Dopamine and why the rule of thirds works.

Notice the tree in the center?  It's hard to miss.  It's also annoying.

Compositional guidelines exist because they work.  They work because of how our nervous system responds to visual stimuli.  Pleasure is experienced with the release of dopamine in our brains, and when we see something we like, we are actually experiencing the release of this neurotransmitter.

This is one of the reasons why composition is important.  The way an image is presented actually affects the pleasure center of your brain.  Now, there is a lot more to it than that, as our minds are complex networks of neurons that take and process information from all parts of it.  Visual memory, associations, learned responses, and many more.  But the central theme stands; the way a photo is taken impacts our nervous system.

The rule of thirds is a good example.  In the photo above, the central tree is the first thing your eye goes to, and it tends to stay there.  Yes, you look around a bit, but your visual exploration of the image is not nearly as strong as it would be otherwise.  We are geared to examine our environment for signs.  Danger, food, mates, and so on.  With every new discovery, our system reacts.  Positive interactions cause dopamine release.  Negative interactions may reduce serotonin levels.

Look at the photo below.  Notice that the center of the image is open.  our eye more easily wanders around the shot.  The same tree/bush is there, but now off to the side.  It isn't nearly as annoying.  There are still other compositional aids such as framing, pointing, and reflections, but they have more power than in the previous photo.

Notice the same bush - it's off to the side.  The center of the photo is now open.

The reason our eyes move about has to do with the way that they are constructed.  Our best vision is our central vision, physically located where the macula and fovea are.  We scan an object/photo to look for details.  Each detail brings out more information and associations within our nervous system.  This is all processed with each new discovery adding to the experience.  Blocking the center of an image reduces this searching pattern and the joys of discovering what new things there are in your experience.

A good photo should keep your eyes and brain engaged longer than a poor photo.  Rule of thirds, its a no-brainer - well, you know what I mean.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com