Nikon D5100 Experience Manual page 64

Nikon D5100 Experience
Rule of Thirds
You will read about this in every photo book, and that is because it generally works in many
types of situations and images. It involves dividing your frame into thirds, with imaginary lines,
both horizontally and vertically. You then use those lines and their points of intersection to help
determine where to place the subject and other elements in the frame (see Figure 42). Using it
can help you to create more interesting and dynamic images. You don't have to use it all the
time, but it should often become second nature. You can turn to it when you have a difficult
scene in front of you that you need to make sense of visually, or even when cropping in post-
processing. Look in photography books or online to learn more about it and how to use it.
Figure 42 – Street Scene, Antigua, Guatemala – Subject placed along Rule of Thirds line and at
intersection of Rule of Thirds grid (grid superimposed in red). Shutter speed 1/160, Aperture
f/5.6, ISO 400
Lighting
Photography is all about light...and shadow. Always keep your eye out for good lighting,
interesting lighting, the interplay of light and shadows, silhouettes. And be aware of the quality
of light – the color, the intensity, the harshness or softness, the warmth or coolness of the light
(see Figure 43). If you find great light but no subject, seek one out or wait for a subject to come
into the scene. Consider not only the lighting on the main subject but also the lighting on the
background and how it might enhance or distract from the subject. Place yourself in the best
position in relation to the light and the subject to ensure the subject is illuminated as you desire,
and move around as that changes. One of my favorite books for learning about photographing in
natural light is Available Light: Photographic Techniques for Using Existing Light Sources by
Don Marr.
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