About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

C is for COMPOSITION

Welcome back to ABC Wednesday, created and hosted by the inComparable Mrs. Nesbitt and assisted by her courageous coven of crazy and cackling characters, including moi from Canada! First off, I would thank to thank so many of my readers who commented on my previous post (Background) and praised my photo of the pumpkin patch. I didn't mention it, but it did win a challenge on Red Bubble for the month of October, and I celebrated it as my first win for any of my photos!

This week, I'd like to discuss "composition." There are three main rules around composition: the rule of thirds, the golden section rule, and the diagonal rule. I checked out various websites and chose one that seemed to be concise and simple to understand. You can see it here. You can click on any photo to enlarge it.

The rule of thirds is based on the fact that the human eye is naturally drawn to a point about two-thirds up a page. Imagine your photo divided into nine equal sections. When lining up your shot, make sure your main subjects are lined up at the intersection points, rather than centered. See photo below from the website.

Here are a few of my own photos that I think show good composition by using the rule of thirds.

The next rule is called the Golden Section Rule. This means that certain points in a picture's composition automatically attract the viewer's attention. Imagine your photo being divided into nine unequal sections. Each line is drawn so that the width of the resulting small part of the image relates to that of the big part exactly as the width of the whole image relates to the width of the big part. Points where the lines intersect are the "golden" points of the picture. See photo below from the website.

And one of my own photos:
The final rule for composition is the diagonal rule. This means that one side of the picture is divided into two, and then each half is divided into three parts. The adjacent side is divided so that the lines connecting the resulting points form a diagonal frame. According to the Diagonal Rule, important elements of the picture should be placed along these diagonals. See photo below from the website:

And a couple of my own photos, far from perfect as I've been working on trying to keep my camera straight and not on a diagonal:

There you have it - my contribution to Round 10, Week 3. I hope I haven't bored you completely to death and that you'll leave a comment to let me know if you're still compos mentis after reading all this. Ciao until next week.

36 comments:

Roger Owen Green said...

I'm very amateurish at photography. But I read your advice anyway.

Shrinky said...

You have captured some amazing frames up here, Leslie, I particulary love the pastel shades of mountain in (I think) the second photograph posted - it's worthy of hanging in a gallery. As you may know, photography has long been a passion of mine, but it never hurts to be reminded of the basics, as it's often too easy to complacently overlook what we strive to achieve.

Do you have the actual dates now, of when you and Cathy will be here? I must email you my phone number and address!

Carver said...

Great information about composition and wonderful shots. Carver, ABC Wednesday Team

Meryl said...

WOW!!!! THis was super informative and interesting. I LOVE your shots and you clearly explained why they work so well. I can't wait to try this out! Have a great week.

anthonynorth said...

Photography is not my greatest talent. Great advice.

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

Fabulous condensation of compositional rules! Except, how would one apply this if the substrate is a paper coffee cup?

Luna Miranda said...

very useful tips! i used to have grid lines when i got my first camera. friends and family have been asking me about it.:p

photowannabe said...

Excellent explanation and examples. You deserve another red bubble.
That information will get beautiful photos every time.

mrsnesbitt said...

Absolutely wonderful Leslie - am really enjoying this guide to photography - will certainly put the facts you share to good use.
Denise ABC Team

Gigi Ann said...

I love shooting pictures, but don't get into the technical aspects of it. I read a few books about photography, but that was years ago.

The information was great that you shared with us, and the pictures are lovely.

Jane and Chris said...

Now, I have better understanding of why I prefer some photos over others...although I'll never remember the rules.
Jane x

Reader Wil said...

You are very clever at photography! I usually don't have the patience to take some time to tale a picture. I just point and shoot. Well anyway your explanation is very useful and I shall bear in mind to be more careful when I take photos next time. Have a great week!
Wil,ABC Wednesday team.

nancygrayce said...

I'm very much the amateur, but a friend had told me the thirds rule. I'm being pushed gently to take a photography class!

Chubskulit Rose said...

Bored? This is very interesting discussion and I am learning a lot from you Leslie, thanks for a free tutorial hehehe.

Crystal Palace & Carousel

Chubskulit, ABC Wednesday Team

Hildred said...

Great pictures, Leslie, and I'm most interested in the rules that apply and enable you to capture them.

Thank you for all that wonderful information and for the pleasure of your lovely pictures.

ChrisJ said...

Good information. I kind of used the technique without knowing why.

Penelope Notes said...

You’ve given some comprehensive information about composition here, Leslie, that is very helpful. I think some folks with good instincts frame their photos in such a way to fall in line with what you are saying without really understanding why it worked.

Thanks for asking about my cards, by the way. If you scroll to the bottom of my page you’ll see where they’re at currently. :)

Carol said...

Beautiful photos! You have very good composition. Love reading all the tips.

Hazel said...

Don't know much about photography but I appreciate a good pretty picture and your advice.

Kim, USA said...

Love that information. It's awesome!

Letter C

Joy said...

Love the pictures with the grasses an of course I am always love landscape with mountains and lakes.
Great tips there, didn't know about the diagonal rule, I had to read it twice, good job you illustrated it (me being a bear of very little brain.

Jewaicious said...

Thanks for visiting. Your photos are libel, well composed with great textures

Tumblewords: said...

Composition well captured! Gorgeous photos...

Unknown said...

You do have amazing photography and sounds like you really know a lot about it. Thanks for sharing some tips about composition.

Happy ABC WEd. Thanks for the visit.

Powell River Books said...

Nice tips to learn about composition. When I first glanced at your title I read C is for Compton - my old home town. That gave me quite a start. - Margy

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

Thank you, i learn someting today !

say cheese said...

great composition and photos!

Annie said...

Thank you - I learned a lot from this post!

EG CameraGirl said...

Cool information, Leslie!

jill said...

Lovely photos, helpful tips thanks Love Jill xx

Mel Cole said...

interesting to know pieces of that photography techniques. visiting from ABC Wednesday.

Mrs.D said...

what an awesome composition!

Dhemz said...

I see quiet a few of letter Cs around...good one!

Mildred said...

It wasn't boring at all! It was very interesting!
Thanks for sharing the wonderful pics and information;o)

***
Have a fabulous weekend****

Shrinky said...

Hi Leslie, I don't know why, but my emails I try to send to you keep bouncing back as undelivered - please will you give me the best address to use? (x)

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Very interesting, Leslie.