Taking Better Pics: Part 3 Rule of Thirds

If you've ever taken an art class, you will have heard this term. It is a compositional rule that applies to all mediums of art— Photography, painting, drawing. It is more pleasing to the eye and it can make a good image great. It involves breaking the scene into 9 equal parts and positioning your subject where lines intersect. So, there are 4 sections you can use. This isn't rocket science...it doesn't have to be exact!! (See the chart below.) . This rule also is in place to try to avoid the horizon being in the center of an image. It needs to be in the upper part or the lower part. I won't say I ALWAYS do this. Sometimes it makes sense to break the rule. But often, this creates a more pleasing set up.

If you start looking for it, you will find the rules of thirds everywhere. Advertisements, movies, TV, photography.


So, lets get to some examples shall we?


Here is what most people default to. It will work....but it could be better.

If you Fill the Frame and use the rule of thirds.

It works vertically also, you just flip the graph on it's side.

The rule of thirds also helps to add drama and scale to your photos.

And creates movement.







Now, I don't use this rule in every shot. Especially with children, sometimes they move so fast you take what you can get, but this is a set up I go to automatically all the time. Try it!! I know you'll like the results!

Taking Better Pics: Part 2 Fill the Frame...Get CLOSE!

This may seem obvious...but often it isn't. Now, there are going to be times that you want some negative space...but don't be afraid to get close. Especially of your children! The close face shots show off their personality and are always favorites! This is also helpful when you've "found the light" but it has an unfavorable background!

Here are some examples of images that wouldn't be the same if I'd been farther away. Don't be afraid to get into their space!! :) ( Or zoom in...if possible)

Taking Better Pics: Part 1 LOOK AT THE LIGHT

So, I'm going to try this out. "This" meaning share some tips on taking better photos. A lot of what I know, I taught myself, either through reading or trial and error. Mostly trial and error!! I may not be able to teach you the workings of a camera, (we'll see) but there are lots of little things you can do to improve your photos.

First thing is the light. This is THE most important when taking a photo. This is what a photo IS. A camera's function is to take in light. It's your job to either manipulate your surroundings...or your camera's settings, to make the camera take in the light the way you want it to. The easiest thing to do is to manipulate your surroundings.

We're going to talk about working outdoors here. So, obviously your main light source is the sun...and it's SUPER bright. More often than not, your best bet is to GO INTO THE SHADE. How many photos do you have like this?

 

I love these photos and am so grateful to have them, but they could have been so much better if we had rearranged ourselves. That would have gotten rid of the dark shadows on our faces.(Oh, and yes I'm very pregnant in that photo.)Looking  back through my "learning" period I can tell that this was this first thing I set out to master. Finding the Light. I have folder after folder on my computer of files where I was arranging my children in different kinds of light. 

This day was an example. I used to go out and really not know what to do. I made the mistake that many people do....looking for a cool background. I tell my clients now not to worry about the background. We can make almost anything look good if we have good light. I took my sweet (!) middle son to our little downtown area to practice. I picked these old gas pumps thinking "they look cool". Well, the light wasn't right. You can see him squinting. His face is bright. Knowing what I know now, I could have made this location work...but not then. I just made him get up and move to the SHADE.

This worked perfectly. He could open his eyes and smile!





After learning to see the light in a situation I practiced a ton. My kids loved every second of it! You can see the joy in their faces! :)

Okay, not always, but it was worth it.

Sometimes, this is going to be irrelevant. If you're the type to get your kids in front of every landmark on vacation, you may not be able to do anything about the lighting conditions. That's okay, some photos are about capturing a moment more than anything else. But, when you want to get good, clean photos of someones face...get into the shade!

Please leave comments...it let's me know whats going on out there!! :)