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Single Vertex: one object on a third crossing

One object, sat on a third crossing rather than the middle of the table.

What it is

Single Vertex is the rule of thirds applied to one object on a surface. Instead of parking a cup or a plant in the middle of the table, you set it on one of the four third crossings, which leaves open surface on the other side for the eye to rest on. The shot is taken from above at about 45 degrees, so the object keeps its shape and the table gives it a setting. It suits still life, products and small things that deserve a calm, uncluttered frame.

When to use it

A single coffee cup or glass on a table
One product on a desk or a shelf top
A small plant, a candle or a piece of fruit

How to shoot it

Clear the surface so one object stands alone, then look down at it at roughly 45 degrees.
Camera Grid draws the thirds grid and a target circle on a crossing, placed once from the scene and then held still.
A filled marker tracks the object. Pan until it settles in the circle, and zoom in or out when the coach asks, somewhere around 1.5× to 3×.
If your angle drifts, the coach says “Look further down” or “Come up” with the degrees. The ring turns green with a tap when everything agrees.

Common mistakes

Leaving other objects in the frame that compete with the one you placed.
Shooting from eye level, which flattens the object against the background.
Zooming in so far that no surface is left on the open side.

Questions

Should a still life object be centred?

It can be, when the object is symmetrical and the background is plain. An object on a third crossing usually feels more natural, because the open space beside it gives the picture room to breathe. Camera Grid offers Single Vertex when it sees one object on a table from above.

What does 'vertex' mean in Single Vertex?

A vertex here is a crossing point of the thirds grid, where a vertical and a horizontal line meet. There are four of them. Camera Grid picks the one that needs the smallest move from where your object already is, then keeps that target fixed while you shoot.