EX20 Odd numbers verse even numbers

weekly exercises

19 May

Is it possible to get away with two objects in a photograph that clearly breaks the rule off odds?

The rule of odds states that photographs with an odd number of objects is more aesthetically pleasing than a group with an even number.

A photograph of one object is clearly about that one object and often works very well. As we have seen in the dominant mass exercise.

A photograph of two objects can work, but sometimes fails. It usually works well when one of the objects dominates the other visually, like in the example above.

A photograph of three objects works well, because the three usually form a triangle, which is a very visually appealing shape, because your eye always has two choices of where to go next.

A photograph of four objects can sometimes look like a dice.

A photograph of five objects often looks interesting because the five objects all reinforce each other and make each stronger.

I am very interested to see what you can do this week with playing with numbers of similar objects in the same frame.

Try creating a series of photographs where you add and subtract similar objects into the frame, so you can experiment with the number of objects in the frame. Does the rule of odds stack up? Can we break it. Include your photographs you love and the ones where you fail and see if others agree with you.

Lastly, if you are wanting to push yourself a bit further. See if you can get five photographs, one with one, one with two, one with three, one with four and one with five objects. Each photograph needs to be resolved. Each photograph can be of a different object if you like.

The discussion this week revolves clearly around how this rule works, doesn’t work, or can be broken.

Your thoughts please…