Why do we center pictures?

Question: Why do we center pictures!?

Why is it that we focus a picture in the center, rather than the on a side!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

It is visually more appealing to keep the subject out of the center, but because we normally see people and things with our own eyes in the center of focus we tend to do that with photos as well!. We have a wider range to our visual space than most cameras can capture so we already include the environment as part of our naturally framing!. We have to be more conscious of the environment in our photos so that we can connect to subject of a photo better!. The rule of thirds helps us remember that the environment is as important as the main subject!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Actually, "we" don't!.

One of the elements of a good composition, whether in graphic design, fine art or photograph is called "optical center!." These can be one of four, (or so) locations, a bit above, below and to the left or right of the geometric center of the image!.

It is usually the mark of an amature snapshot in which the main subject is exactly centered in the image!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

There are a small percentage of photos which have the subject centred when compared to the photos which are off-set!. I'm going to use one of my photos, because it's easier than trying to find another that's centred - http://qoph-silraqh!.deviantart!.com/art/H!.!.!. It's centred because if it wasn't, you would probably miss the point of the photo!. However, all of these are off-set because it's obvious what the point of the photo is and it's obtrusive to have the subjects centred:
http://www!.celluloidandsilver!.com/black-!.!.!.
http://vickiramirez!.com/image/8a88a140-0!.!.!.
http://www!.anu!.edu!.au/music/study/img/co!.!.!.
It has to do with what's in the picture!. If you want your subject to be the only focus, the background should be clean and your subject centred!. If you want your subject to have equal importance to the environment, you generally move them out of the way a bit!.

P!.S!. I realise the pulleys aren't off-set as a whole, but they're off balance to each other yet retain balance to the photo at the same time!. Sort of a different technique than merely off-setting!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Actually the point of interest should be off to one side - rule of thirds- !. Www@QuestionHome@Com