Composition: Line

Lines guide our eyes through a photograph and can help shape the feeling of the image. For instance, your eyes follow the curve of this tendril along its path to the center, conveniently located in the top left-ish third of the image:


We attach meanings to certain types of lines. For instance, horizontal lines--horizons in particular--create a feeling of stability:


while vertical lines create a feeling of strength, power, or growth:




Vertical lines can be tough to photograph. You'll notice in most of my examples above, the lines aren't completely parallel to the edges of the photograph. It's pretty much unpreventable when taking pictures of tall things, so just be aware of it and try to keep the vertical lines parallel to one edge or the other, or pointing in the direction of a focal point in the image.

Diagonal lines can be either positive (extending from bottom left to top right) or negative (extending from bottom right to top left). This one has both (which is common):


In this image, two positive lines intersect a negative line formed by the right hand side of the wall. Although positive lines dominate the image, the fact that they are all diagonal gives the picture a feeling of being off-balance--very appropriate for the Museum of the Holocaust.


Here, a negative line, formed from the line of the wing to the arm of the statue, lends the picture a melancholy feel:


Here's the assignment: focus on using lines effectively in your pictures over the next two weeks (there won't be a new assignment next week due to thanksgiving). Try to take pictures of vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines. Decide if you like positive or negative diagonal lines better (at least this week). Again, as you watch TV, pay attention to the images, particularly how they use lines to draw your eyes to the focal point of the image.

Good luck, and post at least three images in the next two weeks.

Commenting

Alright, I'm not the best about this either (obviously) but we all need to comment on one another's work. So, this week I want everyone to make a critical comment on everyone else's post. By critical I mean a comment that analyzes the image in some way, not one that says your picture is terrible. For example, (and as a segue into the next lesson) the curving line of the road heading off to the right really gives the image a feeling of going somewhere, which I think makes it a stronger picture. In comments, be polite, but honest--we're all looking to improve, not just be told how wonderful we are already.

Thanks!

Rule of thirds: Kristine

I apologize--it's been a rather busy couple of weeks. Here are my submissions for rule of thirds:


This one only follows the rule of thirds in that approximately the bottom 2/3 of the image are taken up by cake.



In these two, my daughter is pretty clearly in the top right 1/3 position. I particularly love the action and the expression of joy on her face in these.

Somewhat by way of explanation, my brother in law got married yesterday and I've been madly getting things done so I could leave for the weekend. Here are a few pictures I took at the wedding:

Rule of Thirds- Sarah

Okay, does anyone else find it VERY hard to take pictures when it's so gray and rainy all the time? The lighting in my house isn't great, so I kind of bank on good sunlight, and when we don't have much of that, I don't take many pictures (not to mention that we have even less hours of sunlight to start with!). So, as a result, I didn't take a ton of pictures this week. Here is one of the cute kids in my kids preschool class on our trip to the Fire Station (I did take pictures of my own kids, but the didn't turn out that great in terms of the 'rule of thirds').Although he is towards the center of the picture, there is enough negative space to the right that is used to give context to the picture.

And here are a couple other pictures that I took in late August that I thought followed the rule of thirds.Here his hand, while some what centered, takes up about 2/3's of the picture.

p.s. I promise to take current pictures for the next challenge!

Rule of Thirds. Elly.

I have never taken a photography class, so this is the first I've heard of the rule of thirds but it makes perfect sense. It has been nice to focus on the composition of my photos this week. This was a picture I took the day before we got the assignment. I felt that it followed the rule of thirds in that the subject fell along the left line, however, the subject does not occupy 1/3 of the picture.

I felt that by cropping it in closer and getting rid of some of the extra space (and lighting it up a bit...I cheated), the subject is more prominent and the photograph more interesting.

This is a photo I took after we were given the assignment, and I think by placing the subjects where the lines meet in the lower right, it makes the subject as well as the background more interesting visually.

I am new to this concept, so any feedback or suggestions are much appreciated. Thanks.

