Rule of thirds violations -- and other rules -- a kind of rant

[RustySterling]

I only used that as my thread title because I've seen too many times when critics complain about violations of the rule of thirds in critiques.

One thing I learned a long time ago is that rules are meant to be broken. Not broken arbitrarily, but broken with knowledge of the rules in mind.

My father was a writers. As I grew up he constantly instilled in me the ideal to learn the rules. This, he said, was important because only by knowing the rules could you effectively break them.

I know a lot of the rules of photography. I use the rule of thirds as an example because it is probably the best known rule of them all. I break it often. When I look through my viewfinder I look to compose. And the first rule I look to compose to is the Rule of Thirds. And there are times I deliberately compose to break this rule. Not because I can but because the shot calls for it.

I only bring up this topic because I think too many of us get hung up on these rules as absolutes. For example, I remember posting a shot for critique and one responder complaining "well, I don't know, I need to get my ruler out and check, but I think you violated the rule of thirds." That's a bit anal when it comes to rules. And frankly a bit stupid. And it was about the photo at the end of this thread. So that critic was saying my shot was wrong because it didn't meet his rulers expectations. PLEASE!

Rules are guidelines that I do pay attention to. But, that's it, they are guidelines and not the final unending truth about how to take a photograph. The shot at the bottom of this thread is to me an example of what I'm talking about. What I see is the rows of grape vines moving your eye and eventually settling on the barn as an interesting element in the photo. I shot this deliberately. But again another critic said "well, the barn isn't exactly in the third portion of the photo, so this sucks because it doesn't meet the rule of thirds." Pretty similar to the other remark I noted above.

Bear in mind that I'm not exactly quoting the critics, only paraphrasing. But what I've "quoted" is pretty much what they communicated. Frankly, they can have their own opinion but that wasn't the opinion of some judges in some photo contests regarding this photo.

Rules are not meant to be absolute. They are meant to be guidelines and under the right, correct, intentional or whatever other circumstances the shooter sees they can be broken. That includes the rule of thirds.

I'm not thin skinned and appreciate viable critiques. But let's be real. Just opening this up for debate.

[PnwGuy]

I'm not sure what there is to debate.

When you put a photo up for critique and people critique it why do you feel they are complaining? You asked for feedback and got it. People are telling you what they think. Everybody has a different method of offering an opinion.

I agree with your main point that rules can be broken if the rule is understood. But you will always have those who think rules are absolute.

When I critique photos, if I think using the rule of thirds will improve the photo I'll say so. But I never say "you broke a rule". But, some people do think rules have to always be followed. Maybe we should call them guidelines instead of rules.

As for your photo, you get ten photographers to shoot the same scene you'll get probably 8 different photos. If you're happy with it that's what counts. If it were my photo I would have at least tried to use the rule of thirds with the barn to see how it looked. I'm sure you did and didn't like it so you cropped/kept it this way. I would have taken the shot at a different time of day. It's a nice shot though.

[Digidave]

When you put a photo up for critique and people critique it why do you feel they are complaining? You asked for feedback and got it. People are telling you what they think. Everybody has a different method of offering an opinion.

True but the responder said "well, I don't know, I need to get my ruler out and check, but I think you violated the rule of thirds.". This says to me that they weren't critiquing based on there gut reaction to the shot. They were reacting to the rule specifically which in my opinion is quite anal for certain.

Maybe we should call them guidelines instead of rules.

I like that idea! Will definitely keep that one in the back of my mind.

Now, I didn't get my ruler out to check, but it appears to me that you did follow the guideline of thirds. I'll have to learn how to word that a little better. The foreground of rows looks to be around 2/3's of the scene.

i agree, they should be "guide lines", and if the guide line isnt used, but still produces a visually pleasing image, then who cares? i think that people who are gonna knit pick about stupid stuff like that are just trying to feel important (like they know it all), almost belittle you and your work... NOT COOL! very nice image by the way, great lines!

[douglas]

I agree there are lots of guide lines, but it all comes down to what YOU see in the image, when you compose the shot. I often think I have got the composition right but then look at it after download I know I, m wrong Sometimes I can see why, but often not!!! But rarely is it because I broke a "rule"

[OsmosisStudios]

While I do agree that these rules are made to be broken, I have to agree with the person at commented on your photo: it could be better composed.

The red barn is a big attention grabber, and it's too high/left for what most would consider good composition. This isnt a guideline thing: i feel it LOOKS weird sitting there, way up in the corner.

[RustySterling]

Originally Posted by ntinlizi

i think that people who are gonna knit pick about stupid stuff like that are just trying to feel important (like they know it all), almost belittle you and your work... NOT COOL! very nice image by the way, great lines!

I only posted the image as an illustration. But your comment is precisely what comes to my mind as well.

[Gobae]

No much to debate.

You actually used the "rule of thirds" quite effectively in your "look I broke the rules" example.

The crops take up the bottom 2/3rds of the photo, nicely reinforcing what you were trying to disprove.

[jdepould]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

The red barn is a big attention grabber, and it's too high/left for what most would consider good composition. This isnt a guideline thing: i feel it LOOKS weird sitting there, way up in the corner.

That's actually a meaningful critique though, because you have a reason for saying what you did beyond "you broke the rule."

[RustySterling]

Originally Posted by jdepould

That's actually a meaningful critique though, because you have a reason for saying what you did beyond "you broke the rule."

I agree that it is a meaningful critique. My point is about someone who says "let me get my ruler, I think you broke the rule." That's just plain stupid. And someone did say in a critique "let me get out my ruler." To me that is bizarre.