Rule of Thirds

Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds is an essential photography technique. It can be applied to any

subject to improve the composition and balance of your images.
The rule of thirds is one of the most useful composition techniques in photography.
It's an important concept to learn as it can be used in all types of photography to
produce images which are more engaging and better balanced.
Of course, rules should never be applied blindly, particularly in art, so you should
think of it more as a handy "rule of thumb" rather than one that's set in stone.
However, it will produce a pleasing photo more often than not, and is an excellent
starting point for any composition.
What is the Rule of Thirds?

The rule of thirds involves mentally dividing up your image using 2 horizontal
lines and 2 vertical lines, as shown below. You then position the important
elements in your scene along those lines, or at the points where they meet.
A rule of thirds grid. Important elements (the shed, and the border between the
ground and the trees) are positioned along the lines and at the intersections.
Image by Martin Gommel.
The idea is that an off-centre composition is more pleasing to the eye and looks
more natural than one where the subject is placed right in the middle of the frame.
It also encourages you to make creative use of negative space, the empty areas
around your subject.
How to Use the Rule of Thirds

When framing a photo, imagine the scene divided up as above. Think about what
elements of the photo are most important, and try to position them at or near the
lines and intersections of the grid. They don't have to be perfectly lined up as long
as they're close.
The horizon and main subject in this photo have been positioned near lines or
intersections for maximum impact. Image by K Praslowicz.
You may need to move around to get the best composition. This forces you to
think more carefully about the shot, and is a good habit to get into whether you're
using the rule of thirds or not.
To help you out, some cameras have a setting which overlays a rule of thirds grid
onto your photo. This removes all guesswork and helps you get your positioning
even more accurate.
Examples
The rule of thirds is very versatile and can be used on any subject. Below are some
example of it being used effectively in different types of shots.
Image by Andreas Wonisch.
In landscape shots, it's common to position the horizon along the centre of the
frame, but this can give the photo a "split in two" feel. Instead, place it along one
of the horizontal lines.
Try to include another interesting object, such as the tree in the photo above, and
position it according to the rule of thirds. This provides an "anchor", a natural focal
point for the scene.
Image by Megan Leetz.
It's a good idea to position people off to one side of the frame. This provides some
"breathing space", shows the subject's environment, and stops the photo from
looking like a mugshot.
We are naturally drawn to people's eyes. Place them at one of the intersections on
the rule of thirds grid to give the shot a clear focal point.
Image by Prem Anandh.
Here the main subject has been placed at one of the intersections, and also along
one a vertical line. The twig roughly follows the top horizontal line. The empty
space at the bottom left provides balance and prevents the picture from feeling
overcrowded.
Image by Dennis Jarvis.
Vertical subjects such as this lighthouse can split a photo in two, in much the same
way as a horizon can do horizontally. To avoid this, position them off-centre in
your composition.
Image by muskva.
When photographing moving subjects, position them as normal, but also pay
attention to the direction they're moving. As a general rule you should leave more
space in front of them than behind, to show where they're going.
Using Editing Software

You can easily apply the rule of thirds to existing photos by cropping them. This
allows you to reposition the important subjects in your image, moving them into
more pleasing positions.
Re-cropping to use the rule of thirds can improve composition. Image by Jenn
Forman Orth.
To help you, software like Photoshop and Lightroom have built-in "crop guide
overlays" which include a rule of thirds option. This places a rule of thirds grid on
top of your image as you crop it, allowing you to get your positioning spot on.
Breaking the Rule

As with all rules (at least in photography), the rule of thirds doesn't apply in every
situation, and sometimes breaking it can result in a much more eye-catching,
interesting photo. Experiment and test out different compositions even if they go
against any "rules" you've learned.
However, learn to use the rule of thirds effectively before you try to break it - that
way you can be sure you're doing so in order to get a better composition, rather
than just for the sake of it.

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Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is an essential photography technique. It can be applied to any

What is the Rule of Thirds?

How to Use the Rule of Thirds

Image by Andreas Wonisch.

Using Editing Software

Breaking the Rule

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