Forget the Rule of Thirds, do this instead…

Summary

In this video, the host explores the art of composition in photography, focusing on the balance between main and supporting subjects. They emphasize the importance of identifying what to shoot and how to shoot it, rather than just adhering to traditional rules. Through various examples, they demonstrate how to enhance a scene with supporting elements without distracting from the main subject, aiming to create impactful images that tell a story.

Takeaways

• 📷 The video emphasizes the importance of composition in photography, suggesting that it is often the most frequently asked about topic.
• 🎨 Composition techniques like the rule of thirds, rule of odds, and leading lines are useful but should not overshadow the subject matter.
• 🤔 The speaker suggests that having a compelling subject is crucial, as even perfect composition cannot save a boring subject.
• 🌲 The concept of 'main subject' and 'supporting subjects' in photography is introduced, akin to lead and supporting actors in a film.
• 🔍 Supporting subjects should enhance the main subject, possibly by emphasizing its size, texture, mood, or beauty.
• 📐 The video discusses the balance between including enough of a supporting subject without distracting from the main subject.
• 🖼️ The speaker shares personal examples of photographs to illustrate the interplay between main and supporting subjects.
• 🤷‍♂️ It is acknowledged that determining what adds to or distracts from a scene is subjective and depends on personal opinion.
• 🕊️ The video mentions the use of spacing and timing to manage multiple elements within a photograph.
• 🏞️ The importance of being deliberate with the inclusion or exclusion of supporting subjects to avoid a cluttered look is highlighted.
• 🌟 The speaker concludes by advocating for a thoughtful approach to composition that maximizes the impact of the main subject within its surroundings.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the video script?

The main topic discussed in the video script is photography composition, focusing on the concept of main subjects and supporting subjects, and how they interact to create impactful images.

What is the importance of having a supporting subject in a photograph according to the script?

Supporting subjects are important in a photograph because they help to accentuate the main subject, potentially enhancing its beauty, size, texture, or mood, and contribute to the overall story of the image.

What does the script suggest about the relationship between the main subject and supporting subjects in photography?

The script suggests that the relationship between the main subject and supporting subjects should be carefully balanced. The supporting subjects should complement the main subject without distracting from it or diluting its impact.

How does the script describe the process of deciding what to include in a photograph?

The script describes the process as a 'dance' between the supporting elements and the main subject, where the photographer must decide how much of each element to include to support the main subject without becoming distracting.

What is the significance of the 'rule of thirds' mentioned in the script?

The 'rule of thirds' is a well-known compositional technique in photography that suggests an image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines, with the theory that aligning the subject along these lines or at their intersections creates a more balanced and interesting composition.

How does the script relate the concept of supporting actors in films to supporting subjects in photography?

The script relates the concept by stating that just as supporting actors in films help to make the lead actor stand out and contribute to the story, supporting subjects in photography should help to accentuate the main subject and add to the overall narrative of the image.

What is the script's stance on the use of compositional rules in photography?

The script acknowledges the value of compositional rules like the rule of thirds but emphasizes that these rules should not be the only guide. It suggests that understanding the relationship between the main subject and supporting subjects is equally important for creating impactful photographs.

What does the script suggest is the key to good photography composition?

The script suggests that the key to good photography composition is being deliberate about what adds to the story and what distracts from it, and understanding how to use supporting subjects to maximize the prominence and impact of the main subject.

How does the script discuss the role of personal preference in photography composition?

The script discusses the role of personal preference by stating that what one photographer considers distracting, another might find adds to the story. It emphasizes that the decision of what to include or exclude in a photograph is often down to the individual's artistic judgment.

What advice does the script give on how to approach a scene with multiple potential subjects?

The script advises that when there are multiple potential subjects in a scene, spacing and waiting are key. It suggests considering the placement of each subject and being deliberate about including or excluding the entirety of a supporting subject to avoid clutter and maintain a compelling composition.

What is the role of the sponsor, Squarespace, mentioned in the script?

Squarespace is the sponsor of the video, and the script mentions it as a platform for creating websites, which the speaker uses to curate and display their photography portfolio. It also provides a discount code for viewers to try Squarespace for their own websites.

