I recently started working on mirror-image pet portraits in my Carrollton studio and they are a lot of fun. I love the minimalist aesthetic and how the pet is isolated in the frame. That being said, when using a black background, they can be REALLY isolated as with little Deli here. What to do with all that extra space? That's the perfect lead in for this week's theme in the Pet Photography 52 week project, "rule of thirds".
In photography, the rule of thirds is a type of composition in which an image is divided evenly into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, and the subject of the image is placed at the intersection of those dividing lines, or along one of the lines itself. As viewers, we naturally find this composition appealing, and it can be a helpful tool when deciding how to crop an image that doesn't necessarily lend itself to a clear composition as seen below.
With so much negative space, all options were on the table for how to crop this image for best presentation. I typically try a number of compositions and stop at the one that makes me relax. It's a feeling of contentment that I truly experience when I see a composition that just feels right and how the image was supposed to be viewed. Keep reading for a glimpse into that process.
(click on any image to view full screen)
Rule of Thirds Grid
Trying Them All
Winner!
I put Deli's "noses" at the intersection of the rule of thirds lines.
Tiny Dog in a Big Space
After deciding on the lower right position, I felt that the composition still needed something more. More negative space to convey Deli's tiny stature, so I expanded the crop a bit more, but kept her in the lower right intersection of the rule of thirds composition.