Composing Photos-The Rule Of Thirds

You don't need an expensive camera to shoot like a professional photographer. Learn why in my next several posts on photo composition.

There’s only rule in photography - there are no rules. But there are a number of composition guidelines which can be used to enhance the impact of a scene. Most guidelines are referred to as rules. I will do the same in my posts so you have a complete understanding of each of the major “rules” or guidelines.

Using the Rules of Thirds

These guidelines will help you take more compelling photographs. They give a natural balance, draw attention to the important parts of the scene, or lead the viewer's eye through the image.

These guidelines take your photographs from snapshot quality to professional looking images. I will discuss these guidelines over my next several posts.

Using the Rules of Thirds

Learn the guidelines (rules) and why they are important, and then learn when to break them. We'll discuss both the rules and how to look at those rules as guidelines. I'll share each rule in one post. Once you have the rules down pat, start experimenting with breaking them.

Let's start with the Rule of Thirds. The Rule of Thirds creates well balanced and interesting shots. Do you always have to use it? No. Rules are made to be broken and some of the best photographs break this one. But it’s best to know the whys of photographic composition before breaking them. That way, your photographs will be deliberate and effective.

The basic principle behind the Rule of Thirds is to imagine breaking an image down into thirds, vertically and horizontally, so that you have 9 parts in your image.

Rule of Thirds grid

Some cameras allow you to set the viewfinder or LCD display into a Rule of Thirds format meaning that when you look through your viewfinder you see the above grid. If yours doesn’t, use your mind, while looking through your viewfinder, to mentally break your image down into thirds.

A good technique for landscape shots is to position horizons along one of the horizontal lines as I’ve done with the following shot. My horizon line is where the water meets the land. For added interest I've arranged the mountain peak along the left vertical Rule of Thirds guideline.

Using the Rules of Thirds

Theory is that if you place points of interest in the intersections or on the grid lines that your photo is more balanced. This enables the viewer to relate with your photograph more naturally. Studies show that when viewing images people’s eyes usually go to one of the intersection points rather than the center of the image. Using the Rule of Thirds works with this natural way of seeing an image.

  

Another Rule of Thirds Example:

Using the Rules of Thirds

In the above image I purposely placed the eyes of my subject between intersecting points. Eyes are a natural point of focus for a portrait. This gentleman's dark sunglasses give him a bit of mystery.

In the shot below I’ve placed the cowboy along a whole vertical line which means he is off center in the photo. This creates an additional point of interest. Placing him in the center of the frame may have resulted in a less interesting shot. I deliberately placed him on the left vertical line, rather than the right line, to add impact to the photo. My cowboy is mentally preparing himself for a big rodeo event.

Using the Rules of Thirds

Using the Rule of Thirds comes naturally to some photographers. For some it takes time and practice to become second nature.

In learning how to use the Rule of Thirds, and then knowing when to break it, the most important questions to ask yourself are:

1. What are the main points of interest in my photo?
2. Where am I placing those points?
3. What am I trying to convey in my photo?

Remember that breaking the rule can result in striking images. After you learn it and it becomes second nature experiment with deliberately breaking it to see what you discover. In the photo below, I've centered the daisy. I liked the impact of the yellow in the center of my photo.

Breaking the Rule

Lastly, keep the Rule of Thirds in mind if you edit your photos in your post-production software. During post production you can use cropping to reframe images so that they fit within the rules if you feel cropping makes a more pleasing image.

Experiment with some of your old photos and see what impact editing might have on your photos.