I just returned from visiting my family-in-law on the north shore Long Island. A nearby beach beckoned and I’d like to share two photos of sea gulls taken on consecutive days, both photos taken from the same beach, both looking north into Long Island Sound. Truly, what a difference a day makes. You can take this literally or as a metaphor.
Erich, are you aware of the "rule of thirds" or are you just a natural?
Mike: I knew of that rule, but I hadn't been consciously applying it. Thanks for the compliment, but I can't say that I've been cropping with any guidance by that rule. I'm just trying to make the image look "right." Looking at these photos and knowing a bit about the rule, I'm not actually certain that I've followed it in these examples. But if you say so . . .
Imagine lines that separate your photos into thirds horizontally and vertically. Your points of interest lie along those lines almost exactly! The gull on the rock rests near an intersection of those lines! Double whammy!
"The Rule of Thirds" is not a "rule" as much as it is a statistic of a sort. For some reason we find it most pleasing when images conform more or less to this proportional layout. I've told you before you are a good amateur photographer. These photos confirm it once again.
NEVER try to consciously apply The Rule of Thirds. Just make your pix look nice. It'll happen all by itself.
Here's a post I wrote on my forum about cropping and the Rule for anyone who is interested.
http://fitnessvideou.com/home/index.php?topic=142…