Forgive a slight digression and observation. I have not investigated
this but believe the Rule of Thirds to be a simplification of the Golden
Section. They are not quite the same but are close. The Golden Section
seems to be a ratio favored in nature and, by extension, human beings.
They find that ratio, or a reasonable approximation of it, to be
pleasing because it may be ingrained, part of our DNA. If that is true,
then the Rule of Thirds is not some arbitrary pronouncement by
"experts". Perhaps someone acquainted with the projects where they give
kids cameras and say "Shoot pictures!" and turn them loose might have
ideas on this. Or perhaps it is a total fallacy. I have never had a
problem with disobeying rules of any kind but have observed that rules
generally exist for a perceived reason. One reason is that they allow
people to function often without a lot of thought. Once internalized, a
rule becomes a starting point at least. So, to break a rule requires a
conscious decision which probably entails some thought process.
Don
Marilyn Dalrymple wrote:
Just a few short comments - I've found that even though I can take
photographs "on demand" now (making a photograph of a subject on
request of another) because I know some of the rules, I find many of
my favorite and most successful photographs are ones I took before I
knew any rules.
I still rely on my intuition and instinct when photographing more than
rules, perhaps because over the years the rules are ingrained in me
and I don't have to think about them so much. But, if I had to choose
between using the rules or using my instinct and intuition, and was
limited to using /one /source of information (rules or
intuition/instinct), I'd choose my instincts and intuition.
I sometimes hate to see a student who has a natural feel for
photography, or any art for that matter, being made to follow the
rules. They can be confining, and to a degree crippling.
Marilyn
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a
camera." Dorthea Lange
