31-AUG-2007
Boat in Weeds Histogram and Image
This demonstrates what a histogram looks like for a specific image. As can be seen, the distribution of lights and darks in this photo is just about ideal. There is no stacking up of the historgram on either the dark (left) or light (right) side of the graph.
Hopper on Nail -- An Extreme Histogram
This slide demonstrates the histogram for an extremely contrasty picture. Note how the histogram is stacked up on the ends and very minimal in the middle. There is nothing wrong with this histogram in this case, but if you wanted a normal picture this would be a disaster. This is the kind of manipulation an artist would do to get an abstract picture.
Rule of Thirds -- Reflection Picture
In this series of pictures I will illustrate some fundamental guidelines for effective composition. Nothing of this sort is absolute, but these guidelines have been proven as solid fundamentals by visual artists for centuries.
The first of these is "the rule of thirds". In this case the scene is divided by two equally spaced lines, two vertical, and two horizontal. The interesections of these points is where the center(s) of interest in a scene should be placed.
Note how this picture of a reflected barn on Boxley Mill Pond uses this rule. The barn is centered both on top and in the reflection using these lines. The tree on the right side of the barn follows the right third line as well.
Rule of Thirds -- Coyote on Bale
In this example you see a very rare picture of a coyote atop a hay bale, apparently awakening after a nights sleep. While the image is not centered, it is also not on the intersection points. See the following crop of this image to move the coyote on to the intersection point.
Rule of Thirds Crop -- Coyote on Bale
Note that this crop places the coyote on the intersection of the third lines and would be generally considered to be more effective. This crop also increases the relative size of the coyote. These two impacts of the crop strengthen the composition. Note that the vertical tree on the right roughly follows the right vertical third line.
Odd # of Elements -- Doe and Twin Fawns
Another important "rule" of composition is that odd numbers of subjects are easier to make into good picture than even ones are. Our minds work hard to relate things together in twos. Odd numbers also create an interesting tension.
Here we have three deer, two being fawns, arranged around the "third lines". Note that the fawn on the right is grouped with the doe which reduces our tendency to relate the two fawns together as a two. Also, the three heads form a triangle if you draw a line between them.
This brings up another principle. Is is useful to visualize lines and shapes in your subjects. Note that there are three different lines formed along the spines of these animals. They are also at three different heights. Also, the fawn on the left has one ear just tipped away from the camera. All these little details add interest in the picture and draw you in.
