Markwarts Photos

[uwhnick]

Hey Alex,

Long time no see.

I was looking at your photos from OS and I reckon the black and white ones are bloody good. Its all about the clouds for atmosphere.

Feel free to tell me to fuck off, but I have a suggestion: when you've got a horizon (or some really solid feature, horizontal or vertical) try framing the shot with that feature not right in the middle of the frame. They teach this rule of thirds thing where if you divide the frame into thirds both horizontally and vertically, then the main points of interest should be roughly at the intersections of those thirds (make sense?). Some people treat this as gospel and always do this, which is worse than never doing it, but it is something to keep in mind eh. I'll post a reframed shot of yours to show you what I mean in a minute.

[uwhnick]

just realised I can't put the editted picture here without it being on the web (I think, I don't understand computers)

its all subjective anyways, and good work.

[tomac]

Nick, go to upload.observedtrials.net and put it up there. You may have to be logged in to do it - I'm not sure. I'm always logged in there

I'm keen to see what you mean. But wouldn't there be four such intersections (of thirds) in a frame?

- Joel

[uwhnick]

Yes Joel, very astute. The idea is that you try to put the interesting bits of the picture at these intersections (you don't have to use all of them). I'll try with ascii;

__________________
|............0.............|
|.........../||\..........|
|_______/_\_______| (Boring)
|***************|
|***************|
|_________________|

__________________
|...........................|
|...........................|
|......0...................| (Interesting)
|..../||\.................|
|___/_\___________|
|_________________|

Quiz: Who is bored at work?

[alex markwart]

Hey Nick,
Good to hear from you! I am familiar with the rule of thirds and know exactly what you are talking about. I had a re-scan of the photos I posted on the site and didn't see too many with a dead center horizon (the two that stood out were both with water as the horizon), but I did see a few with lines close to it. I guess I should be more extreme or something, but when I look at a lot of photos that attempt to follow these rules I believe that the photographer has gone with some form of rule of quarters, placing points of interest on the quarter closest to the edge of the frame, which, to me, doesn't look "balanced".

For example, you posted this

__________________
|...........................|
|...........................|
|......0...................| (Interesting)
|..../||\..................|
|__/_\_________|
|_____________|

I would frame it like this (below), well close enough to it anyway. I would try and average it out so that the horizon and the head of the person lie on a horizontal third.
__________________
|...........................|
|......0...................|
|..../||\..................|
|__/_\_________|
|_____________|
|_____________|

In the photos I took I probably did align things a little too much towards the center in general, but I also tried not to spend too much time with rules when I was trying to record the trip at the same time. I tried to fit the whole scene in, rather than isolate in order to conform to the rules.

If you want me to set you up with some sort of image uploading account I can, then you can show me how you would crop the photos.

What are you up to nowadays anyway? From memory you are in Melbourne. Are you working/studying?

[Andre]

Hey Nick hows things, Rule of thirds not only apples to photography but all types of design. Balance in assymetry or however that subaru add goes. It all really depends on on what you are trying to acheive with the shot. This rule is a good one and will get you better photos more often than not.

[uwhnick]

Hey lads,

Yeah alex, I wasn't being critical and I figured you probably knew about the "rule" anyways, I just wanted to see a bit more sky I guess (I love the sky in black and white pics). Remember that its totally subjective so don't listen to me. Also I totally agree about the ridiculous adherence to technically correct art. To see what I mean check out simon carter's website (he's the premier rock climbing photographer in Aus) www.onsight.com.au. The pics are nice, but a bit too nice... hence samey.

I'm back in Canbrah, working at UC in education to hopefully partially fund a trip to the worlds (underwater hockey that is) in Sheffield in August though it looks like its all going to fall through due to a funding problem.

I don't have a trials bike anymore (never replaced the mighty Rhino) but I would be keen to come and have a roll around/pissup sometime to catch up.

Yo Dr Dre, how goes the mighty RS. The mighty Datto got reshelled this year after an acco in Melbourne (when I wasn't even there) and now has a pair of discs on the back (but no more webers, too $$$). I will give you a ring (I think I've your number still).

Catch youse in tha slips.

[Andre]

Mate! I'm still at UC we should hook up some time what days are you there? RS is good. got some sti shocks and a nice set of 16"s a while back. Goes hard but cant really afford to drive it much. Datto sounds sweet. You livin at your mo or fo's? also if you need a trials bike you can borrow mine as I have no time for trials till this hell year is over.

out

[uwhnick]

Shit Andre, I didn't realise. I'm there every day from 9 - 5 (cha-ching).

I don't have your number anymore, but mine is; 0403 635 795