Understanding Cropping Guides in Composition
Understanding Cropping Guides in Composition
If you’re fairly new to photography, then you may not yet understand cropping guides in composition. Or perhaps, you have only stumbled upon what is probably the most commonly known cropping guide, the Rule of Thirds.
Don’t worry, we are going to talk about way more than the Rule of Thirds!
However, this was definitely the case for me, when I first started out.
Cropping Guide: The Rule of Thirds
Understanding Cropping Guides in Composition: Rule of Thirds
Everything I read about composition, basically screamed, “Rule of Thirds,” at me. That is, where the frame is divided into thirds both horizontally and vertically, creating nine equal squares.
The idea of this rule is that a photo is more visually appealing if the subject is placed on an intersecting point where the horizontal and vertical lines meet.
And to support this further, photos also become stronger when you use those lines even more, like placing the horizon of a photo on the one of those lines. Or placing additional elements on those lines and intersections.
When it comes to understanding cropping guides….
It is all about the placement of objects in specific locations within the frame to make an image more balanced and visually appealing. This is also, essentially, a compositional technique that is known as “The Rabatment of a Rectangle.”
“The Rabatment of a Rectangle.”
Based on this technique, where the frame is a rectangle, it is implied that the rectangle contains two squares based on the short side of the rectangle. When we draw that imaginary line to create the square, that is known as the Rabatment.
Cropping Guides for Rabatment of a Rectangle
And, an image is most pleasing when we place an object on that line. Essentially, our eyes search for harmony and symmetry, and the line we draw with the object creates that symmetry for the viewer.
Oddly enough, did you notice that the Rabatment is actually one of the lines for the Rule of Thirds?
Now, is dividing the image frame into thirds the only way to go? Nope! There is so much more.
Let’s get to the ‘gold’ stuff. I mean, the good stuff…
Cropping Guide: The Golden Mean
Understanding Cropping Guides in Composition: The Golden Mean
Oh, this one has so many names. The Golden Ratio, Golden Section, Divine Proportion……
I mean, it has the name GOLD in it. So, it has to be pretty good, right?
So, what does this mean (No pun intended…) when it comes to cropping guides?
Basically, if planes or lines are divided based on specific mathematical proportions, the image will be more visually appealing. The specific ratio is 1:1.618. However, I am not going to get too deep into the math right now.
Think of it like this. If you divide a line (X) into two (1 and 2) parts. The ratio of 1:2 = the ratio of 2:X. Or, if you draw that same line, break it into two parts where one part is 1.618 times the size of the other part. If you are confused by this, I highly recommend using the cropping guides in Lightroom. That is what I do, as I am not good at math.
Cropping Guide - Golden Mean
What is important to know, is that where the lines intersect within the rectangular frame, are considered the “golden points,” and where you should place your subject.
Cropping Guide: The Golden Triangle
This Golden Mean concept leads us to the Golden Triangle.
This time, we are using the same concept with the rectangular frame, but we are using two lines instead, to divide the frame into three triangles.
If you take a rectangle, and draw a line from corner to corner. Then, create a second line from the corner to the point where it meets the other line, creating a 90-degree angle. That intersection point is your “golden point.”
The golden triangle diagram for cropping guide
And speaking of this rectangular frame, there is also a rule for the Golden Rectangle. This basically refers you back to the Rabatment of a Rectangle, where when you create a square with that fourth line, the leftover, smaller rectangle would be the golden rectangle. This is not the specific definition for it. It would be close to the Rule of Thirds, I think. I just wanted to at least reference it.
Hopefully your head isn’t spinning too much from all this information, because we are going to get a bit more twisty….
Cropping Guide: The Golden Spiral
The Golden spiral, is seen often in nature and DNA. It is most represented via a picture of snail shell. It's based on the Fibonacci sequence, a mathematical concept. The concept says that in a sequence of numbers, the two previous numbers will sum the next. Again, let’s not get into the math of this. Because, I doubt that you will be sitting down doing mathematical formulas in your head or on paper when you go to shoot.
The idea here is that you place the subject of your photo at the center point of the spiral, and then follow along the line to the outer edge as a guide, while you build your composition.
For me, switching from the Rule of Thirds to the Golden Spiral elevated my photography. People knew something had changed, but they didn’t know what. At the time, the only thing that did change was that I changed up the type of cropping guides I was relying on.
These days, I use a bit of everything in regards to cropping guides. The rules are in my head, but I don’t rely on them all the time. Instead, I sort of naturally use them.
Often, when I am relying on them, it is because I am ensuring, if I am creating specific lines, that I am following the lines across the same path.
But before we go anywhere else, we have one more rule to talk about.
The Diagonal Method
The diagonal method is used less as points of placement for subjects, but actually occurs more naturally and unintentionally.
The viewer’s eyes do generally fall first where the lines intersect, but the creation of an image using the diagonal method is more about the framing of the picture, to capture the importance of it, than the placement in the picture.
For me, I will often use this to help create clean lines. Notice how in the picture above, I have used the diagonal lines to create clean lines within the photo for my props. However, the main subject, the cereal, falls on that intersection point.
Time to summarize and get to the homework!
Oh my, that was long! Hopefully it was helpful though!
Can you guess what the homework is this week? For your homework, I want you to create an image using a cropping guide you have never used before. Expanding your horizons will help take you to the next level! Not sure which one to use? In Lightroom, you have the option of viewing the different grids. Just press “O” when cropping, and see what will work best when you start setting the scene. Depending on your camera, you also may have the option to see the different cropping grids within your viewer.
And, don’t forget, you can get featured on Instagram for doing the homework lesson!!!
To get featured, first make sure you have subscribed to the Master Food Photography Community, by following that link. Then when you create your image:
Post it to Instagram.
Use the hashtag, #MFPHomework
This way, I can be sure to comment on it, provide feedback, and share it in my stories and my feed to the IG world! And, you will get extra points if you also email me the final image!
I can’t wait to see what you create!!!