Outlines

00:00

📸 Photography Composition: The Importance of Main and Supporting Subjects

The speaker begins by expressing gratitude to Squarespace for sponsoring the video and offers a discount for their services. They then dive into the topic of photography composition, noting that while there are many rules and techniques discussed, such as the rule of thirds and leading lines, the key to a compelling photo often lies in the subject matter itself. The speaker emphasizes that a boring subject will remain dull regardless of the composition techniques applied. They introduce the concept of main and supporting subjects in photography, using the analogy of lead and supporting actors in films. The main subject is what initially catches the photographer's eye, while supporting subjects enhance the main subject by accentuating its features without distracting from it. The speaker illustrates this with examples, such as a caravan photo where a tree serves as a supporting subject, providing context and enhancing the main subject's prominence. They discuss the importance of balancing the inclusion of supporting elements to avoid overwhelming or diminishing the main subject.

05:03

🏞 The Art of Selecting and Including Supporting Subjects

Continuing the discussion on composition, the speaker shares insights on how to decide which supporting subjects to include in a photograph and to what extent. They stress the importance of being deliberate in these choices to ensure that the supporting elements contribute to the story without becoming distractions. Using examples like a mine tower and wheelbarrows, the speaker explains how personal opinion plays a significant role in determining what adds to or detracts from a scene. They also touch on the importance of spacing and waiting when dealing with multiple subjects in a frame, advocating for a thoughtful approach to composition that maximizes the impact of the main subject. The speaker shares anecdotes from their own photography experiences, highlighting the process of finding and utilizing supporting subjects to create a more compelling narrative in their images.

10:04

🌟 Maximizing Impact: The Role of Supporting Elements in Emphasizing Main Subjects

In the final paragraph, the speaker wraps up their thoughts on photography composition by reiterating the significance of understanding the relationship between main and supporting subjects. They advocate for a methodical approach to composition that involves identifying potential distractions and enhancing elements, using focal lengths and camera positioning to emphasize the connection between subjects. The speaker shares examples of how they have used supporting subjects to frame and highlight the main subject, such as electricity pylons and a house with a track leading to it. They conclude by summarizing their composition process, which involves finding something visually appealing, assessing the surrounding elements, and carefully arranging them to create a harmonious and impactful image. The speaker also thanks Squarespace for their sponsorship and invites viewers to explore their portfolio on their Squarespace website, highlighting the platform's ease of use for curating and displaying photographic work.

Keywords

💡Composition

Composition refers to the arrangement of visual elements within a frame to create a coherent and aesthetically pleasing image. In the video's theme, composition is central to photography as it helps in deciding not just how to shoot but what to shoot. The script discusses various compositional techniques such as the rule of thirds, leading lines, and negative space, emphasizing their importance in enhancing the subject matter.

💡Supporting Subjects

Supporting subjects are secondary elements in a photograph that complement and accentuate the main subject. The script uses the analogy of supporting actors in films to illustrate their role in photography. They help to emphasize the main subject's characteristics, such as beauty, size, or texture, without distracting from it. An example from the script is the tree overhanging a caravan, acting as a shelter and enhancing the story of the main subject.

💡Main Subject

The main subject is the primary focus or point of interest in a photograph. It is the element that initially catches the photographer's eye and is intended to draw the viewer's attention. The script discusses the importance of balancing the main subject with supporting subjects to create a compelling image, as seen in the caravan example where the caravan is the main subject.

💡Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is a fundamental principle in photography where an image is imagined as divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines. The script mentions this rule as one of the techniques often taught to beginners to improve composition by placing the main subject or points of interest along these lines or their intersections.

💡Leading Lines

Leading lines are a compositional technique where lines within an image guide the viewer's eye towards the main subject. The script discusses how these lines can be used to direct attention and create a sense of depth, although it also emphasizes that a compelling subject is necessary for a photograph to be truly engaging.

💡Negative Space

Negative space refers to the empty areas around and between the subjects in a composition. In the script, it is mentioned as a powerful technique to highlight the main subject by providing contrast and focus. The concept is used to discuss how the absence of clutter can emphasize the main subject more effectively.

