Forget the Rule of Thirds, do this instead…

This week I'm talking about composition in photography, and the rules (rule of thirds etc...) that we perhaps pay a little too much attention to versus other ways of thinking. Hopefully it helps!

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MUSIC:

[banditalley]

"Supporting" subject really emphasises the idea of a photo "about" something rather than "of" something. It adds context and the "about" part of the photo. Great video, straight to the point!

[jameshoy]

One of my professors often says: “we don’t point our cameras at things, we point our cameras at relationships.”

[wesleymarquardt]

This was actually probably the most useful composition video I've seen in a while. While I believe other rules are great tools, a lot of composition videos simply define them and call it a day. Photography is so much more than rules and facts, it's about telling a story and your video did a great job with helping guide people to tell stories.

[corykphotography]

If I like it, I shoot it. But I try to capture it in a sense that conveys how I actually view it. Visually and how it makes me feel. It is our job to express how the subject makes us feel.

[washinours]

As an illustrator with poor composition skills this video is a golden nugget, thank you

[lookeast]

"Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." Edward Weston.

[DanielGonzalez-jgbx]

And THIS is why I follow you. Such a simple yet powerful concept that elevates our photography to another level. Well done James!

[eorsjr]

Very insightful video, James! Made me realize how much I focus on isolating single subjects while paying little to no attention to supporting subjects.

[marciolabio]

I must admit that I've never actively thought of an image composed in such a way that there are different subjects participating in telling a story. This was very inspiring and your pictures, when seen through these lenses, look even more astonishing. Great job, both for the video and for your pictures.

[GameLikeYouMeanIt]

I am about 270 days into a daily photo challenge. I have found myself doing a lot of landscape/street because of it. This is incredibly helpful advice

[TheArtist]

James, there’s something very special about your photography style. It’s that special sauce beyond what words can explain. I really like it

[washingtonradio]

Thanks James, I like the concept of a "star" and "supporting" elements in a shot. I think this is a more useful concept than the various "rules" as it seems more natural than the rules often are.

[nabeeldanish]

Simple. Easy to follow, straight to the point, and easy enough for even a beginner like me to follow. This was really one of the best videos on composition I have seen, and so for that, you got yourself a subscriber

[michaelj.]

That’s REALLY useful way of visualizing the approach - excellent advice

[nurulkharisma]

I'm a beginner and this is the most useful composition technique I've ever seen. Thanks for the video, James!

[hoodie]

I think it's really interesting that James brought up the photo of Antarctica and I at first thought the hut was the subject. James has spoken of his love for manmade objects in nature and it stands out with a pop of colour, so I figured the penguins are a really nice supporting element to give context to the location. And then he said the penguins are the subject and I looked again and thought, yeah, that makes sense, there's more movement there to draw the eye and that's where he's put the focal plane. But it really goes to show how even such fundamental aspects of photography such as the subject of the image can be open to interpretation and subjective to the viewer.

[roojanday]

This was actually one of the most useful videos I’ve seen. James it’s like a lightbulb moment. Great explanation, makes total sense and I’ll never look at compositions like I used to. Keep up the great work 👍🏽

[Skene_O]

I Loved the comment " If I see something that I think looks nice, I will want to photograph it". That statement is lost on so many new photographers because it is easy to fall in to at the trap of trying to replicate another creators shoot.
Keeping it real James, and always love to hear your perspective on how you compose your photos.

[safegourd]

I'm a painter and this is one of the best ways i've seen to frame (ha) good composition. Definitely applies to all visual art, not just photography. Even in non-representational art, there is still a focal point and supporting "actors" — it's just the subjects are now shapes, colors, patterns instead of objects

[dbarrywilliams]

One of the houses across the frosty field at around the 1’ 40 mark is the place I grew up. I remember many cold winter mornings and also playing in the long grass of that same field just before it was cut for hay.