Rule of thirds or golden ratio in Photoshop. What is the rule of thirds
Most great photographs are taken under the influence of situation and emotion. But if you set out to disassemble them into their component parts, you can identify some patterns that allow you to get interesting shots.
And among such patterns, the rule of thirds stands out. In fact, this is the two-thirds rule, but it is widespread precisely as the three-thirds rule, which does not change the essence and does not reduce its effectiveness.
The rule of thirds implies the placement of compositionally important elements in the most convenient areas of the image for perception. These areas are located as follows: mentally divide the frame area with vertical and horizontal lines, as for a game of tic-tac-toe. That is, the frame is divided into equal thirds vertically and horizontally. The main objects of the photo are located at the intersection points of the thirds or on their lines.
Shifting important elements of the composition to these points and lines helps focus attention on the main thing, making the composition more interesting than placing the subject in the center, as it allows the viewer's eye to travel around the frame, holding attention longer.
In practice, this is realized in the fact that, for example, in a landscape it is better to place the horizon on the upper or lower third line, rather than in the center, and it is better to move a lonely tree to one of the vertical lines. When looking at this photo, the eye stops at the stones concentrated on the left side, where they are sharpened in the area of the intersection of the lines according to the rule of thirds. Then the gaze goes to the horizon line, to the city glowing with lights, located just above the horizontal line of the imaginary grid. Exact adherence to the rule is not necessary.
In almost any genre of photography, with any subject, this universal rule can be applied. This principle also works for any frame orientation, both horizontal and vertical.
Human perception is structured in such a way that we cannot keep all parts of the picture in our attention at once. Therefore, not only in order to highlight the main object, but also for a better perception of the entire photograph, it is necessary to indicate the places where the gaze will linger. In addition, the rule of thirds helps to organize the composition when objects are chaotic.
The rule of thirds in photography is so common and so often used that photographic equipment manufacturers have provided most digital cameras function of displaying a special grid on the display.
The rule of thirds brings mathematical rigor to the creative process, which, however, does not mean that a photographer should add a ruler to his arsenal of photographic equipment. Photography is not an exact science, trust yourself and shoot “by eye”, boldly moving away from rigid boundaries and standards.
How to build a composition without the rule of thirds.
Tavis Leaf Glover, based in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a fine art photographer, writer, and founder of IPOX Photography Studio. He is convinced that the principles of Gestalt psychology apply not only to the psyche, soul, but also to photography and art in general. In his article on the principles of composition, he discusses classical rule thirds in images and why it should be abandoned.
We are all force-fed the idea of the rule of thirds in our creative infancy, and even as our understanding of composition matures, we still can't shake it. Perhaps we can change the future of art if we together abandon the rule of thirds and become familiar with the invaluable compositional techniques discussed in this article.
Without composition, art cannot flourish. But by using the rule of thirds to create it, you end up in a dead end of mediocrity. It sounds harsh - but it is true. What I'm trying to show is that the rule of thirds isn't even a rule to be broken, it's the foundation on which you build - or don't build - your writing. It's your choice."
Myth #1 about the rule of thirds: “It makes the image pleasing to the eye.”
What does “makes the image pleasing to the eye” mean? I assure you, this has nothing to do with placing people and objects at the intersection of certain lines. A composition that is pleasing to the eye is one that is clearly perceived by the viewer, without distracting elements, without confusion or inconsistency. How to achieve this?
First, we need to understand how the brain perceives visual stimuli. For clarification, we will use concepts from Gestalt psychology. For example, this photo uses the Figure-Ground Interaction technique, which makes it possible to clearly separate the subject of the photo from the background.
Photo caption: A photograph of Henri Cartier-Bresson that demonstrates the magnificent "interaction of figure and ground")
Here is the "Law of Continuation", which allows you to create curved arabesques using a variety of objects.
Here is the "Greatest Area of Contrast" which helps direct the viewer's eye towards the main character.
(Photo caption: “Largest area of contrast”)
Myth No. 2: “Professionals use this rule”
Another common myth. Let's take Annie Leibovitz for example. She is definitely a professional and one of the most inspiring photographers of our time. Let's put a rule of thirds grid over one of her shots and see if she used the rule of thirds or not.
