Vertical compositions using Rule of Thirds - I'm a little confused. :)

[reader0428]

I understand the concept of the rule of thirds but I'm having some difficulty applying it to portraits of individuals in a vertical orientation. I usually end up centering the subject in the width of the frame and placing the eyes (for a head/shoulders shot) or the head (for a longer body length shot) at the top horizontal third line. I'd like to be using the vertical third line more, but for close-up shots I don't really get how to pull this off. Here are a few images to illustrate what I mean.

1.


2.


3.


4. this one was shot at 47mm but if I move her to the left in the frame she doesn't have much room to look, and if I move her to the right I cut off her elbow...


5.


6. Here they are a little off-center because I backed WAAY up with my 85mm and wanted to get the gifts in too...


7. Babies are a little easier - they don't take up as much room in the frame, haha. Her eyes are right at the top third line.


I shoot mostly using a 85mm/1.8 on a Canon 5D. Do I just need to use a wider angle to be able to create more space in the width of the frame and use those vertical lines more?

[rab3rd]

I certainly am no expert on portrait shooting but from what I have read a slightly different set of "rules" applies. Like #4, the general rule is to always have the subject looking into the frame, not out. This obviously changes the composition and cropping and should be done at the time of shooting. If you had her pose with her arm in a different position then you could move her to the right. #6 is a good example of this, and the presents are a nice balance to the shot. It could be cropped PP though to bring the subjects closer. With multi subjects, triangles are the goal, always appealing.

Just my brief thoughts on the subject.

[neyekon]

Here is a link to a few tips, hope this helps. R

The Portrait Photographer: Composition

I think this exerpt best answers you question.

"In head-and-shoulders portraits, the eyes are the center of interest. Therefore, it is a good idea if they rest on a dividing line or at an intersection of two lines. In a three quarter-or full-length portrait, the face is the center of interest. Thus, the face should be positioned to fall on an intersection or on a dividing line. In most vertical portraits, the head or eyes are twothirds from the bottom of the print."

[srwatters]

Originally Posted by neyekon

Here is a link to a few tips, hope this helps. R

The Portrait Photographer: Composition

Nice link. Thanks for sharing.

[karakelian]

I have nothing really to add except #2 is priceless!

[neyekon]

Originally Posted by reader0428

I understand the concept of the rule of thirds but I'm having some difficulty applying it to portraits of individuals in a vertical orientation. I usually end up centering the subject in the width of the frame and placing the eyes (for a head/shoulders shot) or the head (for a longer body length shot) at the top horizontal third line. I'd like to be using the vertical third line more, but for close-up shots I don't really get how to pull this off. Here are a few images to illustrate what I mean.

Amanda, after viewing you images I think you are following the rule of 3rds without realizing it. In #1 & 2 which can be considered head & shoulder shots the eyes are positioned 2/3 from the bottom of print. In #3 &4 which can be considered 3/4 of full body shots the face is positioned about 2/3 from the bottom...maybe a slight head and/or shoulder tilt would help the subject look less static. #5 and 6 are great images in my opinion if anything #6 could use a little less space at top and more at bottom, I mean the faces moved up a little in the frame. #7 could maybe have been framed a little tighter to loose a bit from the top and right side? You have some great images though.

[reader0428]

Thanks for the link, Ricardo. I actually just put this book on my Amazon wish list this afternoon for Christmas! :) Yes, I have been very conscious of the placement of the subject with regard to putting the eyes (or head, for a 3/4 or full length shot) on the top third line. What I've been a little unclear about is whether, in a vertical orientation, one should also be striving to align the subject along one of the vertical third lines, in other words, not having the subject centered in the width of the frame. It seems difficult to do that with a tight shot, but I think the answer is, it's ok to have them centered in the width of the frame as long as the point of interest (eyes, face) falls on or along the top third line. It seems like I'm on the right track.

[neyekon]

Originally Posted by reader0428

Thanks for the link, Ricardo. I actually just put this book on my Amazon wish list this afternoon for Christmas! :) Yes, I have been very conscious of the placement of the subject with regard to putting the eyes (or head, for a 3/4 or full length shot) on the top third line. What I've been a little unclear about is whether, in a vertical orientation, one should also be striving to align the subject along one of the vertical third lines, in other words, not having the subject centered in the width of the frame. It seems difficult to do that with a tight shot, but I think the answer is, it's ok to have them centered in the width of the frame as long as the point of interest (eyes, face) falls on or along the top third line. It seems like I'm on the right track.

You are totally correct with that assumption, when you are nearly or completely filling the frame with the subject you can't easily set the point of interest at the intersecting points of the thirds, although it is possible as in the cover of that book you want Santa to bring, the eyes(point of interest) are at intersecting point.