Make Still Life Photographs Stand out by Making Good Use of the “Three Points Method”

still-life photographyIt seems very simple, but because it is too simple, it will inevitably fall into mediocrity. I feel bad even when I shoot it… Didn’t feel much. For still life photography, the key point is not to seize the moment, but to consider the relationship between each element in our picture, and then arrange their positions, using the basic composition rules to give the viewer sensory stimulation, so that the viewer can have a good impression of your work at the first sight.

When it comes to composition rules, the most basic one is the three-point method. As long as it comes to composition, we can’t forget to mention the three-point method, because the basis of the three-point method is the golden section, and the three-point point is close to the golden section position in the image, so it can give viewers the most basic aesthetic feeling.

It is simple to take a good three-way composition. Many cameras can add auxiliary lines to divide the image into evenly divided nine squares, and then place the subject you want to take on the position of the three-way line in the image. The four three-way lines and four intersection points are good positions for placing the subject. We can place them according to the specific nature of the subject. In addition to supporting the placement of the main body, the triad can also be used as a space division in the picture. For example, the division line of the wall and the desktop can fall on the triad.

In addition to using the single three-way principle of placement position, we can also add another dimension, which can be called L-shaped structure, to place the main body on the three-way line, and build another dimension from a vertical angle to increase the support points. At the same time, the center of gravity of the picture is also parallel and shifted to the other side of the picture, so that the overall picture is balanced.

Another important principle for the selection of subject content is the odd number principle. To put it simply, when we choose the number of subjects, we’d better choose an odd number of subjects.

Because of the symmetry, when the number of subjects is even, our brain will unconsciously divide the subjects into equal parts, which is difficult to form a clear focus, so that the viewer can get lost under the equal visual weight without knowing which subject to focus on. However, when the number of subjects is odd, viewers tend to take the initiative to regard multiple subjects as a whole, and then look for gravity elements along the guidance rules set by the photographer, so that other elements become auxiliary elements in the whole picture.

But even if you choose an odd number of subjects, you should follow the principle of superiority. The most common way is to use three or five subjects. When more than seven subjects are used, the screen will look very crowded, which is also not conducive to highlighting the subjects. If your work contains multiple subjects and you want to express them, the best way is to isolate some subjects rather than put them evenly.