As you can see, the mantelpiece runs exactly along the line. Hmm, apparently Annie did use the rule of thirds... but wait, how did she arrange the models? How did she manage to create such a wonderful composition if you can only use vertical and horizontal guides? Some of the models are laid out on a grid, but what next? How to place their arms, legs, dresses, looks? And this is where dynamic symmetry comes into play.
Annie arranged the models according to dynamic symmetry, or in other words, a lattice system.
Dynamic symmetry helps us organize a composition; it uses vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines to create rhythm and unity in the image. Whether it's a painting, a photograph or a sculpture, dynamic symmetry works for everything.
Myth #3: “The rule of thirds helps the eye move through an image.”
This statement is very far from the truth. Arranging objects at one point without considering how the image as a whole will look does not help create movement in the composition.
The "Law of Continuation" from Gestalt psychology gives us several tools for creating movement and unity that will move the viewer's eye throughout a photograph or painting. The most visually attractive of them is “arabesque”.
An "arabesque" is a curved element that you can include in your image; she will create on him the image of a beautiful, graceful movement. Many artists actively used this tool in their works.
Another technique for creating movement is "matching". It defines the relationships between edges and unifies multiple elements in an image, which helps create sideways and up-and-down movement.
“Leading Lines” are not continuous stripes, as the name might suggest. It is torn, invisible, and the trick is that the brain easily perceives it and “completes” the missing parts of the line itself.
This photo shows Annie Leibovitz building edges using the arms and legs of a man and a woman.
We see the same thing in the painting “Mona Lisa” by da Vinci and in the complex composition of “The Birth of Venus” by Bouguereau.
Myth #4: “The Rule of Thirds takes the character out of the center.”
First of all, who decided that centering a character was a bad thing? Why are we forced to believe this?
In Gestalt psychology there is a technique called the “Law of Symmetry”. IN in general terms it means that the human brain is always trying to find balance in visual stimuli. So if we use the rule of thirds and move a character off center, we need to balance it out with something. Failure to do this will result in a poorly balanced composition.
There is vertical and horizontal balance (I call them “airspace” and “eye direction”); to get a well-balanced image, we need to learn how to control both of them.
Vertical balance in relation to the horizontal center line 
Horizontal balance in relation to the vertical center line, viewing direction left and right Degas painting horizontally balanced
In this photograph of mine, the main characters are in the center, but the image is well balanced because there is both vertical and horizontal balance.
It took me several years to get rid of the influence of the rule of thirds on my compositions. In the past, I always positioned characters on one side or the other, without thinking about the shot as a whole.
Myth #5: “The rule of thirds is the basis for a balanced and interesting photo”
We have already talked about the “Law of Symmetry”, which ensures the correct balance of the image. Now we should mention that the rule of thirds creates unwanted negative space.
If we simply place a character at one of the intersections of the grid without thinking about the image as a whole or balancing it, negative space appears in the photo, which distracts the viewer's eye from the main character.
Negative space can be used intentionally to create a feeling of loneliness and disconnection from the world. But if it appeared in the photo by accident, it means that the photo was taken by an inexperienced beginner.
Myth #6: “The Rule of Thirds is a great starting point for beginners.”
My own experience suggests that the rule of thirds can only lead to a dead end. At first I thought of it as something revolutionary, bragging about using it to newbie photographers.
But later I found myself at a “plateau”, not understanding how to further build a composition - and all because I followed the rule of thirds.
"Plateau" before learning artistic techniques Learning the Rule of Thirds, Rule of Thirds Plateau, Learning Artistic Techniques, Master Level
Caption on the bottom photo: Dynamic symmetry grid (F 1.618) Photo caption: The dynamic symmetry grid is as easy to use as the rule of thirds grid
If artists and photographers, from the very beginning, apply dynamic symmetry rather than the rule of thirds, they will be able to use not only vertical and horizontal lines, but also diagonals, and create rhythm with them - no matter whether this is done by the correct pose of the models or the direction of the strokes brushes
The number of available diagonals in a rectangle limits the number of possible directions, allowing for a stronger composition rather than a chaotic scatter.
Limited number of destinations William Bouguereau's painting demonstrates how the artist created rhythm by arranging the model on a grid of dynamic symmetry
Myth No. 7: “The rule of thirds was created by Renaissance artists, or even the ancient Greeks”
The first documented mention of the rule of thirds is in a book by the English artist and engraver John Thomas Smith, dated 1797. And judging by his works, it is difficult to call him a great master.
