This is a fun week to learn about photography and study how professionals get the wonderful results they do. Looking at how the professionals like Steve McCurry from National Geographic can go out to locations around the world and catch stunning photographs is awesome. This week our class is learning about three of these principles: rule of thirds, leading lines, and depth of field.

Rule of Thirds

Sharbat Gula in Refugee Camp

“National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry took the famous photo of Gula in June 1985, which became a symbol of the refugees’ plight.” Hindu Times 

This was a mesmerizing magazine cover when I first saw it; and most of the world agrees as it is the most famous National Geographic Cover. Steve McCurry has won numerous awards for photography all over the world. His eye for photography is what I want to learn from. This photo uses the rule of thirds.

Her dominate eye is in the crosshairs of the line of thirds

The most important elements of this image are along the “rule of thirds” lines, with her dominate eye in the crosshairs. Her haunting eyes in a solemn face is this pictures greatest appeal. The eyes and the straight lips are both on the third’s line

Susan Eames delivering books at the Ogden homeless shelter

I took a picture of my sister Susan Eames and tried to leave some of the room to the side so I could get a “rule of thirds” picture. Susie has delivered books to the homeless shelter in Ogden, Utah for about four years. I have a new phone and took photos with it this week.

Body and Face on the co-ordinate line of thirds

Though this picture is not as captivating as Steve McCurry, it does show how lining up a subject in a third of the picture makes it interesting. Come on in. This photo also has depth of field element because of the box up front, bin in the center and row of mail boxes at the back. Like you could walk into the shelter with Susie.

Depth of Field

Base Jump May 9, 2011
by Linsey Dyer

National Geographic has a “Shot of the Day” and this shot was taken by Linsey Dyer on May 9, 2011. This stomach clenching shot shows all the people in mid air before any parachutes open. Clear definition of the rock is in front, divers free in the middle and the mountains are definitely in the back. Its the ground so far below that is the killer.

Ready, set, go…….

Dyer did a good job of showing the clear definition of rock in front, the people in the center and the dark trees below give a strong message of distance. The mountains far away and even the light that show through the mountains give a wide range of depth to this picture. There is a clear depth of field (in this case-valley) in this picture.

Looking down to the Aspen Grove Lobby

The morning was very chilly but beautiful with the first snowfall of the season at Aspen Grove. Later in the day you could see magnificent colors. I like this picture because the Lodge is lit up and I was looking down to it. I learned later in the week how to blur the background with my iPhone to make the depth greater. But this picture came before I read all the articles.

Looking towards the lodge

Depth of Field in this picture is 1 the definition of grass, trees and playground structure, with the lodge and 3 cabin in the middle ground and 4 the mountain in the back. This is not so terrifying as jumping off a cliff dive. I like looking just a little across to a mountain.

Leading Lines

Kuwait Fires
by Steve McCurry

Steve McCurry went to Kuwait during the war and took pictures of burning oil fields in 1991. He did have some dramatic pictures of burnt hands stretching out, but I think this picture does the job of emphasizing the disaster billowing in the air. Leading lines are in the ground and smoke. You see the camels in the middle, that brings attention to the oil wells burning.

1991 Oil Wells Burning, Camels in front, Kuwait

The leading lines from the ground and the smoke draw your eye to the camels in the middle. You can see all the different wells that are in flames–which are causing the fire and billows of smoke. Even the thin line of yellow daylight draws your eye to the fires. A great example of leading lines.

Roads have great lines

I chose some obvious lines for my leading lines image. This was taken behind Mount Timpanogos in Aspen Grove just after the first snow fall of the season. I figured I couldn’t go wrong with a road, a wall, hill and the trees for leading lines.

Road, wall are leading you into the picture. Actually there is a cabin just beyond the turn.

Leading lines in this picture are the road lines, wall line, tree line and hill line all towards the center of the picture to lead you down the road. Having walked this road in chilly weather I can tell you there is a cabin just after the turn in the road. It would have been fun to take a long range picture of the winding road further down the canyon, but the trees blocked sight to the road. I’ve read that zig-zag and curving lines are compelling. I’ll have to try it sometime.

Summary

These three elements, rule of thirds, depth of field, and leading lines make looking through the lens of a camera more interesting. I start thinking how I could capture something in a more dramatic way by using these elements when trying to convey a story or emotion. There is another learning curve using the digital phone instead of the SLR camera. It has only been a few months since I got the new phone, but I can bring it more places than the heavy camera. It has been a fun week of learning.