Varun Visuals - Rule of Thirds

By:varunvisuals
April 28, 2020
0

Photo Commentary #26: Rule of Thirds https://i0.wp.com/varunvisuals.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/dawn-daylight-dusk-evening-1526246.jpg?fit=1024%2C606&ssl=1 1024 606 varunvisuals varunvisuals https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1352b4276dc04db6a074af122bc6aeb26708c847038cdff448275fea35c8b7a8?s=96&d=identicon&r=g April 28, 2020 May 22, 2020

Photo Commentary #26: Rule of Thirds

In this image, the Rule of Thirds is applied two times in two different ways – the waterfall is centered on an intersection point but the mountain is composed along one of the guidelines in the imaginary grid.

In one of my previous posts, I quickly mentioned a concept called the Rule of Thirds. The Rule of Thirds is a guideline that landscape photographers often utlizie when determining the composition of their photo. So how is this done?

Well imagine there is a 3×3 grid placed on top of the photo or scene you are trying to capture/edit (hence the name) – you may have seen this before, probably as one of the settiings in your phone’s camera. The idea is that you want to place your main subject at any of the 4 intersection points, or along one of the guidelines. Reason being that viewers’ eyes tend to naturally gravitate towards those area of an image, video, artwork, etc. Therefore, it makes more sense to place the subect where the audience will naturally look first.

This is similar to the idea behind leading lines – except rather than using a photo’s element to guide the viewers’ eyes, you are using natural human behavior to your advantage. However, both are pertinent to audience perception and attention.

In this beautiful photo taken by Ray Bilcliff, the waterfall sits near one of the intersection points of the imaginary grid – the bottom right intersection point in particular. To add to this, there is an obvious contrast between the warm hues of the sky and landscape compared to the cool white of the water (which is also another example of long exposure photography being utilized to capture waterscapes). The mountain on the other hand, sits on not an intersection point, but a guideline – the first vertical line from the left. In both cases, the subject(s) of the photo are composed in a way that the viewer has to search less and well…admire more. No wonder this photo is so visually appealing

Also, check out Ray’s websiite and instagram to see more stunning waterscapes! He is a retired scuba and karate instructor, how cool is that!

Photographer: Ray Bilcliff
https://www.instagram.com/raybilcliff/
https://www.raybilcliff.com/

Architectural Building With Neon Lights and Reflection

By:varunvisuals
April 1, 2020
0

Photo Commentary #24: Subject Control https://i0.wp.com/varunvisuals.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/91525238_145954200288689_6534975010686107648_o.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1 1024 576 varunvisuals varunvisuals https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1352b4276dc04db6a074af122bc6aeb26708c847038cdff448275fea35c8b7a8?s=96&d=identicon&r=g April 1, 2020 April 29, 2020

Photo Commentary #24: Subject Control

This photo by Zichuan Han is a perfect example of a photo in which reflections have been accurately controlled so that the architectural subject is complimented, rather than overpowered.

It has definitely been quite some time since I commented on an image so let’s get back to it with this mesmerizing shot taken by Zichuan Han!

The first feature of this photo is no mystery – the unique modern architecture of the building. One could probably talk about the elegance of such a structure, but unfortunately I do not qualify as an architect 😉 But what I do know, is it is perfectly framed and composed along one of the horizontal lines of thirds (more on this in another post).

The second feature is a little more subtle – – the cool blue reflections of the building’s neon lights. As I have mentioned before, reflections are a great way to add clarity and depth to an image. In this case, the reflection also accentuates the features of the main subject, which is the building itself. It is critical that the photographer plans his photo, not just in terms of composition, but also editing. It is very easy to get carried away and make everything in the photo “eye-catching”, but that would only confuse the viewer. What am I supposed to be looking at? What is important here? In this instance, Han did an excellent job of keeping the reflection to a subtle, yet still powerful, appearance. The building retains the primary attention of the viewer, while the reflection ADDS to it, rather than subtract from it.

Photographer: Zichuan Han

https://rickhan.me/

https://www.instagram.com/rosherman98/