Did Da Vinci use the rule of thirds? Da Vinci would turn over in his grave if he heard this. He devoted so much time and effort to improving his compositions, studied and practiced so much - for what? For someone to reduce all his efforts to simple rule third? No way.
Da Vinci, like other great masters, including the ancient Greeks, used dynamic symmetry, the golden ratio, and other artistic techniques such as arabesque, gamma, coincidences, divergent rays, interaction of figure and ground, ellipses, fences, and so on.
Myth #8: “The eye is automatically drawn to power points”
If only it were that simple. Place your character at the intersection of the lines indicated by the rule of thirds, and BAM! - you already control the viewer’s gaze. Not so. What about the fact that the eye is drawn to areas of high contrast?
When we make a character the "highest area of contrast", wouldn't we be looking at him first, regardless of his pose or positioning?
Another thing that catches the eye is the "shimmer edge" as I call it. This refers to high-contrast elements at the edges of the image that draw attention to themselves.
Creating a sequence of contrasts and removing any distractions from the edges will help control your viewers' eye movement within the image.
Myth #9: “Cropping an image using the rule of thirds is a great way to save a photo.”
Cropping a photo with poor composition and poor lighting will not make it better. Cropping a photo to improve it is like working backwards. You need to compose your shot before, not after, shooting.
Wasted pixels. Try not to crop the image, but initially shoot in such a way that you don’t need to crop anything
Study the principles of composition and Gestalt psychology so that you know in advance what you want to get in the end and understand how to achieve it correctly. Don't sacrifice pixels to the rule of thirds. Your creativity deserves better.
Myth #10: “Power dots and golden dots create drama.”
As we have already understood, the arrangement of characters in thirds alone does not add dramatic tension to the image.
Power points and “Golden” points. Photo by Tavis Leaf Glover. Framing according to the law of thirds does not create drama To get the desired drama, let’s turn to the “law of proximity” from Gestalt psychology.
Let's look at this fresco from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The characters are clearly united by their closeness and similarities. But also, the drama is heightened by the fact that their hands are almost, but not quite, touching. This is the moment before the touch.
Or this photo in which a man almost reached out to his dying wife. The drama here is created by close proximity.
The Law of Proximity allows you to use distance and negative space to create tension, as in this photo.
Conclusion
There are many composition methods and techniques that you can use to interact with your viewers.
Become a master! Forget the rule of thirds, use dynamic symmetry!
"Monsieur Boileau", Toulouse-Lautrec
Forget about the rule of thirds and embrace dynamic symmetry. Its grid is as easy to use as the rule of thirds grid, but the former gives you significantly more options for structuring your photo. Understand how to create a strong composition and you will become a master of your craft.”
Rule of thirds in photography
Even novice photographers have already heard about the rule of thirds. It is also called the golden ratio rule. But not everyone accurately understands its essence.
In our youth, we didn’t really care about following any rules when taking photographs. When shooting landscapes, we ensured that the horizon line was almost in the very center of the frame. We also tried to place the person in the center. Don't believe me? Take a look at your family photo album, you will immediately be convinced of the correctness of this statement. All sorts of rules for constructing a composition appeared not very long ago. They help achieve more expressive shots. But it is not always necessary to use all these rules. Some photographers specifically engage in experiments, which result in very good shots that only envious competitors can call them monstrous.
Rules of the golden ratio and 1/3 in photography
To follow the 1/3 rule in photography, you should use a 3x3 grid. Its display can be enabled in almost any digital camera. This grid divides the frame with black or white lines into three equal blocks vertically and horizontally. The rule of thirds in photography requires that the main subjects be at the intersection of lines. It is believed that the human eye primarily looks at these points, which is why the picture in this case seems more beautiful.
The rule of the golden ratio in photography is applied everywhere. It must be followed even when shooting landscapes. The horizon line is best placed along one of two horizontal lines. Otherwise, the frame will be split in half, which is unsightly. Any division of the photo in half confuses the viewer. He cannot decide which area of the frame is more important.
Enabling the grid display is only necessary in the first months of photography. After this or less time, you will learn to determine the golden ratio points by eye.
