Rule of Thirds

The so-called 'rule of thirds' is one of the most fundamental principles of photographic composition.

Imagine a grid of lines across your viewfinder or image, a grid made out of the lines that would divide the image into thirds both horizontally and vertically. Like this:

In brief, the 'rule of thirds' makes use of this grid to establish several related principles.

The first is the simple observation that strong vertical or horizontal lines in a photograph tend to look better composed when they run not through the middle of a photograph but somewhere near one of the lines that would divide the picture into 'thirds.'

For instance, Consider which of the two pictures below looks better composed


Almost universally, people will choose the photo with the waterline closer to the bottom 'third' horizon line.

Another principle of the 'rule of thirds' is that the subject of the photo or points of considerable visual interest are best placed off center both horizontally and vertically, closer to one of the intersections of the lines that form a vertical and horizontal grid out of the 'thirds' lines.

Consider the two images below:


In addition to being more visually interesting, placing the sledding girl near the top right intersection point makes use of the sense of movement and direction established by her sledding much better than the centered shot.

And look what happens when we move the sledder down to the bottom left intersection point.

The shot is also more visually itneresting than the centered image, but to completely different effect!

A final principle of the 'rule of thirds' is that it is no rule.

Purposeful violations of the rule can be put to great use, such as when the artist places the horizon line in an image much lower than the conventional bottom third.

You can achieve similar results by pushing the subject or point of visual interests further up or away from one of the points of intersection

In both cases, the images give a greater sense of vastness and openness in comparison with the now dwarfed subject of the image.

And in some cases, a subject just looks great dead center.

Understanding how to use these prinicples of composition is a critical skill for all photographers. Proper composition can yield a conventionally beuatiful shot, produce a comic effect, or even be used to startle or frighten a viewer.

Eventually, these principles will become second nature, but in the meantime it is very valuable for someone learning the art to think very consciously about these principles every time he or she takes a shot.

For more information or another take on the 'rule of thirds,' please see these other two on-line tutorials.

Also check out the corresponding assignment and begin shooting!

Article on the "Rule of Thirds" at photoinf.com

Article on the "Rule of Thirds" at digital-photography-school.com