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ArticleThe principle of tripartition, or composition in photography. What is involved here?
Taking high-quality photographs requires consideration of many factors, and one of them is composition. Therefore, when framing a subject, it is worth remembering, among other things, the principle of tri-division of photography. What is this principle based on?
The principle of tri-division in photography
The principle of tri-division has in its application not only in taking photographs, but also in painting, graphic design, etc. It is related to the so-called strong points, which are the places that most quickly attract the viewer’s eye and affect his brain. Their determination requires drawing two vertical lines, dividing the photographed image into three equal parts.
A similar operation should be carried out with respect to the horizontal orientation of the photo. At the intersections of the lines there are four strong points. This is where it is best to place the most important elements of the photograph being created, as they will determine whether the observer will find the photos attractive. Many people, especially at the very beginning of their adventure with the camera, use a central composition, according to which the most important elements of the image should be placed in front of the lens. However, this is not a good solution, as a photograph created in this way seems boring, banal and lacking in depth. The viewer focuses his attention on the centrally located point, thus ignoring the rest of the image.
Palm trees “walking” along the vertical dividing lines and an airplane above the upper horizontal line. The greenery in this image takes up about ⅓ of the frame, and the illuminated sky takes up ⅔.
When taking photos, use several strong points. The important thing is to exercise moderation, otherwise the composition will take on a central form. You also need to remember that the principle of tri-division applies not only to points, but also to designated lines, for example, when photographing the sunset, the horizon is worth capturing above the upper horizontal line.
In this photo, the toddler’s gaze is on a strong point.
The same photo with lines superimposed
Golden division vs. tri-division in the composition of a photograph
Golden division, also known as Golden Ratio, is a mathematical proportion that has been considered aesthetically pleasing to the eye for centuries. This method involves dividing a certain length or area into two parts in such a way that the ratio of the longer part to the shorter part is equal to the ratio of the entire length to the longer part. Golden division is widely used in art to achieve balance in a composition. Tri-division, on the other hand, is a simplified form of golden division, which, as already mentioned, divides a space into three equal parts. Although both concepts share the idea of harmonious framing, they differ in details. The golden division is more complicated and mathematically precise, while the tri-partition is simpler and based on the even division of space into three parts.
The graphic shows a composition according to the golden division, based on the Fibonacci sequence of numbers.
The graphic shows the golden division in an example photo of a dog in a swimming pool.
The principle of tri-division in photography – is it mandatory?
The principle of tri-division is a compositional assumption that is intended to facilitate the creation of photographs. However, this technique is not mandatory. Many photographers deviate from the method because the most important elements, according to them, do not coincide with strong points or dividing lines. The key thing, therefore, is the idea of the photo, its message. If a photographer who ignores the principle of tri-division, he does it deliberately to force a certain reaction on the viewer, to knock him out of his schematic observation. However, if the composition is created accidentally, then the photograph cannot be considered successful. It is also worth remembering that the rules of framing depend not only on your own vision, but also on the subject itself. The composition of portrait photos does not look the same as for landscape photography. And although the principle of tri-partition is the basis of a great photo, do not forget about other forms of framing, such as symmetry, asymmetry or oblique lines. Taking pictures is first and foremost about having fun.
This photograph does not use the principle of tri-division, and yet it is of interest because of its atmosphere, framing and perspective.
Strong points should expose the most important accents in the photograph being created. However, the principle of tri-division should be approached with appropriate distance. Otherwise, the use of all strong points will lead to a central composition – boring and expressionless.
