We as humans like to see the world a certain way and enjoy when small occurrences we pass by follow the aesthetic preferences our brains crave. As such, I wanted to focus my new pictures for Phase 2 on our desire to see framing and objects pulled to a specific center. Though this principle by nature defies the golden rule of thirds in art design, I found an alluring aspect to seeing images centralized by the objects and backgrounds surrounding them. Though there is a clear center, I feel the rule of thirds still applies, though more subtly, in the framing of each picture. The surrounding objects almost create an invisible border, gearing our eyes towards the treasured bullseye of the piece, whether a beautiful flower in the middle of shooting plants and a blue sky, or a flashy sign in the middle of another bigger sign looming above. The images reflect what I believe is a fascination with frames, as the Rule of Containment in Gestalt theory explains. There’s something just as satisfying as an artwork slightly off center, and it’s real life as we perceive in harmonious containment by other, influential objects.

And though our eyes focus on a center, it doesn’t always have to be dead on the actual middle of the picture. The centralized point of focus can be at the one third or two thirds “mark” of the photo, which serves as a “best of both worlds” scenario in the thirds rule and the rule of containment. Framing the photo slightly off center satisfies the desire to see objects in a balanced state with the fluidity of the thirds rule to artistic composition. Whether the photo simulates a high perspective than the center mark or surrounding objects are not a perfect square, but flow off in abnormal formations, the mind enjoys harmony, but it also enjoys deviation.