Photo Composition: You’re Too Good for the Rule of Thirds (VIDEO)
We all faced a barrage of so-called “photography rules” when first starting out, and one of the most enduring for outdoor shooters is the familiar Rule of Thirds. This is a compositional guideline that involves dividing an image into nine equal parts and placing the subject where two of the vertical and horizontal lines intersect.
This simple rule is a worthwhile starting point for beginners, but there are far better framing techniques to explore as your skills evolve. Let’s face it: if you’re a regular Shutterbug reader it’s time to move beyond baby steps and take a more creative approach when framing up your shots. Doing so will result in compelling photos and help you establish a far more sophisticated photographic style.
Instructor Jalen Oban is a landscape pro based in the Pacific Northwest who is very generous about sharing the secrets to his shooting and post-processing success. He describes today’s video like this: “I’m diving into advanced techniques that will help you elevate your compositions and create dynamic, compelling images.”
Oban takes prides in being an adept visual storyteller, and you will too after following his advice. He punctuates the lesson with eye-catching photos that illustrate how to compose different types of outdoor scenes under various lighting condition for maximum impact. His goal is to enable you to “capture the view and the feeling you experienced on location.”
The idea is to utilize concepts like symmetry, balance and tension, depth and dimension, and other pro tricks. You’ll also see how the inclusion of subtle easy-to-ignore details can be helpful for guiding a viewer’s eye.
The discussion also includes some great advice on how the thoughtful use of light, perspective, and focal length can completely transform your compositions and contribute to truly immersive imagery. In essence, this is all about changing your mindset and being receptive to news ways of visualizing the world around you before snapping the shutter.
There’s much more to learn on Oban’s instructional YouTube channel for outdoor photographers of all skill levels. So be sure to pay a visit.
We also suggest watching a thought-provoking video we featured with another accomplish pro who raises this interesting question: Should you spend your hard-earned cash on a new hi-res camera or invest in lenses with superior optical quality?
