rule of thirds – nancy merrill photography

A Photo a Week Challenge: Off-Center

One of the cardinal rules of photography is to not place your main subject in the middle of your frame. It’s all part of that asymmetry stuff that you learned in high school art classes. If you’ve found a photo with a dead-centered subject that you love, but it doesn’t look quite right, try cropping it with your subject off-centered and see if you like it more. The beauty with digital is that you can try several different ways to see what looks the best and even ask family, friends, or perfect strangers which they like the most.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO WITH THE SUBJECT OFF-CENTER.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ tag.
Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

A Photo a Week Challenge: Threes and Threes

The Rule of Thirds is an old standard for art and photography aficionados for pretty much ever. You divide the frame into a grid of three across and three down, and then don’t put your subject in the middle square. It’s also best if you can put the focus of your image on one of the grid lines. Just like any really good rule, it’s also fun when you know when to break it. However, for this photo, I didn’t. Not only did I follow the basics of the thirds rule, I also used three lovely rose buds to demonstrate it. You’re welcome.

For anyone who needs it, here’s a grid for reference. If you want to do portrait orientation, just flip it.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO (OR MORE) USING THE RULE OF THIRDS.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ tag.
Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

A Photo a Week Challenge: The Rule of Thirds

rule_of_thirds_nmp

The rule of thirds is a standard photographers use to frame their images. You divide the frame into a grid of three across and three down, and then don’t put your subject in the middle square. It’s also best if you can put the focus of your image on one of the grid lines. Just like any really good rule, it’s also fun when you know when to break it. However, for this photo, I didn’t.

For anyone who needs it, here’s a grid for reference. If you want to do portrait orientation, just flip it.

rule_of_thirds_graph

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO (OR MORE) USING THE RULE OF THIRDS.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ tag.
Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

A Photo a Week Challenge: Off-Center

offcenter_nmp

PSA: This challenge is for last week and this week. Normal posting dates will resume on August 10. Thank you.

One of the cardinal rules of photography is to not place your main subject in the middle of your frame. It’s all part of that asymmetry stuff that you learned in high school art classes. If you’ve found a photo with a dead-centered subject that you love, but it doesn’t look quite right, try cropping it with your subject off-centered and see if you like it more. The beauty with digital is that you can try several different cropped to see what looks the best and even ask family, friends, or perfect strangers which they like the most.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO WITH THE SUBJECT OFF-CENTER.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ tag.
Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

A Photo a Week Challenge: Thirds Rule

In photography, we are taught many rules and guidelines about composing our images. One of the most basic is the rule of thirds. Cut your image area into a graph of nine (three vertical lines and three horizontal lines) and place your subject on one of the lines, avoiding the very center of your plane.

I love how using this rule opens up images and really draws our attention to the main subject, even though you would think the opposite would be true. My husband is my favorite subject, so I get to experiment with this rule a lot with him. I hope you like the results.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO (OR THREE…) USING THE RULE OF THIRDS.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography. Here’s how it works:

Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ and “Photo a Week” tags.
Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is a standard photographers use to frame their images. You divide the frame into a grid of three across and three down, and then don’t put your subject in the middle square. Just like any really good rule, it’s also fun when you know when to break it. However, for this photo, I didn’t.

For more from this challenge, visit Weekly Photo Challenge: Rule of Thirds.