The rule of thirds and tic-tac-toe composition in landscape photography

Introduction: One of the reasons why a photographic work can become an outstanding work is its excellent composition. So how to compose a picture? Come and learn with me!

The Rule of Thirds and Tic-Tac-Toe Composition in Landscape Photography

When you search for composition on Google, a series of URLs will appear. A series of online articles will definitely dazzle you, and readers may just Click on each link and take a look. If you understand, continue reading. If you don’t understand, go back to the previous page and click on the next article. You may not understand the next article, so continue to return to the previous page and click on the next one. Maybe you can understand it a little bit, but the more you look at it, the blurry it becomes. The most likely thing you see later is to find Zhou Gong Xia Qi?

If you change the Google search to look for images related to the two words "composition", The ones with the highest probability of appearing must be the golden ratio (not the golden ratio of Qingyu XD) and the tic-tac-toe composition. The so-called golden ratio is 1:1.618

The initial basis of composition is the proportional relationship

When we take the scene in front of us through the "viewing window", press the shutter and the "photosensitive element" "Record the image. The length-to-width ratio between the viewing window and the photosensitive element is exactly 2:3, which is similar to the golden ratio of 1:1.618. Therefore, the golden ratio has an indissoluble bond with photography.

▲The photosensitive element is 2:3, which is close to the golden ratio of 1:1.618. The author draws the composition blueprint directly on the photosensitive element for your reference.

Composition determines everything?

Although composition does not necessarily determine everything in a photo, composition is the first step in taking pictures. Composition is the starting point of photography. Photography is a combination of various trainings, including The foundation of personal aesthetics, the cultivation of beauty, the understanding of color matching and light, good composition and correct exposure can create a photo.

Start composing the picture

The meaning of "composition" refers to the elements that make up the image. "Elements" may be the rules of the arrangement of scenes, the size ratio of objects, color contrast or visual extension. The directionality is simply the "combination of images". Putting aside the basic principles of photography such as aperture, shutter, and exposure, composition is the most important spirit of photography. The quality of the composition affects the balance, space, and proportion of the photo. Proper proportions of the composition can even extend the meaning. Connotation, creating an imaginative space beyond the photo.

The rule of thirds

The rule of thirds is the most basic, simplest and most commonly used composition technique. Making good use of the rule of thirds can make the photo get rid of the dullness and add interest. Make your photos come alive.

▲The most basic schematic diagram of the third composition method.

The rule of thirds is the most basic composition principle in composition. In landscape photography, the rule of thirds is often used to arrange the front, middle and background scenes. This is also the reason why the rule of thirds is used in composition. Below we use some examples to illustrate how these rules work. Now that we know the rules, we can certainly break them and how to make the most of various techniques to improve our photography.

Overview

The tic-tac-toe composition is an extension of the rule of thirds and the golden ratio. The purpose of using the rule of thirds and tic-tac-toe composition when taking photos is to move the subject away from the center of the picture and redistribute the layout to increase the interest of the picture. Experience tells me that dividing the photographed picture into one-third and two-thirds according to the rules is the most comfortable visual effect. Divide the scenery or combination of areas in the picture into one-third and two-thirds along imaginary lines. The imaginary lines can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.

The rule of thirds and tic-tac-toe composition are most commonly used in landscape photography. Although it looks like a mathematical rule, by properly utilizing such composition rules to create a balanced and distributed visual effect, you can get rich and diverse visual effects. picture. Making good use of the rule of thirds and tic-tac-toe composition to create balance in the picture is an important learning course for establishing correct aesthetic choices in photography. Use it properly to make the image escape from an overly static and complex feeling.

Properly distribute the screen

After learning the rule of thirds, we know that the basic composition is actually a principle of proportional distribution. Through the clever arrangement of the image by the photographer, in addition to balancing the screen In addition, a more precise composition can make the picture more harmonious. Try looking at the photo below:

▲In addition to using the rule of thirds to divide the sky and landscape into one-third and two-thirds, the highest mountain peak in the picture happens to be in the picture In the left third, the total height of the road curve extending from the lower left is also close to 2/3, and the end point where the road disappears is also close to the right third of the screen.