Rule of Thirds- Stephanie

Thanks for the tutorial of the Rule of Thirds, it has helped(tremendously)with my pictures. Before last week, I took photos like a novice, just aim and click. I like to compare my abilities to a term used in basketball: Prayer shot--a shot that has an extremely low chance of going in, usually a full court or half court shot. That is how I take pictures, not knowing the basic fundamentals and just hoping to get that "good shot". Sometimes I get lucky and score the Kodak moment, but I am hoping from this blog I can be more consistent.

I took a good number of pictures last week. The picture that I posted was my favorite. It may not be the best picture, but the bike rider, bike, and part of the road all fall on the left 1/3 segment of the picture. And the subject (the biker) is 1/3 compare to the 2/3 of space.

Rule of 3rds- Heather

This was one of the few pictures I took this week. The focus begins in the bottom right quadrant and ends in the top left quadrant. (If we are drawing lines on this photo to follow the rule of thirds) Hope it works.
This is actually a photo I took a few weeks ago because I was bad this week and hardly took any photos. I wanted to bring out the tree and the fence in this photo. Again the fence draws your eyes through the photo with the focal point being the tree in the top left quadrant.

Rule of Thirds. Kim

I'm going to cheat and post some pictures using the Rule of Thirds that I had taken previously...My excuse is that I had a major research paper and presentation to prepare for last week, so please forgive!! I did use my camera a few times this week though, I just can't post those photos yet. :)

I found this really good blog post about the rule of thirds. If interested: http://digital-photography-school.com/rule-of-thirds It talks about when to try to hit the intersection and when to hit one of the dividing lines, which I found helpful.

Beth's face hits the top right point (barely!)...It should probably be on Jaden more so though.

Golf ball hits the top left point-ish.

This is one Brandon took over the summer...I hope you're not offended...buuutt there's a certain area that's dead on for the rule of thirds :)

Rule of Thirds. Margot

With rambunctious boys, my first priority is getting the shot and hope it turns out after some editing.  With trying to follow the rule of thirds this week, I had the hardest time deciding what my focal point was and decided I often had more than one.

In this picture of Eli, his face is almost exactly in the middle. But I decided his face wasn’t the main focal point. His face blends in with the rest of the picture and I am drawn to his body, sitting on the ground and covered with leaves.

 

In this picture of Zach, my focus was on his arms and hands in the air, and the leaves ready to fall. All stayed on the lines of thirds and worked best this way.

 

Quality-wise this picture is bad. But I love the composition and I purposely cropped it so the boys with their dad were centered. I tried to crop it a few different ways to throw them off-center, but this was the best.

In this one, my focus was on the boys’ feet and how they were walking in sync with each other. This one easily followed the rule.

This is what I decided about the rule of thirds:

Because I know the history of my photos, my focus may be different than someone who doesn’t know the subject.

The background and setting play a big role in deciding if a centered focus will work or not. I think the bridge picture works because the focal point has a frame that is on the 1/3 line. (Like Jessica’s picture of Evan, the bars that frame him are on the 1/3 line.)

Critique away!

Rule of thirds: Jessica

I wish I could say that I took at least one picture a day, but I didn't. I have been thinking about this assignment a lot though. This was good for me, I usually don't think about this rule very often. I am also not very good a seeing if the rule was followed. The photo below is following the rule of thirds, right? Her eyes (and scraped up nose) are the focal point of the picture and they fall along the top line.
This photo does not follow the rule of thirds, but it works because the bars of the slide frame in his face. What do you think?
I did not take this photo this week but I thought it was a good example to show for positive and negative space. The subject is the positive space taking up 1/3 of the space, while the brick wall is the negative space taking up 2/3 of the space. Her eyes also fall along an intersection rather than being placed right in the middle of the photo.Let me know what you think, I can take any constructive criticism that you give! I just want to improve my photos and become more familiar with this rule.

