Most people have no idea what the “Rule of Thirds” are, nor can they look at an image and tell you why the love it, or why it has striking composition if it was using the “Rule of Thirds”. I saw a post today (found here) that called the Rule of Thirds both lazy and a sham…
While I agree that all rules are made to be bent and at times even broken, you can only do so – when you fully can understand the rules that are in play!

I was first introduced to the Rules of Thirds for the first time in a Nikon Manual that my Grand Father (Popo) gave me when I inherited his Nikon FE (manual 35mm camera and lens kit – Thank God for Popo!) I later studied these rules via an Eastman Kodak VHS that we watched over and over again in High School (Thanks to my photo teacher Mr. Charles Scherbel – where ever you are.)

I’m not really sure if it’s just because the word rule is in name, which is causing the author of the post to question its validity.  I’d have to agree that the Golden Mean is mathematical at its core and therefore for the faint of heart easily avoided and I agree that the Golden Ratio while found in nearly every thing in existence (wonder who put that there -  well that might be a topic of conversation sometime other than now.) Does it negate the simplicity of breaking things up in thirds?

I have to say that this has really opened up some areas of thought and will cause me to question the composition of my shots next time I do a set up, but to say that the Rule of Thirds is a sham – come on, really? I’ll concede the point that the rule of thirds is a much more simple means of looking at it, and it’s not exact science as the Golden Ratio.

Is Not being Exact all the time – lazy?

Also super huge thank you to @TGaul – I had no idea that was in there!!!

Photos used in post:

golden spiral 2 by Shannon Henry

In the coming years it will no longer be enough to be able to read and write, I firmly believe that it will be critical that the next generation (as well as present generations) also learn Media Production as a form of literacy. I know that this is a rather bold statement but I’m finding that I’m not the only one who believes this to be true. I feel very strongly that it’s one thing to be able to have the ability to express your self with words and phrases, it’s another thing completely to be able to present those expressions in a social relevant way with media (visually or otherwise).

As most of you know I was extremely blessed to have a computer at a very young age – this allowed me to experiment and become very engaged with electronics, and it didn’t hurt that my Father was a taught electronics at a local trade school.  Because I was always around this world – and had the great fortune of having teachers that would urge me to explore and learn all that I can in every field I came away with a very broad understanding of how everything fit together, rather than being very focused on just one part of the equation.

I really don’t think that our education system will catch up with this until it’s too late.

What is one to do?  How do we educate others in ways of media production?

Photos used in post:

june 28th 280c by striatic

Twenty (or even five) years ago the broadcast landscape was a vastly different space, the costs for gear was outrageous, maintenance costs, hiring engineers, and means of distribution was heavily controlled.  We now live in a day and age where all of the before mentioned no longer are a factor.  This doesn’t mean that it’s all free but the barrier of adoption / acquisition of necessary goods is way less – than ever before!

Through lower cost cameras that now out perform what was more than double the cost, and new tool sets that are becoming available – you can now not only own your own space for distribution, but produce Live Programming that uses the same tools of Fox, NBA, and many other top level broadcasters! (Awesome video after the jump) (more…)