The following photos by photographer Greg Summers are from his gallery at Field and Forest. His work provides a wonderful example of this powerful compositional tool - the "rule of thirds."
Sawhill Sunset
As you can see by the white dividing lines, the natural elements of this photo have been composed in the camera to follow the rule of thirds. The upper horizontal third follows neatly along the top of the horizon and dissects the trees on the far bank while the lower horizontal third touches the lowest edge of highlights reflected in the water. The left and right vertical thirds connect the leading edge of the lower left bank and the upper far bend of the pond's bank respectively.
Ridge Tree
The upper horizontal third crosses through the most dominant horizontal branch of the tree while the lower horizontal third crosses the horizon line in the photo. It is visually tied by the left vertical third which moves directly through the middle trunk of the tree bringing the top and bottom horizontal thirds together to cross the most dominant areas of this primary element - the 'ridge tree" itself. The right vertical third and lower horizontal third follow this same pattern and form a crosshair directly on the other most dominant element of the photo - another tree.
Moon Ship
Of course, the most dominant element of this photo is the moon. As you would expect, the top horizontal and left vertical thirds cross over the moon. But this photo is a wonderful example of how the rule of thirds can also be found in more subtle ways within an image. Our favorite in this photo is the way the lower horizontal third and the left vertical third come togther at the most dominant aspect of the cloud formation while the upper and right thirds find themselves as "anchors" for the open space at upper right.
Photos
copyright 2001 by Greg Summers - All rights reserved
As you can see by the white dividing lines, the natural elements of this photo have been composed in the camera to follow the rule of thirds. The upper horizontal third follows neatly along the top of the horizon and dissects the trees on the far bank while the lower horizontal third touches the lowest edge of highlights reflected in the water. The left and right vertical thirds connect the leading edge of the lower left bank and the upper far bend of the pond's bank respectively.
The upper horizontal third crosses through the most dominant horizontal branch of the tree while the lower horizontal third crosses the horizon line in the photo. It is visually tied by the left vertical third which moves directly through the middle trunk of the tree bringing the top and bottom horizontal thirds together to cross the most dominant areas of this primary element - the 'ridge tree" itself. The right vertical third and lower horizontal third follow this same pattern and form a crosshair directly on the other most dominant element of the photo - another tree.
Of course, the most dominant element of this photo is the moon. As you would expect, the top horizontal and left vertical thirds cross over the moon. But this photo is a wonderful example of how the rule of thirds can also be found in more subtle ways within an image. Our favorite in this photo is the way the lower horizontal third and the left vertical third come togther at the most dominant aspect of the cloud formation while the upper and right thirds find themselves as "anchors" for the open space at upper right.