Grass, working on composition

Hello,

my 2nd picture post:

I know my composition sucks so I'm playing around with the rule of thirds,

Please comment on my following picture:

http://www3.telus.net …y/nature/medium​/4-001.jpg

Ways to improve, it's shot at F/4.0,

I guess there's no real strong point to the picture's composition but I'm trying to show the spring colours of my front yard

thank-you in advance

Raymond

Dear Raymond,
In your image the orange/yellow/gold object captures the viewer's eye. So, whether intentionally or not - that becomes the primary subject.

If that is to be the subject, the plane of focus should be on that object.

Regarding the rule of thirds. My interpretation of the rule is this: Divide your image space into 9 equal size rectagles by using 4 straight lines parallel to the sides. This gives you 4 points where the lines cross. Those are the 4 points where you can place your primary subject. If there are two or three primary subjects, the rules are different.

Your primary subject is, in my opinion, too far to the left and it is too centered along the vertical.

None of this should be taken as iron clad rules - anything to do with art must be flexible, and not all "rules" work for all cases.

Why don't we try another example?

The shot does not need that dead leaf - it distracts from the great flowers. Plus the very foreground flowers at the lower left being so far from focus throws my eyes off. I think this shot would have been better with a large DOF instead of a shallow one.

Thank-you both for your advice. I've been trying hard to work on my composition skills, rule of 3rd and also not to have things cut off out of the picture (oh man I always do that!)

Right now the new thing I'm trying to do instead of using the 7 points focus points I'm using the centre point to focus and then re-composition the object (leaf in this case) but I found out that when I move to re-compose I move too much and the object might be out of focus =(....or should I be using the 7 points instead the centre point?.. hmm


As for the picture I'm trying to show the contrast and the colours between the dead leaf and the live colourful flowers and grass or an attempt to.

thank-you
Raymond

I agree with what Robert said, the rule of thirds (while not applicable to all situations) is a good way to make a photograph more emotional. By placing your subject in one of those areas you convey different things. I like what you are trying to achieve, keep at it.