The Rule of Thirds!

You seem to have cracked it now. This is good in my opinion. Sharp enough and the composition works because the outer two ae going one way and the central one the other. Three subjects balances and the effect works. paul

You seem to have cracked it now. This is good in my opinion. Sharp enough and the composition works because the outer two ae going one way and the central one the other. Three subjects balances and the effect works.

paul

High praise from Paul! Aesthetically, I'll be wise after the event, and suggest that a slightly wider zoom setting and portrait format would allow all three sails in view.

High praise from Paul!

Aesthetically, I'll be wise after the event, and suggest that a slightly wider zoom setting and portrait format would allow all three sails in view.

Good to see you back in the Critique Gallery, Steve. Nice action captured, lots of water movement and splashes, and some colourful sails. As John says, portrait format would have put all sails inside your frame. That cut-off one at the top was the first thing I noticed. Not an easy shot by any means, though, waiting for the three of them to be this close together to get them all inside the frame. I also feel that a vertical format would have eliminated some of the "dead" space on either side. You probably know that it's a good idea to allow space in front of a moving subject, but here we have the surfers going in different directions, so the need for that negative space is rather negated. Looking at the overall directions, though I certainly feel you could crop some off the left side here. You probably jokingly titled this "The Rule Of Thirds", but it's more the "Rule Of Odds" that makes this image. There is also a "Rule Of Threes". Generally speaking, an odd number of subjects in a frame is better than an even one. Odd numbers tend to create harmony and force movement and visual interest. In Feng Shui, odd numbers give Yang energy, and even numbers give Yin - Yang expands and moves, whilst Yin contracts and condenses. When you have the chance to choose your composition, then choosing odd numbers is a good idea. Odd numbers allow the eye to flow more naturally through an image. So well done. Pamela.

Good to see you back in the Critique Gallery, Steve.

Nice action captured, lots of water movement and splashes, and some colourful sails.

As John says, portrait format would have put all sails inside your frame. That cut-off one at the top was the first thing I noticed. Not an easy shot by any means, though, waiting for the three of them to be this close together to get them all inside the frame.
I also feel that a vertical format would have eliminated some of the "dead" space on either side. You probably know that it's a good idea to allow space in front of a moving subject, but here we have the surfers going in different directions, so the need for that negative space is rather negated. Looking at the overall directions, though I certainly feel you could crop some off the left side here.

You probably jokingly titled this "The Rule Of Thirds", but it's more the "Rule Of Odds" that makes this image. There is also a "Rule Of Threes".

Generally speaking, an odd number of subjects in a frame is better than an even one. Odd numbers tend to create harmony and force movement and visual interest. In Feng Shui, odd numbers give Yang energy, and even numbers give Yin - Yang expands and moves, whilst Yin contracts and condenses.
When you have the chance to choose your composition, then choosing odd numbers is a good idea. Odd numbers allow the eye to flow more naturally through an image. So well done.

Pamela.