Analyze the following images with a critical eye applying the rule of thirds especially, as well as the other tips from the Kodak site. Be specific and clarify your reasoning.
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Were we supposed to be able to click on things in the Kodak article? I tried and nothing happend and it was so small. How were we to get the Kodak tips? So without having those to guide me, I will just comment on my own about these pictures. Assuming that the rule of thirds is just that - a picture should be balanced according to thirds. I think the first picture achieves that It feels right. The ground is the bottom third, the bodies the middle and the sky the third. It does feel aesthetically apealing to me and a bit avant garde with the bodies all askew. I like it. The middle photo doesn't sit well with me and maybe that is because it doesn't meet the rule of thirds. There should be a bit more sky. I don't like it. Plus the lighting is dull and boring. It seems like they could have gotten a different position to catch some interesting light. I really like this last one and that must be because it fits the rule of thirds. It's very pleasing and unique looking. But the thirds are really there vertically with the sky, the middle lion and the last one. The color and lighting is great with the bright blue sky and the interesting shadows on the lions.
ReplyDeleteNancy
Out of the 3 photos the center photo I find to be the weakest. One reason could be because the photo is not that clear. The photograph also does not follow the guidelines as to where you should place the horizon line. Had the horizon line been moved down and placed on the upper third line we could see more sky. The first photo follows the tip on how/where to place the horizon line. Some of the subjects also fall in the lower right of the tic-tac-toe intersections. The last photo was also a stronger photo then the middle photo. That photographer took into consideration the background. The viewer’s eye goes to the most important part of the photo the subject. Again the subject falls in the lower right intersection of the tic-tac-toe board. This photo also looks as though it was taken from the level of the subject.
ReplyDeletekelly
I, like my new best freind, Nancy, was confused about what to do with the Kodak article. So I went on the Kodak site and put "rule of three" into the search bar. I came across a nice article called "Composing Your Picture". I found it insightful and helpul in answering the above question.
ReplyDelete"The challenge that remains is to compose a good picture by controlling how the subject is seen and what emotions are felt by the viewer. This can be done through composition—the relationship of the elements in an image with each other and with the frame."
This paragragh was the most helpful. I guess when I take pictures I don't think about this too much. I walk around looking throught the view finder for what I think is the best shot. I never really thought about moving things around in the shot to change the composition. Maybe I have been too "naturaulistic" in my approach. I'm going to start asking for people and things to be moved around in the future.
The rule of threes is something I've heard about but have never had defined for me before. I liked the idea of the tic-tac-toe board and lines. I am guilty of putting everything in the middle of pictures. Another foible to look out for.
On to the pictures. I think all three pictures follow the rule of threes. It is the photographers eye and what they are trying to convey that dictates where their tic-tac-toe lines fall. Whether the audience liked it or not depends on what they were expecting for the final photo. We all have favorite subjects in our photos.
For instance, I would have liked to see more of the subject in the bottom photogragher, but perhaps the photogragher wanted to keep the beatuiul blue sky in for contrast and memory of the beautiful day.
The middle picture was trying to show the depth and vastness of the scenery. The pixelation I see for the "far away" part of the photo is affecting my opinion. But the large rock mass is in the 1/3 part of the left hand side of the picture and this is the subject of this photo.
In the photo at the top the subjects are off to the right to lend interest to the photo. The tic-tac-toe lines intersect and certain "cells" are filled with subject(child parts) and others are left empty (filled with background)...
...Julie M
Whew! that was long...Julie M
ReplyDeleteIf you explore the Kodak site - granted the pdf is of the old web design - the links are all there. The links are the ones that are circled i.e. Top 10 Tips : Techniques : Photo Ideas : Digital Cameras : Photostories.
ReplyDeleteMost of them are under the "Tips & Projects Center"
I personally liked the first photograph best. In the first photograph, the photographer placed the horizon line in the middle which was one of the tips on the Kodak site. Following the rule of thirds, parts of the people fall into the intersecting lines of the tic tac toe board and I feel that your eyes are drawn to them. I also liked the contrast of colors with the black and orange. I didn’t like the second photograph as much. I felt that it was blurry and that the horizon line could have been moved down to the middle of the picture so that you saw more of the sky. Perhaps that would have made more contrast and the picture would have looked better. The picture did however have rocks on the lines of the tic tac toe board so I guess it was following the thirds rule. It also felt like the picture was taken at a little of a downward angle. The third picture had a plain background as was mentioned on the Kodak site and did follow the rule of thirds with the placement of the rock formation but I personally felt like it was too much to the side or something. The lighting was also very bright.
ReplyDeleteSue
First picture is the most dynamic. The sky is so vivid (probably enhanced with photoshop), and the black silhouettes really stand out. If there were one less kid it would be even better...
