Basic Photography | Composition | Rule of Thirds

© 2008 Wazari Wazir | Sunset at Kota Kinabalu Sabah

In my previous article I’ve wrote about basic rule of thirds and how we can create a pleasing image by position our subject a little bit off centre from the frame, either close to the right or to the left, same goes for landscape photography, where you position the  horizon does make a lot of different. Basic composition rules is, never put your horizon in the middle of the frame and please be remind also, this rule are not carved in stone, it is just a guideline only where people usually follow to create pleasing picture especially in landscape photography.

In landscape photography the rule of thirds can place emphasis on the horizon line and what is above or below it. To emphasize the sky of on image, place the horizon line on the lower line in the rule of thirds, and conversely for emphasis on the land, place the horizon line on the higher line in the rule of thirds.

This photograph above taken during sunset at Kota Kinabalu Sabah is perfect example for both situation, where I place the “small” catamaran close to the left and position the horizon a little bit off from the middle of the frame. Sometimes we are lucky when everything falls into place but I did wait for the catamaran to be in place before I press the shutter button.