Rule of threes…
Today marks the end of the first third of my 10 Weeks of Winter project and the beginning of the remaining two-thirds. I discussed the challenge inherent in thirds last week in the post Thirds of Change, but there is another aspect of thirds to consider when benchmarking, building, composing, or creating – the thirds of composition. Most commonly referenced in the domain of photography, the rule of thirds is used to set up or edit photographs to make the subject more compelling. The rule of thirds in photography uses a three-by-three grid (9 squares) which place lines over each vertical and horizontal third of the image as well as creating four points of intersection that can be used to line up a photograph for better final results.
Compare the original photos I took of Christmas lights in my neighborhood below to the edited versions using the rule of thirds below. The rule of thirds applies a frame that focuses one-third or two-thirds of the photograph on the subject. Take a look and see if you notice an improvement.
Neighborhood Christmas Lights Original Photos:
Neighborhood Christmas Lights Photos with Rule of Thirds:
The golden ratio…
The rule of thirds is not exclusive to photography. It is also used in painting, drawing, and music. The “golden ratio” is a related principle employed throughout the history of the art world, and it can be seen in paintings, sculpture, and architecture. Here we begin to enter the territory of mathematics, which I will not bother you with in this post. Suffice it to say that the golden ratio is a pattern commonly observed in nature that can be mathematically defined as a relative proportion (a relative size) of one part to the next part. Snail shells are probably the most famous example of this. The perfect spiraling from one segment of the shell to the next is beautiful and captivating and can be expressed mathematically. The unfurling of fern fronds and the blooming spiral of rose petals are other examples of this phenomenon.
The rule of thirds (or rule of threes) is a simplified version of the golden ratio, and it can be applied to all forms of composition, even writing. The three-act structure, keeping characters in sets of three (or divisible by three), repetition in threes (“Alright, alright, alright”), etc. are writing techniques that use the rule of threes. Threes can be applied structurally from the sequence and sectioning of a piece of writing right down to the sentence structure.
We could bring in more mathematics here, if you’re not already sold on threes and thirds. Triangles are the basis of architecture. Known as the strongest shape, triangles evenly distribute force making them nearly unbreakable and extremely stable. Triangles, of course, are made of threes. In art and in life, looking for the relationship of thirds, threes, and triangles to interest, beauty, and function will unlock new levels of insight and ability.
Life meets art…
So what does all of this have to do with winter or my 10 Weeks of Winter project? Well, if we simplify the golden ratio into the rule of thirds, one of the most substantial parts of this project is over, and I suspect the first third was the most important part of the project that will bring the real purpose forward over the remaining seven weeks. (Though, perhaps that first portion has not quite concluded, when applying the golden ratio timelines allow for four more days of the initial section of the project.) Thinking in threes, and thinking like an engineer, fosters understanding into creating strength and support. The first three weeks laid the groundwork for the project, and hopefully it’s strong like a triangle. At this point I have consistently accumulated vitamin D into my system. I have become familiar and comfortable with breathing practices. I’m noticing effects of the using red light therapy. And going outdoors daily seems to really be boosting my mood later into the dark evenings. With the first act over, something has been established, and something new waits to be experienced in act two.
And as for the golden ratio and rule of thirds in winter, well, they’re everywhere. From the crystalline structure of snowflakes to Christmas movies, from mixing celebratory cocktails to the Holy Trinity. Keep a look out for the golden ratio all around in the winter with spiraling, unwinding sequences of beauty and strength in thirds and threes.
Source and resource links…
Rule of Thirds in Art: https://www.virtualartacademy.com/the-rule-of-thirds-in-art/
Examples of the Golden Ratio: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/maths/14-interesting-examples-of-the-golden-ratio-in-nature/
Golden Ratio Calculator: https://www.omnicalculator.com/math/golden-ratio
Rule of Three in Writing: https://smartblogger.com/rule-of-three/
The Strongest Shape in Architecture: https://goldenstatede.com/what-is-the-strongest-shape-in-structural-engineering/
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