and attractive" photography. |
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A simple but awesome technique that really taught me a great deal. I am grateful for the information. I needed this lesson right at this point in time because it is something I have always wondered about but up until now have never heard of. The rule of thirds.....rules.
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MLOK5My Reality Check BouncedPremium,MVM
join:2000-08-17
Plano, TX | reply to MLOK5
It seemed like a good place to start. I think it's best to remember that it's only a guideline. Sometimes that "rule" ought to be broken to get the best picture. I'm glad people are getting something out of this.
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"Are you seeing planes? Is your name Tattoo? Because I swear to God, you're living on Fantasy Island." |
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I had heard about the technique before but I understand it much better with the grids and examples, thanks Fritty |
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 kimPremium,Mod
join:2001-03-25
ON
kudos:6 | reply to MLOK5
Great info, thanks. I just went through a few hundred of my photos and all I can find is a few hundred examples of what not to do. Sorry, maybe I'll play next time |
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MLOK5My Reality Check BouncedPremium,MVM
join:2000-08-17
Plano, TX |
It's still not too late to take a new picture. What about trying to crop an old picture you have to apply the rules. That might be fun to try.
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"Are you seeing planes? Is your name Tattoo? Because I swear to God, you're living on Fantasy Island." |
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 breesePremium
join:2000-05-10
Arlington Heights, IL | I created this one as the home page for a motorcycle web site. |
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kimPremium,Mod
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I don't know how to put the lines in but here goes... |
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MLOK5My Reality Check BouncedPremium,MVM
join:2000-08-17
Plano, TX | reply to breese
said by breese:
I created this one as the home page for a motorcycle web site.
Very cool! I love it!!
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"Are you seeing planes? Is your name Tattoo? Because I swear to God, you're living on Fantasy Island." |
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MLOK5My Reality Check BouncedPremium,MVM
join:2000-08-17
Plano, TX | reply to kim
said by kim:
I don't know how to put the lines in but here goes...
Kim, this is perfect! I'm glad you posted. BTW, "Kim" is a GREAT name.... it happens to be my name, too!
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"Are you seeing planes? Is your name Tattoo? Because I swear to God, you're living on Fantasy Island." |
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