Simple rules of composition in photography
Many objects in our world are similar in shape to geometric shapes. Take a look around your room, office, or outside. You will find many squares, ellipses, triangles and circles. Each such form evokes certain emotions in the viewer. The rule of geometric composition came to photography from psychology, and it is also often used.
Long view of an object square or rectangular shape gives the viewer a feeling of stability. The triangular shapes help the viewer gain a sense of stability. But only if the triangle is installed on its base. In the case of an inverted triangle, mixed feelings arise and a feeling of anxiety appears.
The opposite feelings are caused by viewing round objects. In this case, the viewer has a feeling of complete peace and comfort. Is this why photographs of food placed in round plates have become so popular?
Basic rules for good photography
The list of golden rules of photography also includes a competent display of perspective. This applies to shooting landscapes at maximum depth of field.
The camera is different from the human gaze. Most of us look at the world with two eyes, which is why objects appear three-dimensional. We must not forget that the camera is equipped with only one lens, so the feeling of volume must be artificially evoked. To do this, try to shoot in places where the foreground, middle and background are clearly visible.
When shooting a portrait, three-dimensionality is achieved more easily. The photographer simply opens the aperture as wide as possible, after which the background becomes blurred.
Correct perspective is also conveyed with the help of light. But this requires suitable weather. For example, the middle ground of your photo might highlight the morning fog, while the background features mountains or large hills. Let there be bushes or small trees. Clouds that hide sunlight in certain areas of the flat area can also help in this matter. Also, do not forget to remember that light objects appear more distant in a photograph, and dark objects appear closer. The dark foreground further enhances the sense of depth.
Color composition
Another simple rule of photography, which was discovered by psychologists. Various colors cause certain sensations in the viewer when viewed for a long time.
Colors are divided into two groups. Warm colors are yellow, red and orange. When viewing photographs saturated with such colors, associations arise with the sun, summer and warmth. The group of cool colors includes pink, purple and blue shades. When viewing them, the viewer has associations with cold, water and winter.
The saturation of color also influences the viewer’s emotions. Photographs with soft tones evoke calmer feelings. Bright colors excite the viewer, excite him. That is why photographs in bright colors are most often used in advertising. The advertiser needs to remember his brand.
Be very careful when choosing the color component of your photo. It would be very stupid if bright spots of color are found near the main subject of photography. They will only distract the viewer.
Black and white photography
To convey emotions more deeply, many photographers use black and white photography. The rules of photography state that volume is conveyed much better in such photographs. But to convey a feeling of happiness and peace through black and white photography very difficult.
When creating photographs like this, remember that the viewer's eye will first pick out the light details. The person moves to the dark areas of the photo last resort. There is even a special optical illusion based on this theory. Take a photo in black and white of a sheet of paper with stripes of the same thickness applied to it. The white stripes in the photo will appear thicker than the black ones. From this it follows that in black and white photography the main objects should be light and stand out against a dark background. Otherwise, the person's eye will focus on something else.
Diagonal rule
Another rule of composition in photography concerns the viewer's gaze. You must make him move from the less important object to the most important one. This is sometimes very difficult to do. Diagonal lines help most in this regard - roads, sea waves, power lines and much more.
The lines do not have to be straight, only their direction is important. The ideal photo would be one in which the line runs from the bottom left corner of the frame to the top right. This will allow the viewer’s gaze to climb in the same direction. The presence of such lines immediately adds dynamics to the picture. If the line is descending, then the photograph will evoke peace and tranquility in the viewer.
Conclusion
These were the basic rules of photography. In fact, there are many more of them. But these are the ones you should keep in mind. Don’t forget to experiment, throwing away the rules of good photography for a while. This is especially true when shooting with mobile devices or unusual lenses.
Turns out, professional camera- is not yet a guarantee of high-quality photography. It turns out that Photoshop is sometimes not enough to correct errors when shooting. It becomes known that the work of a photographer is no less easy than any other, since it requires huge amount knowledge, skills, abilities. The rules of thirds in photography are just one aspect, but every self-respecting photographer must take them into account. What are they and how to use them correctly?
A little about...
The rules of thirds in photography come under It is a kind of photographic art.