ReplyDeleteSecond picture is good too, the rule of thirds definitely applies here. Largest rocks moving to smallest rocks from bottom right to upper left provides a good path of eye movement. Lighting is not the greatest, if the photographer had waited 20 minutes the sun might have washed over more of the cliff and it could have been spectacular. Who knows?
Third photo - color looks enhanced, blue is very pretty but all the busy-ness of the statue against a plain background does not balance out very well. Nice viewpoint of looking up, wonder if the photographer was able to see this subject from higher up, that might have been a good shot too. Rule of thirds applies here for sure, but seems to be way too overcompensated to the right.
I am too critical of photos.
I love the bright orange sky and the dark shadows of the people in the first photo. The geometric shapes created by their bodies provide several points of interest. The photographer also gave the image a feeling of balance by including a portion of the beach in the picture. Lowering the horizon also follows the rule of thirds.
ReplyDeleteThe middle photo does not follow the rule of thirds (tic tac toe diagram) because it is too horizontal, as though the image was cropped. Cutting off the sky limits and lessons the powerful view.
The last photo follows the rule of thirds since the subject is in the bottom left of the tic tac toe diagram. The statue has the blue expanse of the sky to “look at” instead of being cut off like the runner in the example on the Kodak site who looked like she was running off the picture. This concept has impacted me the most. I never thought about needing to leave space for potential movement. This photo is also my favorite because of the simplistic blue background. It gives emphasis to the neutral structure.
~ Eden
I think that each picture incorporates the rule of thirds in theory but my favorite example of the three would be the top picture that included the sunset creating a silhouette. Because the subjects are "centered" in the lower right corner your eye follows the hand of the woman out to the direction that they are moving. The background compliments the silhouettes creating a soothing and relaxing image. I also believe that the pictures balances itself with the poses of the subjects creating a nice line to also assist your eyes to move to the left side of the picture making it more interesting and pleasing to the eye.
ReplyDeleteThe center picture lost some of its value to me because it was not a clear picture. The fuzziness broke the line of thirds and I believe it lost its ability to tell the story it was meant to tell. I also do not feel that the picture is balanced. The right side is too “heavy.”
The last picture gives me two different feelings. One feeling is of Ancient Greece or Egypt. It is a very strong picture with sharp edges. The blue sky contrasts the statue but rather than being calming it has created a “communist” or “socialist” feel. When I think of pictures of the former Soviet Union that incorporates this type of statue.
It is easy to critique a picture but what is important to remember is that each person views a picture differently depending on the mood or the mindset of the person at that time. What may be appealing to me may be completely different to another person. Each picture has incorporated the rule of thirds, has left something to the imagination and has an uncomplicated backdrop.
I found that it was very distracting looking at the pictures when they were so close together, so I had to view them in isolation to really analyze them.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the first picture's coloring. I thought the warmth of the orange and yellow was a definite draw with the main focus being the shadowed figures. I liked how the horizon line was placed in the middle drawing the audience in. I wanted more from the position of the figures – something with the placement of the people were causing me not to completely connect.
With the second picture I felt the opposite about - from the first picture. I really like the placement of the subject and the depth. I thought this followed the tic-tac-toe rule. The cameras angle created a connection to the audience and an easy flow for the eye. I however would have liked to see more of a contrast of color. I think the water could have been enhanced to cool down the picture and the front rock color could have been warmed and as the picture picked up depth could have toned down on the colors.
The third picture was my least favorite. The empty space or bright blue was distracting from the subjects. I felt that I missed out on appreciating the subjects because of the camera angle.
I think all of the pictures were in someway following the rule of thirds. Everyone is going to connect with the pictures differently, however I think that when a picture is taken that captures something bigger than what it really is you connect to a much broader audience even though their previous experience with subject might be very limited. Following the rules of thirds can definitely help, however I think to capture that perfect angle and picture takes a lot of practice.
Julie N
It is somewhat difficult to comment when I am no longer looking at the pictures. I the most difficult time with the Kodak article myself. Based on what I found and could understand, the three pictures do follow the rules of three. The first picture is not centered. It pulls you in by not centering on the very thing you are looking at. I believe it also used its surrounding as an enhanced back drop. The second picture focused on the horizon. This shows that the camera was held to focus on the upper two thirds of the picture. the last picture uses its background as a back drop or emphasis if you will. It also doesn't center on the picture and is shot at such an angel that you want to see more of the picture. It leaves you wanting more...
ReplyDeletePaulette
idont like the angel of taking the 1st pic. but the other two are better. for the 2nd pic. colors are great . for the 3rd one more contrast in colores
ReplyDelete