Composition Rules for Photography and How to Break Them.

Composition in Photography or Cinematography is one of the most important concepts in creating your artwork. In this reading, we will focus on a few basic aspects to composition, such as the rule of thirds. This reading will also go over a brief history, the significance of it, how to use it and break the rules once learned. 

Rule of thirds is the division of your frame that acts as a guideline for you to place your subject  by dividing your frame into thirds horizontally and vertically. By placing your subject on the intersection points or the lines, either left or right of the frame to create a pleasing image. The rule of thirds involves intentionally placing subjects within the frame or composition to create equally spaced vertical and horizontal lines. The theory is that the filming style will create more pleasing visuals to the viewer’s eye. The rule of thirds is a more simplified version of what’s known as Golden Ratio. 

Street Photography, 2021. Darith Beng

These rules can also be explored even further through a process of balancing. By following the rule mentioned above we can draw attention to the subject at those focus points, for example by placing a person on the right side of the frame. This leaves room on the left side of the frame which leaves our composition “imbalance” in a sense. This can create some emotions such as mystery, trapped (if the person is facing the right edge of the frame), reflection and/or anticipation. You can utilize the space on the left side to introduce another subject that helps in creating your story. By having another subject on the left side of the frame, a more “balanced” composition is created, which will introduce a different read to your image. In your practice you should experiment with placing your subject using the rule of third and find out what it does to your story/composition. 

Another important key to all of this is that subjects, such as character or object, all have their own visual weight. Color also is another aspect of visual weight. All of these aspects need to be mindfully thought about in creating a balance pleasing image within your composition. More over that in a different future reading.

In the below image, I have the subject on the left side of the frame with his back turn away from the viewer which can communicate a feeling of distance between the viewer and the person in the composition. It create a sense of wonder, and raise question in the person’s intention, some questions perhaps can be “where is this person going?”, “What is his state of emotion?”. The frame is balance with the sturdy building on the right side of the frame, being larger in size compare to the character it holds a heavy weight in the composition, however to the viewers a human being hold a much heavier weight within the composition even if the subject is much smaller. This contrast helps in creating a more balance compositon.

In the first Image above, we can identify that the bicycle on the left side of the frame helps balance the frame, and acts as a visual language that helps further the story of the people that perhaps lives there. The two people hold a much heavier weight than the bicycle, however the object gives the composition just enough weight onto the left side to keep the entire frame more balances according to the rules of thirds.

Street Photography, 2021. Darith Beng

Furthermore, the golden ratio is also associated with the idea of divine proportions or cosmic harmony. Many artists and philosophers throughout history have attributed spiritual or metaphysical significance to the golden ratio, seeing it as a representation of divine or universal order. This mystical aspect of the golden ratio has further added to its allure and has inspired artists to incorporate it into their creations as a means of imbuing their works with a sense of higher meaning or symbolism.

The origins of the rule of thirds go back to classical Greek Architecture and Renaissance paintings. It is also commonly used as a compositional tool by photographers as well as many painters. If you examine many classical buildings and Renaissance paintings you will see how often the main characters are placed at the intersection of the third division lines. However, it is not always the case and be cautious not to be too dogmatic about this rule. There are often other, more important things to think about in composition such as rhythm and groupings that might override this rule. As always, the rule of thirds is just a technique in your toolbox, and not to be always followed religiously. This rule is more of a simple way to avoid putting your focal area, or center of interest, right in the center of the compositon, rather than a prescription of exactly where to place it. It is never a good idea to put the most interesting part of the image in the dead center of your composition.

How to break this rule, first consider what you are trying to tell within your story. You can break this rule to create an imbalance as mention previously above, knowing that by following the rule it can create a pleasing image but how about when you want to creatively create a non-pleasing image in order to convey a certain emotion within your composition/story. In the future reading, we can over more in depth on how to break the rule of thirds to serve your story and still have great composition.

Street Photography, 2021. Darith Beng

In this image, the yellow taxi on the left side is placed on the left side of the frame which draw attention to it in a pleasing manner within the composition. The two subject in the center of the frame further push the attention towards the left side of the frame, and the two subjects, both car and people create an interacting story. The building on the right holds the weight of the right side of the frame and also create leading line for the entire composition.

Miniature Photography, 2022. Darith Beng

In this image, the branches in the background on the right side of the frame as well as the pinecone in the foreground both help balance all the weight of the main subject that are on the left side of the frame. In addition they also help create depth within the frame.

CITATION:  

“The Rule of Thirds in Art: How to Increase the Impact of Your Focal Area.” Virtual Art Academy, September 24, 2021. https://www.virtualartacademy.com/the-rule-of-thirds-in-art/

 Person, and Matthew Reed. “Golden Ratio in Art: Harmony & Beauty: 1st Art Gallery.” 1st handmade portraits and reproductions, August 9, 2023. https://www.1st-art-gallery.com/article/the-influence-of-golden-ratio-in-iconic-paintings/