Intro: Heidi

I am a Texan at heart! Home is Houston, Texas, but I have also lived in New York, California, and Utah. I met my husband at BYU and we were married in 2008. We both graduated this past April and moved out here to Indiana for my husband to do his PhD at Purdue.
I got my first camera when I was 14. I was so excited, that I took pictures of everything! I took photography classes in high school and then I was a photography major in college (but then had to switch my major) and continued to take photography courses so that I could do it after I graduated. So that is what I am doing, running my own photography business! I love taking pictures of people! I enjoy the challenge that each photo shoot brings me and I really love editing the photos I take!

Intro:Elizabeth Miller

Hi ! I am Elizabeth. Born and raised in good ol' Indiana... West Lafayette to be exact!! LOL . I moved away after

graduating from Purdue, only to find a guy that would bring me right back 1 1/5 years later.

I am pretty much right brained, intuitive, sensitive, and passionate. I need to do something creative daily, or I become very crabby! I have been married to an amazing guy for six years, who thankfully supports my zany habits! He supports me so much in fact, that he surprised me a year and a half ago with a nice little scavenger hunt for my birthday, that landed me in Barry's Camera Shop where I was to pick up my new DSLR. I spent lots of time learning, and playing with my new baby. Like any girl, she had to quickly gain new accessories, and she has been showing off her talents (with a little help from me.. lol) since. I started my photography business one year ago having been urged by friends and family. I am super blessed to have been able to meet so many wonderful new people who trust me to capture the special moments in their family's lives. I love challenging myself in all aspects of this art, and hope that this blog will encourage me to do so. Thanks for letting me be a part of it!

Five years ago, I started the hardest job I have ever had and three fabulous kids later, I never could have imagined that my life would be so blessed... I am an obsessed scrap booker and picture taker. I love Jesus and am so glad that he calls me friend. I love eclectic design, comfy quilts, the color pink, flip flops, Ben Folds,sappy chic flicks, diet dr. pepper, smiley faces in emails, a good accessory, big hugs from my kiddos, date nights with my man.. and yes, pina coladas and getting

caught in the rain. =)

Intro: Margot Jones

I'm from Southern California and grew up at the beach, Inn-N-Out, Disneyland, and Angels' games. Then I moved to Las Vegas where I went to High School, College, and got married. Now I've been in Indiana for almost 8 years. My husband is the CEO and owner of a small software development company (which sounds a lot cooler than it really is). I work part time from home on our eBay store and keep the books for my husband's said business. I also have two boys; Zach is 6 and in first grade and Eli is 1.5 and likes to scream.

In high school I took my first photography class and loved it. I loved taking pictures and more so, loved developing. While digital is so convenient, there's nothing like editing your photos in a dark room as opposed to on a computer. I still don't have a DSLR so I'm using a point-and-shoot for now. (But I vow this Christmas won't pass before I get a new Rebel.) I'm glad to have this blog as an excuse to take more pictures and learn more about the technical side of photography.

I'd really love for all my pictures to be of the beach and little boys building sand castles. But Indiana Beach isn't so picturesque. So I guess I'll settle for trees and little boys building snowmen.

Composition: Rule of thirds

How many times have you taken this picture:


You know, the one where you stick the subject smack dab in the middle of the photo and find, when all is said and done, it's just not a very interesting picture?

With few exceptions, the first instinct of most of us is to put the focal point of photo in the center. Unfortunately, this typically results in a flat, boring picture with unused space distributed in all the wrong places. It's far more interesting to put the focal point of an image off-center, preferably following the rule of thirds. Here is the image cropped so the eyes--the focal point of the face (in this image at least)--lie along a line about a third of the way down the image:


Still not a fabulous photo, but it's much better.

For reference, imagine an image is divided into thirds by a set of lines like this:


The focal point of an image should fall along one of those lines or at the intersections of two of the lines. Pictures that follow the rule of thirds tend to feel more balanced and are easier to look at. Another way of thinking of it is how you're using the negative and positive space in an image. The subject (positive space) of the photo should take up 2/3 of the image, leaving 1/3 on one side as negative space, or the subject should take up 1/3 leaving 2/3 negative space.