As an important component, the rule of thirds in photography, examples of its use will be discussed below, is applicable to almost any chosen genre. It is well suited for both landscape and landscape painting. This makes it a versatile weapon for hitting high-quality targets straight to the top.
Is it worth following blindly?
Definitely not. Strict and strict adherence to the rules does not lead to good things in art, but the three-thirds rule in photography can always be the starting point for creating a masterpiece.
And in order to use it correctly, you need to properly understand what it is, what advantages it gives the creator, what is its appeal and how with its help it achieves that ideal balance that any photographer strives for.
Balance in everything!
Balance is something that is everywhere in nature. Everything natural strives for balance, therefore it should also be achieved in the artificial. Ultimately, everything that a person does is just a reflection of what already exists in nature. He draws his ideas from her, she is his best assistant and adviser.
The term “photo artist” was already used a little higher. Everything is clear from the photo, but why was this second half of this definition chosen? Well, a photographer, in a sense, is also an artist, holding a well-known instrument in his hand instead of a brush. To get good result, it is not enough for him to simply press the shutter button and capture the moment: before that, he must evaluate the composition of the future frame. It is a pity that not everyone understands this, but nevertheless it is so.
What is composition?
Roughly speaking, composition is a whole set of different techniques that help to correctly place objects. The correct location will allow the individual particles to assemble into a whole picture, which, in fact, will be pleasant to look at. The rule of thirds is the main component of the composition along with diagonals and so on.
Essentially, the rule of thirds is a simplified version of the golden ratio. IN original version More complex calculations were used, closely related to Fibonacci numbers. The golden ratio is one of the principles that any photographer must also know, but this article is about thirds.
What is the rule of thirds?
Mentally dividing the image into nine parts (3 x 3 - three vertically, a similar number horizontally), moreover, they must be equal - this is a description of the rule of thirds. It's important in photography. The division described is a grid of two horizontal and Objects should be placed at or along their intersections.
What's the idea?
When using this principle, usually the rule of thirds, the photo becomes more pleasing to the eye and more natural, because its important elements are not located directly in the middle of the frame. It also gives more space for imagination and fantasy.
The photograph does not change dramatically, but it adds significance to the subject. What is this based on? When a person looks at the picture as a whole in reality, focusing on one thing, he at the same time needs that the surrounding elements do not interfere, but are combined with the object. Of course, such a description is not suitable for a momentary glance, but a long gaze into the distance suggests exactly this. The photographer's task is to express what the viewer should pay attention to (what should have been focused on will be focused on the frame, because using the focus of your own eye on the final result will no longer work). In this case, placing the object directly in the center, which comes to mind first, is a very crude solution to the problem and, as mentioned above, very unnatural, like a lie sewn with white thread.
How can it be used?
You should mentally imagine a grid, highlight important elements future frame and place them near the lines. It is worth remembering that there may not be a perfect match, but an approximate one must be achieved. The grid is the supporting component for shooting. This is art, and therefore there cannot be any “exactly on point”. You can “play” with the lines and arrange the composition at your discretion. If time and technique allow, you can take several different shots to compare the results and see the difference. Without understanding the idea itself, nothing will come of it, and blind adherence will lead to the fact that all the photographs will be taken as if according to the same pattern. But that's the beauty of the rule of thirds in photography: it's so simple, so universal, and yet gives you so many ways to use it. Everything ingenious is simple. The same comparison with nature: it’s like a sunset, the beauty of which is so undeniable that people have been admiring it for thousands of years, but it’s different every day. But from metaphors let's return to reality.
It may be necessary to change the position from which the photograph will be taken. It's nothing. Taking a balanced and thoughtful approach to photography is a great habit. Yes, modern technology allows you to “click” up to a hundred frames in a minute, but at such moments it will be very useful to remember the photographers who worked with film, when each frame was incredibly valuable, and you had to calculate its parameters at random, never knowing what would turn out in the end, and it will turn out at all.
Help for the photographer
Manufacturers of some cameras stand up for their users by adding to the device the ability to turn on and substitute a grid. This is a visual representation, and a photographer can master the three-thirds rule in photography without imagining the lines in their minds.
By the way, interesting fact: The rule is common as the three-thirds principle. This is not entirely true. In fact, this is the two-thirds rule in photography. But it doesn’t matter what you call it, it’s important how you apply it. The tips below for each type of photo will help with this.
