Photography Videos - The Rule of Thirds and Why Important

I was sifting through YouTube videos and found these 2 awesome videos. (I may find more.) But these 2 really caught my eyes and ears. Why? Well glad you asked. When I was in photography many many many years ago the first rule or principal I learned was “The Rule of Thirds”. When I had my video equipment about 5 years ago I would share with others interested in photography “The Rule of Thirds” and they would give me the deer in the headlight look. I will admit it was frustrating.
Well as of late I have gotten back a prosumer Canon Vixia (the 1st generation with the aluminum body and extra mounts) as well as a Canon Rebel T6. So I started readying and studying again to refresh my mind and as before I mentioned “The Rule of Thirds” to a few who have cameras and got that same look. Again I was stumped. Then I read the manual for the Canon Rebel and guess what…yep they do not mention “The Rule of Thirds” as a practice, in fact I think they call it an optional such and such. It was not what should have been taught.
So when I watched these 2 videos I was taken back to the mid-1980’s and my photography school days and got excited. I like the way it is presented in the B&H video better, but the VideoBlocks video also has a few good points. The VideoBlocks video explains that the only reason one should break “The Rule of Thirds” is if shooting a horror video or wanting to make their photo viewers uncomfortable.
Many horror movies are shot with subject in center and it gives the viewer an eerie feeling, but why? Because as humans we do not ever see anything centered (this is if you have vision in both eyes and have a normal field of vision.) I am about to explain what I learned way back in the 1980’s and I know for fact that some will say “my field of vision was centered”, or something similar. There are a few reasons why, 1st when one becomes aware of something the brain does without our input some will alter their perception so they will see centered. Yet others will for the sake of disagreeing.
 
Okay, the next time you are in a group of people (you can do this in any setting but groups of people work best) find someone to talk to and have them stand in front of you, dead center. Now cover your left eye and then your right, notice what happened to the person? Now uncover both eyes and let your vision readjust, if you do not fight it your subject will shift just a it off center, odd.
Now years ago evolutionist taught we adapted this for survival from enemies and predators, however as with all things evolution as soon as science gets round to it it proves one evolution theory wrong and so they have to find something else. So after a greater understanding of the brain was learned it was understood why humans see off center, it has to do with love and family. All humans see off center but it is how parents use the skill that scientist came to understand it correctly. When the truth was discovered it was learned it applies to hearing as well. As humans we keep our center of vision as well as side vision areas clear to keep an eye on the kids. Now be in danger or just caution it does not matter even if the kids were perfect they will still require the watchful eye of a parent.
 
So back to “The Rule of Thirds”, since the brain knows we do not see centered, centered subjects throw the brain off. Someone takes a nice photo but the subject is centered, viewers praise it, but inside they….not sure but it is a really nice capture. But same subject with “The Rule of Thirds” applied and that nice photo becomes an awesome photo. Now there are always the “that’s your opinion” crowd and that is fine, everyone has an opinion and that is fine. But keep in mind this is all vetted and understood, it just is a fact of the brain.
Enjoy the videos.