💡Focal Length

Focal length is the distance from the camera's lens to the point at which it focuses light to form a clear image. The script discusses how changing the focal length can alter the perspective and the prominence of the main subject within the frame, affecting the overall composition and impact of the photograph.

💡Packing the Foreground

Packing the foreground is a technique where the front part of the image is filled with visual elements to create a sense of depth and engagement. The script briefly mentions this as one of the many compositional techniques that can be used to enhance the viewer's experience of a photograph.

💡Squarespace

Squarespace is a website building and hosting platform that the script mentions as a sponsor of the video. It is used as an example of a tool for photographers to create and curate their online portfolios, allowing them to showcase their work effectively and with personal touches.

💡Portfolio

A portfolio in the context of the script refers to a collection of a photographer's best work, often displayed on a website or in a physical book. The script emphasizes the importance of curating a portfolio as a way for photographers to share their vision and storytelling through their chosen images.

💡Impact

In photography, impact refers to the emotional or visual effect a photograph has on the viewer. The script discusses how the use of supporting subjects and compositional techniques can maximize the impact of the main subject, making the photograph more compelling and memorable.

Highlights

Thank you to Squarespace for sponsoring this week's video.

Today, we'll talk about composition in photography, focusing on what to shoot and how to shoot it.

The most common rules in photography include the rule of thirds, rule of odds, rule of space, leading lines, negative space, and filling the frame.

Important to note: good composition involves not just following rules but also considering the relationship between the main subject and supporting elements.

A strong main subject is essential; no matter how you shoot it, a boring subject will remain boring.

Supporting subjects in a photo should accentuate the main subject without distracting from it.

Examples of supporting elements include a tree overhanging a caravan or electricity pylons framing another pylon in the background.

Composition involves balancing supporting elements and the main subject to create a compelling story.

The goal is to include supporting subjects that add to the story and avoid those that distract.

Deliberate framing and spacing are crucial to avoid making a photo look cluttered or like a mistake.

Supporting subjects can be obvious or require hunting to find elements that enhance the main subject.

Negative space can also serve as a supporting element, emphasizing the main subject.

When including multiple elements, ensure they complement each other and add to the overall impact of the photo.

Personal preference plays a significant role in determining what adds to or distracts from a photo.

Curating a portfolio involves selecting and sequencing images that tell a cohesive story.

Squarespace offers an easy way to create and organize a photography portfolio online.

You can try Squarespace for free and get 10% off your first purchase using the promo code.