As mentioned just above, versatility is the rule of thirds. Portrait or landscape, or macro photography, or moving objects - it is applicable everywhere.
For a landscape, it is better to place the horizon along one of the grid lines, and not in the middle, so as not to create the feeling of splitting the photo frame into two equal halves. The foreground object sets the focal point and should also be placed according to the principle of the rule. If the object is large, it is better to move it to the side so that it does not break the picture in two.
When a person looks at a portrait, he always pays attention to the eyes of the man (or woman, child, etc.) depicted in the photo. That’s why the focus should be on them, and it’s best to place them on the top horizontal line of the grid.
For a moving object, it is good to leave space on the side that is the direction of movement.
When photographing a person in full height It would be a good idea to place it along one of the vertical grid lines.
Power points
Despite the fact that the principle of the rule itself is based on equal division, it is known that the lower right point has a stronger impact than the lower left. This means that if a photograph has multiple objects, the most important one should be placed near the first named intersection.
Cropping as a way to improve your photography
Common people are accustomed to removing unnecessary details from the overall picture. Masters remove them in Photoshop using their secret techniques, since cropping (the same cropping, in essence) gives an advantage in a different way. After all, thanks to it, you can force the frame to inherit the rules of thirds. “Photoshop” or another can improve the overall picture in this simple way by moving the subject to a more suitable place in accordance with the rule.
Rules are made to be broken
And the rule of thirds is no exception. Yes, it is the basis of the composition, but if you feel it, this very composition, intuitively, then by violating the principle described above, you can get something interesting, perhaps even brighter and more expressive than what would have happened with it. No one forbade experimenting! It's even useful.
But here's the thing: in order to break a rule to your advantage, you must first learn to follow it.
Most people who practice photography are well aware that composition is fundamental. Unless a beginner may have doubts about where to start when studying this type of art. And even despite the fact that everyone knows the principle that it is impossible to place an object directly in the center of the frame, it is still worth recalling what the Rule of Thirds is based on and how it is applied in portrait and street photography.
EOS M5, EF-M55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens, f/4.5, 55mm, 1/1600sec, ISO320
Rule of thirds: quick guide
According to this rule, the photograph is mentally divided into a grid with nine in equal parts, which are formed by two horizontal and vertical lines. These lines intersect four times, and it is around these points that you want to place objects in the frame. This way you draw the viewer's eye to the important object in the most natural way.
EOS M5, EF-M55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens, f/5.0, 100mm, 1/1600sec, ISO320
Portrait photography
Portrait photography provides a great opportunity to practice applying the Rule of Thirds because, unlike street photography, the photographer has plenty of time to position his or her subject, get the composition just right, and get it perfect.
EOS M5, EF-M55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens, f/4.5, 55mm, 1/640sec, ISO320
Placing the subject in the center of the photo is not attractive.
In the photo above, you can see that the subject's face is not at any of the four intersections, but is located in the middle - at the "dead center of the photo." Although, naturally, this is exactly how we would see the world around us and any objects if looked straight on, however, placing the subject centrally in the frame does not make the photograph attractive and can look rather awkward.
EOS M5, EF-M55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens, f/4.5, 55mm, 1/1250sec, ISO320
Placing your subject along thirds of the frame makes the photo more pleasing.
Street photography
Street photography is about depicting people and environment, captured in life, in their natural state, where the photographer must blend into the background, be invisible and not influence with his presence what is happening in the frame.
There is no posing in street photography, so, of course, there is no time to waste when the opportunity to take a photo arises. The photographer may only have a few seconds to take the photo before the subject moves on or moves away.
However, the principles of the Rule of Thirds are strictly applied. It's possible to take breathtaking photos if you use the intersection points as guides for placing objects.
EOS M5, EF-M55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens, f/6.3, 200mm, 1/1250sec, ISO320
In the photo, the object is placed along a vertical line.
Practice makes perfect
EOS M5, EF-M55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens, f/4.5, 55mm, 1/60sec, ISO320
Use the Rule of Thirds even in group photography.
This quick guide will help you get started, but important stage after all, it’s about going out and practicing as much as possible. The rule of thirds is a useful method, especially when starting out in photography, it needs to be mastered perfectly in order to further develop your own preferences and style.