If you're already a pro at following the rule of thirds (or knowing when to use it and when to ignore it), I'm envious. The rest of us need to practice until placing the focal point of an image in the right spot becomes second nature.

This week's assignment is easy: take at least one picture every day. Look at how you're taking your pictures--do you follow the rule of thirds? What happens when you crop them to follow the rule of thirds? Did you take any pictures that you really like that don't follow the rule of thirds? What makes those ones work? While you're watching TV, looking at billboards and other ads, or looking at any sort of image online, notice where the focal point of the image is--how often do images follow or break the rule of thirds?

Post your favorite 2-3 (or so) images for discussion by next Monday (15 November). Label the post with your name and Rule of thirds. If you haven't finished your intro, please get that up too! If you took some pictures during the week that don't follow the rule of thirds initially but you can crop, show both versions. If you took some that work well in spite of breaking this rule, show those too. Above all, have fun and get familiar with the settings on your camera. We'll be playing with those in the not too far distant future.

Heather Hansen

My name is Heather Hansen. I'm an Idaho farm girl who married an Ohio farm guy. I love the midwest and am glad we are here at Purdue. Mike is working on his PHD in chemistry while our daughter Lydia and son Colton work on sneaking outside any chance they get. I work on keeping the house clean and keeping everyone happy- a daunting task. I LOVE basketball, reading, writing, sewing and photography. Our family likes to ride bikes and play sports together.

I love photography and only wish I had more time to invest into it. I didn't realize I liked photography until college when I took a few photography courses for my major. I fell in love with all you can do and express. A picture truly is worth 1000 words. And now with wonderful digital technology, we can take thousands of pictures! I'm excited that with this blog I can use photography not only as a way to capture the moments, but as a way to learn and grow and improve myself.

Intro: Sarah Harward

Hello! I'm so excited about this blog! Where to start with an intro? I'm a mother to three beautiful children (Landon (pictured above) is 5, Addie is 3 and Grant is 10 1/2 months) and a wife to one handsome husband!! I was an army brat growing up so I don't have any particular place to call my 'hometown' but my husband and I have been married for 6 1/2 years and have lived here in Lafayette for all of that time (which is the longest I've ever lived in one place) so does that make Lafayette my home? I went to school at BYU-Idaho and LOVED every second of it.

I got my first digital camera as a gift from my husband after I had our daughter and have LOVED snapping pictures ever since (but to be quite honest was never very good at taking pictures). After taking Wendy Olmstead's 'Design through Digital Photography' class this past summer I've really become obsessed with taking pictures and trying to use the design elements to make them great. I have a little point and shoot camera (Canon Powershot SD790 IS) and I LOVE it. I know people who are more experienced photographers need something better, but because of it's size it's ALWAYS with me and I have been able to capture some priceless moments because of that. My main reason for wanting to become a better 'photographer' (hope it doesn't offend real photographers that I'm lumping myself in that category!) is to capture the moments of my kids lives. Being a mom is the greatest (and hardest and most challenging) thing I've ever done, and I don't want to miss or forget a single second of it!!

Intro: Steph Scott

Aloha!

I grew up on the beaches of California and fell in love on the shores of Oahu. I ran on the varsity cross country team in high school (we placed 3rd in state) and was recruited to run for BYU—Hawaii. I’m training for an iron man race next summer. (120 mile bike, 2 mile swim, and a marathon, all in one race)

I actually met Aaron swimming in the ocean at Hukilau beach, Hawaii. We spent almost every day (for three years) in Hawaii at the beach. That is where I started to take interest in photography. Aaron is an avid surfer so as he surfed I sat on the beach and took picture after picture of him. I have been polishing my skills ever since and started to really enjoy photography. I am enchanted by photos of waves. My favorite photographer’s site is: www.clarklittlephotography.com

In a nut shell: I have a degree in elementary education and am currently getting certified to become a child life professional. But in the mean time, I stay home and play with my kiddos, Kensey 3 ½ and Zane 8 months, which are my joy.

I don’t have a sweet camera or any nun-chuck skills, but you got to start somewhere right?