The rule of thirds

In one of our lectures for this module we were taught about the rule of thirds. A rule about the composition of paintings and more recently photographs that invokes a traditional representation of a beautiful image. I am interested in this because it is a traditional way of making images look a certain way and i am looking at traditional photography, and i thought it would be interested to maybe have a look at how i can use this rule in a spontaneous and different way.

"Composition is the art of arranging in a decorative manner the diverse elements at the painters command to express his feelings" Henri Matisse

I think this also is true for photography, because it is important to get a photo that people want to look at and this rule happens naturally in alot of peoples work as it makes the image look attractive.

The pictures above represent the rule of thirds well as the points of interest are on or near the vertical and horizontal lines in the picture. It is said that this way of composing am image creates more tension and interest that just centralizing the subject.

This quote is by the inventor of this rule, John Thomas Smith in 1797, explaining how the rule of thirds creates an image that is more pleasing to look at than any other rule for creating images.

"In short, in applying this invention, generally speaking, or to any other case, whether of light, shade, form, or color, I have found the ratio of about two thirds to one third, or of one to two, a much better and more harmonizing proportion, than the precise formal half, the two-far-extending four-fifths—and, in short, than any other proportion whatever."

(Reference:

Smith, John Thomas (1797). Remarks on rural scenery; with twenty etchings of cottages, from nature; and some observations and precepts relative to the pictoresque.. printed for, and sold by Nathaniel Smith ancient Print seller at Rembrandts-Head May's Buildings, St. Martin's Lane, and I. T. Smith, at No 40 Trith Street Soho. )