I am a devout believer in the rule of thirds.
Why? A simple composition rule easily results in trite compositions if used because it's a "belief."
I'd recommend a visit to the Masters of Photography site at http://www.masters-of-photography.com/. It's obvious that the "masters" of photography didn't take this as a hard rule. There are quite a few great photographs in that site that completely violate the "rule" of thirds.
I see the "rule of thirds" as a way of dumbing down composition and consequently photography.
FWIW, the photo referenced is much closer to the "rule" than many others. Mine, for example, has nothing to do with thirds, and neither did the last two I posted (potty in the Alcatraz shower room and the Golden Gate Bridge). Shots by others in the gallery did fine without adhering to the "rule." And I think we will see many fine shots in the future that do not follow the "rule."
I have my own rule of composition. It goes as follows:
The composition must fit the content of the photograph.
A side rule to this is the following:
Occasionally, composition must also fit design requirements.
I've done pretty well by these rules, and, it seems, so have plenty of other photographers here and elsewhere.
Jeff Spirer Photos: http://www.spirer.com One People: http://www.onepeople.com/ Surfaces and Marks: http://www.withoutgrass.com
