Assignment 17 - The rule of thirds, and how to break it...

KarmaGarda · 10-07-2009 12:12am #1

The Theme is 'Knowing the rule of thrids, and how to break it' - strictly no software wizardry allowed! You can do whatever you like to produce your image, but once you take the shot, only basic adjustments allowed, curves, crop etc.

The Rules.

*Photos must be in by 2 weeks of given task - closing date 24th July, 9pm.
*No old photos. Only photos taken with this task in mind qualify - sorry. Therefore, dated 10th July onwards.
*Photos must be on the given task.
*ONE photo per post. Post as many as you like.
*C&C to be encouraged - but be nice about it.
*Stretch yourself - no limitation to what you can do to produce the image.
*Next task/subject to be chosen by person who has the most thanks after their post (must include a picture in the post ).

Example:

Some links for reference:
http://digital-photography-school.com/rule-of-thirds
http://digital-photography-school.com/break-the-rule-of-thirds

pullandbang · 10-07-2009 9:20am

Well done Karma on the last one and good topic for this one. Have to get the thinking cap on now.

KarmaGarda · 10-07-2009 9:32am

pullandbang wrote: »

Well done Karma on the last one and good topic for this one. Have to get the thinking cap on now.

Thanks. I had a few ideas, but I thought this might get the most interesting photos. And I think it will be interesting to see what the more seasoned photographers come up with when being brought back to basics!

Here's another link to a sample photo I found browsing that's quite good:

http://alibony365.wordpress.com/2009/02/17/33-break-the-rule-of-thirds/

xia · 10-07-2009 3:23pm

Ok...first try...

Trev M · 10-07-2009 8:57pm

I guess this breaks the rule if I understand it correctly. The horizon is in the middle, the intersection points are more or less clear.....Id imagine in general landscapes are less inclined to lend themselves to the rule unless there is a single subject matter within the scape?

3704810017_79a35617d2.jpg?v=0

xia · 11-07-2009 10:40am

Trev M wrote: »

I guess this breaks the rule

At least it breaks the rule of the assignment

...it was taken before the 10th July... But other that that i'd say it fits into it...

homer simpson · 11-07-2009 1:12pm

Ive just spent ages looking up this rule of third thing, cos i'm in no way a pro photographer, never even done a course, couldn't figure it then bing, now to find something to enter the assignment with........hhhhuuuuummmmmm.....

Atomic Pineapple · 11-07-2009 1:46pm

homer_simpson wrote: »

Ive just spent ages looking up this rule of third thing, cos i'm in no way a pro photographer, never even done a course, couldn't figure it then bing, now to find something to enter the assignment with........hhhhuuuuummmmmm.....

Could you explain how to break it to me?

vectra · 11-07-2009 2:11pm

draffodx wrote: »

Could you explain how to break it to me?

I am assuming it is a uncomposed pic?
Point and shoot so to speak??

11-07-2009 7:54pm

vectra wrote: »

I am assuming it is a uncomposed pic?
Point and shoot so to speak??

I think any picture will do, so long as the main aspects of the picture aren't where the three "thirds" lines cross?

ie; the object(s) in the picture are centered, at either side of the picture, scattered about randomly or take up the whole image? I'm not fully sure. I'm not the most knowledgeable when it comes to this kind of thing, but i'll throw up an uninformed, not-very-well-thought-out attempt. No harm in trying

11-07-2009 7:56pm

And another, for the sake of it (not sure if this one counts or not though?)

Ghost Train · 11-07-2009 9:06pm

well at least something got broken

Ghost Train · 11-07-2009 9:12pm

and another from today

ThOnda · 11-07-2009 10:32pm

DutchGuy · 11-07-2009 11:29pm

I decided this photo worked better with the horizon in the centre of the picture as I wanted to show how the water was reflecting the light from the sky.

Trev M · 12-07-2009 1:31pm

whoops Apologies...:(

pullandbang · 12-07-2009 10:26pm

I'm not sure if this fits the bill or not, but here goes....

greeneyedspirit · 13-07-2009 8:40am

never put the subject in the middle of the shot... :pac: hoh well...

Atomic Pineapple · 13-07-2009 7:56pm

Does this qualify?

Delta Kilo · 13-07-2009 9:00pm

My first entry...

Delta Kilo · 13-07-2009 9:01pm

My second entry...

keps · 13-07-2009 9:45pm

Not 100% sure on exact guidelines

Took this today in Cork after work

Advertising hoarding with woman passing by.

AnCatDubh · 13-07-2009 10:29pm

Oh, I normally break the rule of thirds without even thinking about it, but when i'm intentionally seeking to break it, tis a different thing altogether.

Taken tonight.

KarmaGarda · 13-07-2009 11:10pm

Well, I'm back from my little break and see that this has sparked some conversation, and confusion too!

To clarify what the rule of thirds is, and then how to break it (keep in mind, I'm new to this too) it kinda goes like this.

Rule of thirds, use lines to divide your photo on the "thirds" as such:

When taking a photo you usually align the "focal point" of your photo to 1 of the green dots (or more than 1 dot for multiple focal points). If it's a horizon, or verical "line" you can align it to 1 full line on the diagram.

An example of adhereing to the rule of thirds from my own album:

The light on the lamp post roughly hits the top left green dot if you overlaid the grid. Also, a second use of the rule, the horizon lies pretty much across the full of bottom line.

The example in my posted pick:

In this picture I've tried to break it by drawing the focus right into the middle of the photograph. Even though the 2 front trees look like they pass the rules, they in fact sit both left and right of the vertical lines.

