Center of The Image
There is an old rule in photography not to center your image in the photograph. There is also another “rule of thirds: which says you should divide your image into thirds horizontally and vertically and then place the center of the attention at one of the intersecting lines. I guess these rules apply to artists as well.
To be quite honest I never knew what that mean until recently as I have always taken photographs that have interested me.
It is a good idea to have the center of attention just off center a bit. But the whole idea of a good photograph is that if it looks good to you and you like it…then it is ok. Now, if you are attempting to use it in a contest or want to use if or an exhibit, you should get some other people’s thoughts on it.
I had an early blog regarding the “Center of Attention” and this is take off of that. Be sure you know what the center of attention is and then position that in a pleasing position in your photograph.
I have included three photographs with this blog from a recent trip to Apalachicola, FL area. It use to be a great commercial fishing area, but now days has a few shrimp boats and just a few miles away is East Bay, a great oyster area..for you folks who like fresh oysters out of the shell, this a great place to go. (My wife willl not let me eat them fresh anymore, but wrapped in bacon and broiled in an oven they are still great). Anyway, the first photograph is of an old shrimp boat harbors at Apalachicola. It could use a new coat of paint. I would say the center of image is just off to the left of the center of photograph.
The second photograph is of two shrimp boats harbors at Carrabelle, FL just a hop and a skip from Apalachicola. I guess the center attention is just about in the center of the image.
The last photograph was the sun setting behind some sea oats. This scene has broken just about all the rules as everything is centered, the setting sun and the line of sea oats is centered too. The rays of the sun to deflect off to the right a bit.
PS: These scenes look pretty good in color too, but you did not hear that from me.
Frank, as always, great work!
Hi Frank, Not sure if you remember Clay Hamlet and I from your gallery showing at the Art & Frame Shop Navarre. Just wanted to say hello and I enjoyed these shots from Apalachicola. Love the texture of the peeling paint. These brought back some nice memories of time spent shooting there ourselves.
Remember – rules are there to be broken.
Tori
The lines, the shadows, the movement. You see what is not immediately apparent, and then make me see it too!