▲Remove the virtual lines added in the picture above and use roads (rails) to divide the picture. You will find that the landscape of arrow bamboo is also one-third.

The distance between the sea of ??clouds below the mountain and the road is about one-third, and the sky above the sea of ??clouds is also about one-third. Even though these factors are abstract in the photo, upon closer inspection you can see that there is a reasonable order and organization in the photo.

Does all this mean that when composing a picture, we need to pay attention to the two-thirds or two-thirds factor of everything in the shot? The answer is: not necessarily.

In fact, these compositional details are only rough guidelines. When taking pictures, you usually have to think first: "What is the most important thing?", and then think about what to match? What to photograph? The so-called subject is usually the subject, and the range of the subject does not always appear directly. In photos, the matching is usually derived from the perspective or extended scenery.

▲We will use this photo as an example.

▲Looking at the composition from the photo above, the plant lines in the foreground invariably point to a disappearing aiming point. After adding lines, these hidden indicators can be revealed.

▲If you draw a horizontal dotted line on the horizon and the right third of the screen, you can more clearly guide the aiming point where vision disappears.

▲Putting on the tic-tac-toe line can more clearly see the distribution principle of the picture.

When shooting landscapes, the horizon or horizontal line is usually used to cut the picture and assign proportions, and shoot the upper or lower third of the composition aligned with the horizon. When shooting people and ecology, place the subject on both sides of the photo composition, so that the picture can have a more directional or dynamic sense. Placing the subject away from the center of the picture can add a sense of visual direction to the picture.

▲In the above example, the cyclist is placed in the lower right corner because he is moving towards the vanishing point of the screen.

Familiar with the rules and get rid of restrictions

The rule of thirds and tic-tac-toe composition are only the basic exercises and applications of landscape photography composition. They do not necessarily need to be used every time you take a photo or start a composition. These norms must be adhered to. If you insist on applying all the shots yourself, it will become an invisible shackles. However, the basic principles of proportion and direction still apply to all shooting processes. Remember to keep a normal mind. When taking pictures, think more, see more, and listen more, and don't let "thinking about how to compose the picture" become a problem for you.

The photo below does not have a reflection of one-half, nor does any object appear in one-third position. Instead, everything is slightly deviated from the rule of thirds or the center, without any An example on the right.

Breaking the rules, useful examples of symmetry

If you are a student who is studying, before you have figured out all the rules, the knowledge taught by the teacher in the classroom must be abided by. rules. But if you are a free-spirited and creative artist, you will feel that all the rules restrict your creation. The rules are like a cage that confines you to a small space. However, all rules will be broken once you become proficient. This is about using study and time to release your inner rebellion. In other words, as long as you want to make a breakthrough, maybe it is a good opportunity.

One of the core principles of the rule of thirds is that placing the subject in the center of the photo is not ideal. But if you want to emphasize the symmetry of the picture, using half of the composition to reflect the contrast is an understandable choice.

Similarly, there are many other situations where it may be a rule to ignore and not use the ratio of thirds rule blindly. For example, you may want to throw your subject off balance and create a deliberately disharmonious image.

At the end of the composition, the most important thing to ask yourself is: What do I want to emphasize? What is special about this subject? What mood do I want to convey? If the rule of thirds can help you achieve these goals , and then use it. If not, then don't use this theory to compose your photos.

▲The mountain scenery and sky above the lake only occupy 1/4 of the picture. The miscanthus in the foreground reduces the proportion of the lake area and balances the picture with the cloud waterfall in the upper right corner.

▲The purpose of placing the boat in the lower right corner is to balance the weight of the sunrise in the upper left corner. If the boat is removed from the composition, the weight of the entire picture will inevitably shift to the left, losing the balance of the picture.

The important meaning of composition principles is: first get familiar with the principles and then understand the rules, and finally use the rules to get rid of restrictions.