Obviously it doesn't have to be completely central to break the rules. I'm not going to go into other peoples pictures, but a few people have quite cleverly show how to break it. While some have, unintentionally, abided by the rule in their picture.

Hopefully the above makes it clearer. And as AnCatDubh said, it's actually much harder to find a picture to break the rule with than I had originally anticipated. I'm struggling with my own assignment myself!!

pullandbang · 14-07-2009 12:48am

Think I'm getting the hang of this now......emphasis on "think"!

[URL="http://pix.ie/pullandbang/1096932]"]

[/URL]

14-07-2009 6:35am

Thought I'd give this another shot. I'm useless at photography and all related things, but I like these photo challenges

xia · 14-07-2009 10:35am

Crispin · 14-07-2009 5:22pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Thought I'd give this another shot. I'm useless at photography and all related things, but I like these photo challenges

Obviously not useless, really like that one

humberklog · 14-07-2009 5:40pm

Haven't taken one had it processed in time in a while.

AnCatDubh · 15-07-2009 1:58pm

So, another;

I love the lens flare, the bokeh, the bit which I managed to get into focus, the over exposure, the shooting into the sun, the lack of compliance with the rule of thirds - eek, I probably broke about 10 rules never mind that of thirds

WillyWonka · 15-07-2009 6:04pm

^^^but it works!

keps · 15-07-2009 9:01pm

Imposter · 15-07-2009 10:28pm

homer simpson · 16-07-2009 5:36pm

Rite folks heres my entry, if only i had a better camera, well i was working so thats explainable , i know the quality is terrible but seen this and immediatly thought of the assignment, so i grabbed myphone from my pocket before he got to the top, its of my brother going up a ladder about 35feet up the top of a gable wall of a house, its mad looking, well i think so, ha ha.
3727158200_7a9f0cbac2.jpg?v=0

KarmaGarda · 17-07-2009 12:01am

armedboarder · 17-07-2009 1:14am

If i'm getting this then in this photo I am using the rule of thirds.

armedboarder · 17-07-2009 1:18am

And in this one i'm not ??

17-07-2009 5:51am

I believe it's the other way around, armedboarder.

KarmaGarda · 17-07-2009 9:05am

Neither of them conform with the rule of thirds!

In the first one the focal point for me is the steeple of the church (the window drawing the eye), which pretty much sits smack bang in the middle.

In the second, the horizon is bang on middle, and the building is very far right (i.e. not near a third)

armedboarder · 17-07-2009 4:22pm

KarmaGarda wrote: »

Neither of them conform with the rule of thirds!

In the first one the focal point for me is the steeple of the church (the window drawing the eye), which pretty much sits smack bang in the middle.

In the second, the horizon is bang on middle, and the building is very far right (i.e. not near a third)

Grrrrr

KarmaGarda · 17-07-2009 4:36pm

armedboarder wrote: »

Grrrrr

But that's a good thing

The whole point of the assignment is "breaking the rule of thirds". Although, I the reason I chose it was to force people to understand it too.

bloo · 17-07-2009 6:57pm

Hello,

My first post here after lurking around for ages looking at all the great photos. Let me know if ive posted this wrong.

Thought id have a go at capturing the light and shadows passing through the flat one evening. Not 100% sure its breaks the thirds rule though.

Cheers!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/timmytee/3730157100/

17-07-2009 10:31pm

17-07-2009 11:09pm

Second attempt (I'll stop now)

3729984123_11cc071ac1.jpg?v=0

Morrisseeee · 18-07-2009 9:28am

A colorful July evening!

Morrisseeee · 18-07-2009 9:30am

The clouds grab the sun before it disappears!

John mac · 18-07-2009 12:27pm

How do i get the photos to display in the thread?

This is the link

18-07-2009 3:10pm

Seems to work for me: code is here
[noparse]

[/noparse]

bloo · 18-07-2009 7:16pm

May as well stick this one up too. Another shot taken whilst grovelling on the floor!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/timmytee/3729464001/

vectra · 18-07-2009 10:49pm

Dont know if this qualifies or not but here goes

padocon · 19-07-2009 2:04am

KarmaGarda wrote: »

Well, I'm back from my little break and see that this has sparked some conversation, and confusion too!

To clarify what the rule of thirds is, and then how to break it (keep in mind, I'm new to this too) it kinda goes like this.

Rule of thirds, use lines to divide your photo on the "thirds" as such:

When taking a photo you usually align the "focal point" of your photo to 1 of the green dots (or more than 1 dot for multiple focal points). If it's a horizon, or verical "line" you can align it to 1 full line on the diagram.

An example of adhereing to the rule of thirds from my own album:

The light on the lamp post roughly hits the top left green dot if you overlaid the grid. Also, a second use of the rule, the horizon lies pretty much across the full of bottom line.

The example in my posted pick:

In this picture I've tried to break it by drawing the focus right into the middle of the photograph. Even though the 2 front trees look like they pass the rules, they in fact sit both left and right of the vertical lines.

Obviously it doesn't have to be completely central to break the rules. I'm not going to go into other peoples pictures, but a few people have quite cleverly show how to break it. While some have, unintentionally, abided by the rule in their picture.

Hopefully the above makes it clearer. And as AnCatDubh said, it's actually much harder to find a picture to break the rule with than I had originally anticipated. I'm struggling with my own assignment myself!!

So does that mean any other focal point besides the dots?
Thanks

Assignment 17 - The rule of thirds, and how to break it...

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