What To Do Wednesday {NSW Photographer, Pink Bug Photography}

Welcome to the first post of our new regular weekly articles, one of which will be: What To Do Wednesday. This regular post will give hints and tips on how to improve your own photos - no matter what camera you use.

Over the next few weeks I will be discussing "Composition".

It may sound clichéd, but the only rule in photography is that there are no rules. However, there are are number of established composition guidelines which can be applied in almost any situation, to enhance the impact of a scene.

Of course, I break these guidelines... a lot. To me, taking a photo is more about "feeling" what is right and what isn't. Some people seem to have a natural instinct for composition - for the rest of us - we need a little help. And this is where composition guidelines can help.

These guidelines will help you take more compelling photographs, lending them a natural balance, drawing attention to the important parts of the scene, or leading the viewer's eye through the image.

Once you are familiar with these composition tips, you'll be surprised at just how universal most of them are. You'll spot them everywhere, and you'll find it easy to see why some photos "work" while others feel like simple snapshots.

This week - we will look at The Rule of Thirds

The basic principle behind the rule of thirds is to imagine dividing an image into thirds (both horizontally and vertically) so that you have 9 parts. As follows:

With this grid in mind the ‘rule of thirds’ now identifies four intersection points of the image that you should consider placing elements that you wish to provide a focal point for.

The theory is that if you place points of interest in the intersections or along the lines, that your photo becomes more dynamic. Also - when viewing an image, the eyes usually tend to go to one of the intersection points most naturally rather than the center of the shot. 

In this example above, notice how the focus is on the eyes, drawing the viewer in.

In this image focus is on the couple kissing - but another important element, the line that the lavender makes, runs directly along the  bottom third line. 

Likewise, the horizon, just like the lavender, when placed on either the top or bottom third "line", help to make an image become more dynamic. 

So, there you go! Have fun, go experiment. Would love for you to share the images you create at: www.facebook.com/pinkbugphotography