The "Odd Rule" of Composition

[Nicole]

A post over on the DPS Blog talks about this "Odd Rule".

Basically, it's as simple as it says, odd numbers of things work well in photos. I know it's something I do when decorating... I have 9 pictures on a wall, or 7 decorative pillows on the sofa... It just works. Any opinions about using odd numbers in photography and whether or not you think it works?

[wulf]

I think the above picture would be less eye-catching if it had three acrobats in very similar poses; it works because the one in the middle breaks the symmetry, creating a tension between that and the connection all three still share.

I think compositions with odd numbers of things are often good but I wonder if the fundamental reason is down to the question of balance vs symmetry. Just having three, five or seven subjects isn't enough - you still need to consider the relationships, which can also be done with two, four or more (eg. countless "madonna and child" pictures down through the ages).

Wulf

[jiminyClickit]

Yes, odd works. Sometimes it might depend on what a 'thing' is: in "One Dandy Home" I have one-and-a-half bright yellow dandelions separated by dirt-dull space. Is that an odd number counting the space, or because it's a fraction?

Here are two subjects: one seemed dull, three crowded. Does the space count? Or the printing?

[sana]

Originally Posted by jiminyClickit

Yes, odd works. Sometimes it might depend on what a 'thing' is: in "One Dandy Home" I have one-and-a-half bright yellow dandelions separated by dirt-dull space. Is that an odd number counting the space, or because it's a fraction?

Here are two subjects: one seemed dull, three crowded. Does the space count? Or the printing?

Jiminy I think that this picture is a perfect example of another rule, dealing with balance (And it would be great if you could post it as an example in balance thread! ): "One of the ways of adding balance is to include an echo of a dominant object." Similar example would be: a ship in the sea and the smaller ship in the distance.

I think that odd numbers apply for equally important object of the same sort. Then, they together represent a dominant object in the picture. For example, fruit, flowers, people (uniformed better!)... (whatever else...)

An example:

[wulf]

Here is a recent picture that I was pleased with that reminded me of this discussion:



Five little branches seems perfect for this picture - more would have made the subject too small and less might have worked but perhaps not as well. As a bonus, count the flowers on the little branches - odd numbers on all of those as well (except for the longest one, which has twelve... but I guess you could call that anomaly odd in itself!)

Wulf

[jiminyClickit]

wulf,

Longest stem, counting left-right from top, I swear there's one behind #3, below #1, which would give 13! Or not.

I like the look of this, even the colors are spring-fresh. Background gives me some vertigo, but since I don't imbibe, it's a pleasant dizzy.

[wulf]

You could be right about that, although it's ambiguous so I think I'm safer not claiming that everything is odd. It is going to get the prize of being my favourite picture from March 2007 when I pick up that series on my blog tomorrow; I was very happy with how it came out - both the oddness and the foreground / background contrast.

Wulf