Transcripts

a big thank you to Squarespace for

sponsoring this week's video if you need

a website or a domain go to

squarespace.com forward slash James for

10 off your first purchase hi everyone

um I press record and then my laptop

died so I've just rebooted it hopefully

that fixes the problems we'll see

today what I thought I'd do is talk a

little bit about composition which is

probably the thing that I'm asked most

about in photography and I've not spoken

about it for ages so I thought today we

could revisit it

um there are lots of composition videos

on YouTube

lots of information on blogs and in

books and stuff but most of it I have

found centers on the rules rule of

thirds rule of odds rule of space

leading lines negative space filling the

frame packing the foreground all that

stuff all good stuff powerful techniques

and as useful as those techniques can be

I have found particularly when you're

dealing with beginners that often it

will end up informing what they shoot

not just how they shoot and the issue

with that is that if you've got a boring

subject it doesn't matter how you shoot

it and if you've got a leading line

towards it it's still going to be boring

so today what I thought I'd do is talk

through how I think about what to shoot

and just as importantly how I shoot it

in the hope that it's interesting maybe

useful it's not the way it's just a way

as with all photography there is no

right and wrong but uh yes let's

see if this laptop works now the easiest

part of Photography as far as I'm

concerned is working out what it is that

we want to photograph and the reason

that I think is the easiest part of

Photography is that my parameters are

pretty loose really basically if I see

something that I think looks nice I will

want to photograph it now of course

those things will be different for all

of us some of us like mountains some of

us like dogs some of us like insects now

the difficult bit and in fact I think

the hardest bit of Photography is

working out how to photograph those

things and in the main that's what I

want to talk about today now every film

or movie has a lead actor

or most of them do and every film or

movie or most of them have supporting

actors and typically the job of the

supporting actor is to make the lead

actor stand out in some way and so

dialogue with the supporting actor can

make the lead actor seem a bit softer

and equally if the supporting actor

needs saving in some way then the lead

actor can look caring or tough but in

many instances the relationship between

a supporting actor and a lead actor is

crucial for the story and I think it's

exactly the same in photography so we

have our main subjects in our photos the

thing that caught our eye but we also

have supporting subjects and it's the

job of those supporting subjects to

accentuate the main subject and maybe

they'll be accentuating the beauty the

size the texture the mood but in some

way they will be helping our main

subject stand out so this photo here I

think is a pretty good example of that

we've got the Caravan plan which is the

main subject and then this tree

overhanging it which I would suggest is

a supporting subject and I suppose it's

kind of acting as like a shelter a

protector of some kind but I'd also say

it's a crucial part of the story of this

Caravan and whenever I'm photographing

something like this and I see pretty

much straight away that the supporting

subject really is supporting the main

subject and not distracting from it then

I know for sure that I want to include

it in my scene the question then becomes

how much of it do I want to include in

my scene because the key with this photo

and indeed all photos is trying to work

out your quantities how much of your

supporting subject do you need to show

for it to adequately support your main

subject without distracting from the

main subject and so if I was to crop

into this Caravan I think you'd

completely lose the sense of place that

you get with a large percentage of this

tree in the frame similarly if I'd have

gone for a wider focal length or if I

show got this from further back and

ended up with more of the tree in the

frame I think the result would have

ended up with the subject being too

small in the frame and not prominent

enough I saved the subject the Caravan

and so for me composition is really

working out this dance between the

supporting elements and the main subject

and how they can both complement each

other the best and if you look through

my portfolio there are plenty of

examples where I've got a supporting

subject but where I don't include the

entire supporting subject and more often

than not that's because I want a

supporting subject I really feel it adds

to the scene but my concern is that by

including the entire supporting subject

I would dilute the impact of the main

subject so that's definitely the case

with these electricity pylons in Abu

Dhabi I like how the supporting subject

in the foreground acts as a frame for

the one in the distance but were I to

include any more of the one in the

foreground than I think the one in the

background the main subject would just

become inconsequential is that a word if

I made that up inconsequential

it sounds right uh here's another one so

this is a mine down in Cornwall you

might remember this from a video last

year uh and at the mine was this tower

that you see on the right hand side of

this image and in this photo I decided

not to include the entire thing for fear

of diluting the main subject and so like

I say my mindset is this constant dance

between how the supporting subjects

interact with the main subject and

ultimately what we're trying to do is

work out what adds to the story and what

distracts from the story and It's tricky

because that will always be down to

personal opinion so let's take these

wheelbarrows for example which I shot

down in Cornwall last year as well now I

could have made this shot an awful lot

simpler by taking 10 Paces to my right

and then I basically could have got a

profile of them just with the c behind

or if I've got lower I wouldn't have

even had to have had the ocean I could

have just had three wheelbarrows in a

line and then a wall behind them and so

what I've chosen to do actively is is to

position myself to include an awful lot

more than that and in my view the things

that I've chosen to add have added to

