Halfie's empty picture breaks the rule of thirds and sets me thinking about composition

I don't like to 'critique' the pictures of others.  But a couple of weeks ago Halfie asked for comments about a picture on his blog, and it really set me thinking. 

He writes:  'I'm really NOT angling for compliments, be as harsh as you like'. 

His own take:

• Nothing of interest in the foreground
• Nothing really happening anywhere
• Horizon in the middle (breaking "thirds" rule)
• No detail in the blacks

A picture isn't worth a thousand words.  I like to invert that old saying.  I say three hundred words is worth a picture. What matters isn't the image, but your rationale for it, and that shouldn't need more than, say, 300 words.  If you don't have words to describe your picture, then it's someone else's picture, not yours.

In Halfie's picture, the first thing is, yes, get details in the blacks. Use an image editor to raise the detail in the shadows. 

Done that?  Right, let's continue. 

Overall, I agree, there's nothing really happening anywhere in the picture. 

But that's not a bad thing.  In this picture there's potentially a lot in the foreground, only it's not there yet. 

What does that mean?  Well, look closely at the pool of light in the front: Isn't it just itching for a duck or moorhen to come along and shine in the sun?  I suspect that this pool of light is what caught Halfie's eye in the first place.

A more manageable thing to do is to place a boat or a person or dog there.  That's what I mean by 'picture furniture'.  The moveable items.   The things you can insert or wait for.  Without the furniture, it's what I call an 'empty picture'. 

Then there's 'The Rule Of Thirds'.  Well, I say there are no rules in composition; only guidelines. In this case I think a horizon in the middle is fine.

Why?  Because, while in Halfie's picture the horizon is central, the balance of the picture is still in thirds.  The whole weight  of the composition is weighted down with the water in the lower half, which reflects the sky that's mostly obscured above. 

Put another way, two-thirds of the visible sky is reflected below the horizon. It's not lines but weight that matters in composition.

(Incidentally, this critique also obeys a rule of thirds, in its way.  Halfie's picture are perhaps only one-third of the space taken, while his words and mine together (about 300 words) are two-thirds.  The picture doesn't exist on its own.)

Below is a picture of my own that breaks The Rule Of Thirds.  There's lots wrong with it - exposure, colour balance, cloud position, the 'moment' - but NOT composition. 

It's an empty picture (the cloud on the right is missing, and where is the dog and his pretty mistress, or the tractor on the horizon?) but it's composed as I wanted it.

 
Canalside between Blisworth and Gayton Junction, October 2006.

Summary of my terms:

Furniture: The movable items in a composition that you can wait for; the ones that will make a difference.  In a canal photo, for example, the people and dogs walking past, ducks, or the things you can hold or position yourself; these are 'furniture'. 

Words are worth the picture: The opposite of 'A picture's worth a thousand words'.  I mean that the feedback from the photographer to the person looking at it is vital.  The picture is neutral. Words help to convey the photographer's meaning.  It's part of photojournalism.

The moment:  The point where things come together in the composition.  The appropriate time to press the button (not the same as the time when you do press the button).

Emptiness: The lack of the furniture that you wish was there.  (My own picture above is rather empty)

Itching:  The impact the scene has on you, the photographer.

Weight:  The balance of composition.  It's more to do with the impact of particular sections, and nothing to do with the actual measurement of lines.

The Rule Of Thirds Is Rubbish:  If it wasn't rubbish, the Union Jack would be considered bad composition.

This discourse on composition is a work in progress. It's subject to change, and I may turn it into an essay some time. 

I'm sure a lot of people will disagree.  But I do feel that a lot that's conventionally spoken about composition is accepted too uncritically, and the rules - guidelines - need rewriting.

Comments

[Capt Ahab]

I wouldnt dream of issuing any orders! They just seem a distinct cut above the average.

[Andrew Denny]

Flingel, I agree, my editing could be better and the sky looks more anaemic after I've finished with it. I was trying to make the point that I think the shadows are too overpowering.

[flingel]

Although generally I would agree with getting more details in the blacks, in this case I much prefer Halfie's original picture as lightening the shadows also dilutes the blue of the sky (and it's reflection) and reduces the drama of the black against the other strong colours. It is those strong contrasts which pull me in to the original and whilst when lightened, it's still an attractive picture, it doesn't have the same impact IMHO.

[Halfie]

Thanks, Andrew, you've found things in the photo I hadn't realised were there: the pool of light in the foreground (if that had attracted me it was entirely subconsciously) and the sunlight in the foliage on the left. It just shows what a bit of judicious tweaking can do.

[iain smith]

Northern pride shows promise,with a little practice he could be good,just joking they are good.A lot of rubbish is talked about photos, partly it is the reason people take a picture.often it is just a record of the people or things there.In this case it is just a matter of getting things in focus.then there is catching the event in which case speed and/or accuracy is needed.Then there is the more esoteric photo,a landscape a tree a rock formation or a flower,even a dilibratly half out of focus shot.in this final case i believe the question should be does it make your heart sing.I like pictures of trees and landscapes and are the subjects of some of my photos ,friends ask why have you taken a picture of a tree? the answer it brings me joy,braking any picture down destroys it,best not go there.

[Andrew Denny]

Ahem, is that an order or a warning? :-)

Sent from my iPhone

[Cept Ahab]

For photos par excellence look no further then nb Northern Pride http://nbnorthernpride.blogspot.com/.