Composition | THE RULE OF THIRDS
The Rule of Thirds is to photography what The Golden Ratio is to life.
How you compose and structure your subject and details within your frame will make or break your photograph
______________________________________________
Attending photography school or classes, you would find that one of the first things you are taught is The Rule of Thirds.
The manner in which you place your scene will determine whether or not the views eye is drawn into and around your photograph or if it will get bored and wander right out of the frame to find something more interesting to look at.
I guess I had better say right away that while this is a Golden Rule in photography - sometimes rules are there to be broken - BUT at least learn the rule and perfect it first, so that you know what it is you are breaking. Once you have learnt it you might even decide that this is one rule you’ll keep!
What is the Rule of Thirds?
The basic idea behind the rule of thirds is to break your frame up into three equal sections horizontally and vertically. It is a well researched idea that your eyes are automatically drawn to the outer squares as apposed to the center square. Having your subject matter placed within these outer squares (the main subject matter) entices and leads the viewers eye around the image instead of freezing the view in the center of the frame.
Some cameras are kind enough to offer an option of having a grid like this displayed on your viewfinder while you are shooting. If your camera doesn’t do this it is a very simple layout to keep in mind while you are composing your shot.
Try and place your subjects or points of interest in your photo along these interection points (the red lines in the grid) or within the outer squares in the grid. If you are shooting a landscape - don’t place your horizon in the middle of your photo - place it in either the top of bottom third of your photo. If you are taking a photo of a tree in a landscape > place the tree in either the left or right segments of your grid or along the red grid lines, not in the center of your frame.
Here are some examples of the Rule of Thirds in action:
In the photo of the cages baboon the main subject is situated at the point where two of the “thirds lines” cross each other. The lock would be another point of interest so it is placed at another point where two lines cross. The focal point of this photo is the bottom left corner and your eye is lead upwards towards the lock from that point. The photograph ends up telling a story. You see the sad animal first, behind bars, you feel a certain emotion relating to that - then your eyes are drawn towards the lock on his cage and his fate is sealed.
In the landscape photo of the colourful beach houses the horizon is placed right along the botton dividing line. The houses, which are the main subject matter, are placed at the point where two lines cross eachother and this composition guides your eyes along the horizon of colourful houses and into the distance & the sky of clouds.
Here our subject and focus of interest in right along the right section of our grid letting the viewers eye start and focus there and then wander outwards to see what else is in the frame, ending with your focus in the bottom left corner of the grid.
Being aware of where and how you are placing your subjects will force you as the photographer to decide how your are leading your viewer into your picture. Ask yourself next time you take a photograph:
What is my main point of interest?
Where is my main point of interest in the frame?
Where will my viewer be lead once they have seen my main point of interest?
[...] If you do not know what the Rule of Thirds is…I suggest you hop onto the blog and do a bit of reading. Any photography school you go to [...]
Thank you for reminding me. It is something that often filters to the edge of my mind, especially when taking a picture of a critter that might move off at any moment.
This was very use full Thank you