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I wrote a prompt over at High Calling Blogs last week detailing the rule of thirds and how a photographer can go about keeping and breaking it.
I mostly break the rule but decided to keep to it for purposes of this post.
Monica's post gave me some points to ponder which resulted in a number of questions:
- Why does an off centre image look better than a centred one in most cases?
The answer to this question lies in design and God's ratio of Phi which He liberally uses throughout nature to illustrate His ingenuity. It is this ratio that has been used to construct some of the world's greatest structures and inventions.
When an object is captured off centre the image is brought to life. It therefore engages the viewer.
I think the Trinity: Father, Son and Spirit also hint at the importance of this ratio and the energy it brings. Neither exist without the other and neither take centre stage alone.
- How does this principle apply to my life in a practical sense?
If I am the central focus of my life then the image that is presented to the world is one that lacks energy. It does not engage. If I present a picture in which I am the focal point, but not placed mid centre, engagement is introduced. I use the word introduced because I know from my own experience that I mostly stop at this point. I am happy to be away from mid centre but I still cling to being the focal point of my life.
- Can an image be enhanced beyond the one third rule?
I asked this question because I was not satisfied with the conclusion I reached above. Something was still amiss. I think it can be enhanced. Jennifer answered the question for me. Her image is filled with engagement and there are two specific reasons why:
- She has a central point, the spike, but it is enhanced by a background image, the hand.
- Neither one would make the picture image what it is, on its own, but together the hand and the spike create energy, tension and engagement.
When I fade into insignificance, but still remain a part of the image; and God, and others become the central focus of my life, engagement is all consuming. Life becomes the gift it was always intended to be.
How would you apply this rule to your life? Do you struggle to not be the focal point? Do you think that you should be the focal point?
10 comments:
claire....this is so interesting !
i try never to be the focal point...but since i'm always the girl with the camera in her hand, i feel like i have a flashing light on top of my head and it's always like i can be seen, even when i don't want to be.
Yes, I struggle. Every single time I leave a comment I struggle. I don't want it to be a wrestling match of writing or wit or wisdom between the blog writer and the commenters. Mostly I want to encourage or relate or share...
So, I think there is a fine line regarding focal points, perhaps even more so when the rule is applied to life.
Claire, thank you for these explanations/definitions. I can tell that you took a lot of time and effort in your answers.
Blessings.
cool
Let us fix our eyes (and our cameras) on Jesus ... the author and perfecter of our faith.
So very cool, Claire!
And I'm humbled that you would find value in a photo that I took. I am mostly clueless about photo rules -- and don't know for sure when I'm following the rules or breaking them. I appreciate your leadership and your teaching. When the focus is Christ, how can we go wrong?
You made me smile today, Claire. I appreciate all the thought that went into this post.
Claire,
This moved me so much! The idea of the thirds--the Trinity, taking the focus off of ourselves (how hard is that?),and that God designed His universe with a thirds focus. I'm overwhelmed and awed!
And, yes, I do struggle with taking the focus off of myself. Confession time.
Blessings,
Janis
You are such a great teacher, Claire. I love how you put these lessons in the context of life.
I know I'm late, but I did a little post this evening. I broke the rule in a couple, but tried to keep it in a couple too. Mostly, I had fun. I enjoy these photoplays tremendously. I wish there was more time in the day to play around this way!
http://lauraboggess.blogspot.com/2010/07/joy-in-moment.html
Claire,
I marvel at how you think.
I think I am an introvert . Except when I am ruling the roost at home :)
I don't seek attention, and mostly understand it's fickle nature. However. Sometimes in trying not to be about me I devalue how I was created to be that.
Does that make sense?
I love the way you have applied the question of this rule to your life and spiritually. I tend to find my answer instinctively, listening always for how things belong together and where the emptiness fits.
From a lot of great shots over at HCB, your photo sure caught my attention. Came here an learned some things, too!
Thanks.
This was so, so lovely, Claire. Thank you.
{I was trying to remember when you wrote about this at the HC and then I notcied the date - so glad you linked back to it.}
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