Week 34 – Rule of Odds
Just the Facts: You have 7 days to create a photograph with your camera that prominently features an odd number of main subjects.
This week’s challenge is all about math! Thank Cardano (16th century) for teaching us about odds leading to a more balanced and harmonious outcome, and the same can be said for employing odds in our photography.
The Rule of Odds says that a composition should have an odd number of objects (people, animals, things), instead of an even number, and it suggests that images are more visually appealing when composed with an odd number of subjects. Maybe they mean that it feels right in our brain.
- Think in Threes: Start with three subjects as a simple and effective way to practice this rule.
- Arrange with Purpose: Place your subjects in a way that guides the viewer’s eye through the image.
- Balance and Harmony: Use the odd number to create a sense of balance while maintaining visual interest.
Whether you choose three flowers, five people, or seven stones, make sure your composition leverages the power of odd numbers to draw the viewer’s eye and create interest. You as the director have a lot of power to control where the viewer is looking.
If you decide to go for the Extra Challenge, look for interactions with an odd number of people chatting in the coffee shop, children or dogs playing in the park, or maybe you’ll see an odd number of musicians playing music. Street scenes are full of life and stories and oddities!
Get creative, have fun, and embrace the odd!
