Mommy Moment #3: Rule of Thirds

09May08

This lesson might just blow your mind, so hang tight!! 

Did you know that it isn’t the most pleasing to the eye to have your subject smack dead center??  It’s true!  I have a really good example from a past shoot that I want to show you.  This little cutie was swinging.  Now center or not he’d be cute but look how putting him off-center changes the picture.  When you look at him words that come to mind are:  daydream, childhood, quiet moment, what’s he thinking?, etc.  The negative space in the photo is the way he’s looking so that you’re left to wonder all of those things.  It helps draw your attention to the subject.

Now think about how we read.  Left to  Right.  A lot of time I’ll but the subject off to the LEFT so that you see negative space to …. the subject.  Give it a try!

Another way to use the rule of thirds is to put the EYES (often the focus) in one of the thirds of the photo.  Draw an imaginary tick tack toe board on your photo.  The subject’s eyes look best if they fall in the thirds instead of face and eyes dead center.

Looks at these examples and start experimenting!  Have fun!  And show me what you come up with!  I’ll post more later, off to shop for some furniture!!!

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