Rule of thirds

[nil80]

Hello all! This is my first post on this site. I've always loved taking pictures but i'm only just learning how to do it properly. I went out earlier to try and practice using the rule of thirds, however i don't think it went too well. I realise my dog in the picture below is more to the middle than in the right third. The light was a bit stong also. Would the use of a filter have helped with that? Also i can't help thinking it would have been a better shot if i'd got the background in focus rather than my dog. Any help would be appreciated. I've adjusted it a little with CS5 but didn't want to mess with it too much as i don't really know how to use it. I've included a link to some of the other pics i took today. I plan on returning to this spot to try again once i've had some advice. Thanks, Neil.
Other pics - Flickr: nil808's Photostream



Camera - Nikon D90
Shutter speed - 1/250 sec
Exposure program - Aperture priority
F/stop - f/4.5
Focal length - 40mm
Lens - 18.0 - 105.0mm, f/3.5-5.6
Metering mode - Matrix

[dlambert]

I don't think the composition is a problem -- the "center" of the dog is well over toward that right third line. The whole idea of the rule of thirds isn't to have something sit on a line like a bulls eye -- it's meant as a guideline so we don't end up with stuff sitting dead-center in our photos. In this case, you've got space in front of the dog (which is generally considered better than space behind), and the tree trunk extends diagonally off into the background, which is another good compositional technique.

You're right about the lighting, and unfortunately, the best solution to lighting like that is to shoot when the light isn't like that (sorry). If you don't have a choice, a polarizing filter can help cut glare, and you might find that a reflector and/or fill flash can direct some light at your subject (the dog's face) to keep that from being shadowed.

If you want more of the background to be in focus, you can use a smaller aperture (large f-stop value), but it's really pretty common to blur the background in portraits -- it helps concentrate the viewer's attention on the subject.

Aside from the light issues, I think this is a really nice shot.

[Krusty79]

I wouldn't be too fixated on the rule of thirds, as it is not the LAW of thirds. I think your composition is fine. The problem is that you're shooting in the middle of the day, not the golden hours. Your naturally goes to the lightest part of the image, which in this case is the overexposed log behind your dog.

[nil80]

Thanks guys, might try and pop back down there around sunset.