the story and to the shot but of course

you may disagree you may find the stuff

in the background super distracting and

think the photo is just way too

complicated uh same with this shot so

this was another one from the frost last

winter we've got the Sheep we've got

this bright orange tree we've got the

steam coming off this Farm or factory

whatever it is then we've got the moon

so on the one hand it looks like quite a

simple scene I think because of the

color palette more than anything else

but also there's quite a lot going on

and how much you include and how much

you take away from a shot will always be

down to personal preference but working

out what you think is distracting what

you think adds I think is the Crux of

good photography and I should say

actually that whenever there are more

than two elements in a scene so here

we've got arguably four potential

subjects whenever that's the case

spacing and waiting are key and if

you've got one half of the image which

is super crowded where all other

potential subjects sitting it's probably

not going to look all that nice on the

eye oh the other thing is just this

image and photos like this I can show

you some other examples too is that

regardless of whether you choose to

include or not include the entirety of a

supporting subject you need to be

deliberate about it so with this shot

for example there is some space between

the subjects and the edge of the frame

and that I have found is crucial if

you're going to include the entirety of

a subject because the closer to the edge

of a frame a supporting subject or a

main subject gets the more likely it is

to look cluttered distracting or just

like a mistake now sometimes supporting

subjects will present themselves to you

in such a way that it's so obvious how

to shoot them that you don't even really

need to think about it this one's a good

example of that these penguins that are

shot in Antarctica I knew I wanted the

Hut as well and I knew I wanted the

mountains they're too fantastic

supporting subjects and so it was just

entirely obvious immediately how I had

to shoot that this is another good

example again in Cornwall all where the

swell was coming in in such a direction

that basically meant the waves were

pointing up to the buildings from the

corner of the frame and it just meant

that the supporting elements are either

waves presented themselves in such a way

that was so obvious that you had to

shoot it like that but then other times

I'll find scenes which kind of look nice

but I'll have to hunt a bit for a

supporting element and this house is a

pretty good example of that so it's a

nice enough country house surrounded by

Greenery but I don't think it's

particularly strong or compelling image

but luckily after a bit of hunting I

found a track leading to the house and

that track basically became a really

effective supporting element and

therefore it was an absolute no-brainer

to try multiple ways of including that

in the frame so yeah the rules they're

great rule of thirds all that fantastic

but I think what matters equally is

having a grasp of main subject and

supporting subjects and how they can be

gelled together to create the most

impactful shot so to summarize I will go

out and try and find something that

makes me think oh that's nice I'll then

look around the subject to try and see

if there's anything that adds to the

subject or distracts from it and

subsequently I'll then try and work out

how I can add some of the stuff

into my frame that supports the subject

and how I can get rid of some of the

stuff that doesn't and finally once I'm

in a place where I've done that I'll

then try and work out if I can use focal

lengths or moving forward or backwards

or getting low or high or whatever to

try and work out how I can best

emphasize the relationship between those

elements and how I can utilize the

supporting subjects to maximize the

prominence of the main subject and when

I say prominence I don't just mean the

size of the frame I mean the impact that

the subject has on you given its

surroundings and sometimes supporting

subjects are really simple it can just

be negative space around a subject and

other times it's more of a jigsaw where

you've got four or five competing

subjects and you're trying to work out

how to piece them together in such a way

that they add up to more than the sum of

their parts rather than less than the

sum of their parts but in short that is

how I go about trying to work out not

just what to shoot but how to shoot it

and hopefully it made some sense anyway

thank you for listening to me uh rub it

on for I've been talking

can't see and also thank you to the

sponsor of this week's video Squarespace

so many of the photos that I've shown

you today are in my portfolio and

therefore on my website because my

website my Squarespace website is my

portfolio and one of my favorite things

in life to do is sit with a coffee and

curate my favorite images and if I get

back from a trip and I've got a couple

more portfolio shots then sitting down

and trying to work out how to add them

to my portfolio and where they should

sit in my portfolio given their tone

given their storyline given their mood

that is just a process that I absolutely

love and of course there are many ways

you can do that some people like to

curate books other people like to do

zines and I love to do those things too

but a website is something you can

revisit time and time again and you can

just sit there and sequence all day

until your heart's content so if you

would like to check out Squarespace for

yourself you can do so for free by going

to squarespace.com to start your free

trial and you can select a template find

one that looks pretty good to you and

then it's just a case of drag and drop

and ordering your photos as you wish and

then when you've got a website that you

help you with at the end of your trial

if you'd like to make a purchase you can

save 10 of that first purchase by going

to squarespace.com forward slash James

yeah and a big thank you to them for

their continued support of this Channel

and to you for watching uh next week

we'll be back outside I always say that

but we will I'm not doing two indoor

videos in a row and like I said I think

at the end of last week's video it'll

probably be in the rain

plus okay I'll see you then