by North Phoenix Chamber of Commerce
The artist, or photographer, painter, or designer most likely placed certain elements of the finished piece in specific locations on the page. The better artists purposefully influence how you view the final image - where your eye travels - as you take in and digest the scene. Today's blog entry will help you take better photographs. Perhaps you only use the camera built into your cell phone, or you have a pocket instamatic camera. Or you've invested in something more expensive. It's not so much about the tool in your hands, but more about how you guide that tool and what you see unfolding at the moment that you decide to click the shutter. Let's Dive In
Rule of Thirds Besides having a useless tic-tac-toe app that doesn't function, you can amaze your friends with the knowledge you will soon have about the rule of thirds. Perfect ice beaker for that next cocktail party. Why is this called the "Rule of Thirds?" Because the lines in the image dissect the scene into one third chunks, both horizontally and vertically. The goal is to compose a scene in your view finder so that the main subject falls along one or more of the lines. If you are a landscape photographer, or just love snapping cell phone pics of amazing sunsets in Arizona while you're stuck in traffic, experiment with placing the horizon on the upper 1/3 line or the lower 1/3 line, rather than perfectly centered. That alone will add more drama to your image and make it more interesting. If possible, frame the scene so that a house or tree or some other visual element falls on one of the two vertical lines. Power Points
If you are taking portrait shots, either of others or as selfies, try to get an eyeball at one of the intersecting points, preferably one of the two points on the upper line. Study these examples, and just so my two fur babies don't feel left out, I've included them here as part of the discussion. They've certainly been at my feet the whole time I've been typing, so they've already been involved.
Review and Overview Now it's your turn to go back and study pictures you've taken. Pick out a few you like but can't quite put a finger on "why" you like them. You may just discover that you occasionally stumbled into getting the "rule of thirds" correct without knowing it.
Also please take the time now to snap a few quick pictures of whatever interests you. Your lovely bride, your fur babies, the next sunset, your car, whatever floats your boat. Try to apply the lesson you've learned here about the rule of thirds. The expense and quality of the camera in your hand is not as important as visually balancing the scene and managing how the viewer consumes your art. Can you do a huge favor for me? Post pictures in the reply area below as you experiment with this. I will gladly help you assess how your progressing and offer pointers to help you take better pictures. You can reach Tom Argiro Portrait Photography at 855-650-3500, or info@TomArgiro.com. He is also available on facebook, his website, his blog, Linked In, and Twitter. 625 W Deer Valley Road, Suite 103-250, Phoenix AZ 85027
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