"Rule of Thirds" Oct. 27 - Nov. 10

[Saralonde]

This week: I've been noticing a need to get back to the "basics" lately. Doing this is important for new photographers just joining us and a good refresher for those of us that have been in photography for awhile. We need to turn a critical eye to our pictures to make sure we're just not turning out snapshots. So next week is the granddaddy of all photography "rules": The Rule of Thirds.

Rule of Thirds
The Rule of Thirds
Rule of Thirds in Photography

It's not always possible to get it perfect in camera and sometimes a little cropping will make a big difference in your composition.

I tried to keep the coffee cup along the right line, scone along the bottom, and final table line along the top. BTW, you do not need to post your shot with the lines on it the way I have done. They are only there for illustration.


As always, rules:

Just a note to new posters: DO NOT start a new thread for your post. Please just hit the reply button at the bottom of any current post and put your image there.

1. Your original image you submit should be taken between the 27th of October and the 10th of November. Each week as an assignment closes on the Wednesday, it will be AUTOMATICALLY deemed *CLOSED* after 8am GMT (3AM EST) and any posts after that time will not be eligible for the assignment competition. Don't wait until the last minute to post!

2. Your post must include "Rule of Thirds" (to show your permission to count it for the contest) and the date the picture was taken (to show that it is a valid entry).

3. EXIF data should be intact. It helps if you can include the main points (including camera, lens, date taken, ISO, shutter speed and aperture) in the text of your message.

4. Only one entry per member (if you can't restrain yourself until the end of the first week you can post two or three separate pictures but your entry should be in a separate post and the only marked with the text above). It must be an original image taken by you.

5. Remember the cross-site image size limit (740px on the longest side).

6. If the image does not exist in post at the end of the contest, it is disqualified. If you modify anything on flickr and re-save the image then the link is broken and the message needs edited to link the picture again before it will be included in the contest.

For everyone, please do not repeat other people's photos by quoting them until the contest is over. If you want to comment on or discuss an entry you can use a link to it (or just delete the picture from the quoted text).

7. If you are looking for the winners of the mini-contest, please check the front page of the DPS blog Saturday late afternoon (EST) and here.

Next week: Another composition assignment: "Break the 'Rule of Thirds'". Yes, I'm sure you're dying to do this, after all, we love to be rule breakers . So here's your chance to flaunt the establishment. Just remember, not every shot you take will work with this broken rule. Use a very critical eye. Try using symmetry or a centered composition.

Break the Rule of Thirds

[junglebear]

Rule of Thirds



I tried to get the gull on the right third line, and the railing that it's standing on, on the bottom third line.

Taken on 1 November 2010
Exif:
Camera Fujifilm FinePix S1000fd
Exposure 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture f/3.6
Focal Length 45.3 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire

[LewisCanon]

1000d 50mm f1.8
1/15sec at f1.8
ISO 200
taken 03/11/2010
editted in photoshop... pretty basic, but i kinda liked the way it came out and thought id share

[Obijuan]

Frog Infestation

Location, location, location.

From Drop Box

Nov 2, 2010
800×533 pixels – 40KB
Filename: three 017.NEF.jpg
Camera: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D90
ISO: n/a
Exposure: 25.0 sec
Aperture: 29.0
Focal Length: 32mm
Flash Used: No

[Hayward Taylor]

with grid line for reference -- I will delete this 2nd photo as deadline draws near

Taken Oct 30, 2010
Exposure - 1/800
Arperture - f8
ISO - 200
AP Mode
Nikon D50 w/a Nikkor 35-70mm AF zoom lens

[PanchoVilla]

This photo was taken at the annual Hollywood Forever Cemetery ''Dia de los Muertos'' festival held in Hollywood, California.




Exif data
Camera Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Exposure 0.25 sec (1/4)
Aperture f/2.0
Focal Length 35 mm
ISO Speed 800
Exposure Program Aperture-priority AE
Date and Time (Original) 2010:10:30 10:31:13

[kansasA]

The fog, the farm, the trees.


I think the rule of thirds has become so norm for me I don't even think of it and it's usually done in camera. Before getting into photography and taking a basic photo course I'd never heard of it. No cropping in this photo.

EXIF:
Camera Canon EOS REBEL T2i
Lens: EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Exposure 0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture f/6.3
Focal Length 170 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire
Date: November 2, 2010 at 9.33am PDT

[shutterslug]

This was taken at a Halloween Parade in Palm Desert CA

Taken on October 31, 2010 at 1.08pm PDT (edit)


Exif data
Camera Canon EOS 40D
Exposure 0.002 sec (1/640)
Aperture f/4.0
Focal Length 70 mm
ISO Speed 200

[Kole~Slaw]

My baby girl messing around during her photo shoot.



NIKON D60
Focal Length: 35.0mm
Exposure Time: 0.0012 s (1/800)
Aperture: f/3.5
ISO-100
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)
Flash Used: No
Date/Time: 2010:10:31 12:12:10
No post processing-as shot.

[Reinardina]

The Muted Colours of Autumn.

Thoroughly enjoyed this assignment. I never had any formal photography training and am trying to teach myself 'proper photography' with the help of books, magazines, websites and a lot of practice.
I had, of course, read about the rule of thirds, but this is, I think, the first time I went out with 'The Rule' firmly in my mind. Had two 'hunting sessions,' shooting any thing that took my fancy, and decided on this, very seasonal (in the Northern Hemishere at least), celebration of autumn. I'm very pleased with it and hope you like it too.

Camera
Make Panasonic
Model DMC-FZ8
Datetime 2010:11:02 20:21:18
Image
Exposure time 0.008 s
F-number f/3.2
ISO speed ratings 100
Date/time original 2010:11:02 11:29:36
Date/time digitized 2010:11:02 11:29:36
Exposure bias value -0.33
Max. aperture value f/2.8
Focal length 12.4 mm
Pixel X dimension 740 pixels
Pixel Y dimension 555 pixels
Focal length in 35mm film 74 mm