Photography 101: The Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds may come across as a simple rule, yet it can make a very powerful image. While a lot of photography rules have changed as technology improved, this rule has managed to stand the test of time. Let’s look at this rule and how you can use it to your advantage.

Before I dive into a few of my photos and how I utilize the rule of thirds, a small description is necessary. The idea behind this concept is that you break your scene into threes. An example would be shooting a beach scene. You place the sand in the foreground at the bottom third of the image, the water in the middle third, and the sky in the top third. This rule also applies to the vertical orientation in which you split the scene into thirds in a left to right fashion. Now, let’s look at a few images that utilize this rule.

There are a few ways I framed this image with the rule of thirds in mind. First, I kept the bridge and the vanishing point of the railroad tracks in the lower third of the frame. I also framed the shot so each side of the bridge appears in the lower left and right quadrants of the shot.

Next was framing the trees. While the trees do sneak into the middle portion of the image, I kept the bulk of them on the left and right thirds of the shot. I also tried to keep the trees contained to the bottom two thirds of the frame to allow for some negative space on the top of the shot. This decision ultimately creates a “T” for the fog to fill in, and directs the eyes into the image.

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Let’s take a look at one more image. This time I will place the subject in the intersecting lines. This is a great trick if you have a bright subject like the sun, lights, or bright colors. The reason for this is that your eyes are drawn to the brightest portions of a scene. Another key to these intersecting points is that most people tend to look at these parts of an image by default.

When I framed this image I made sure that the candle was positioned on the line breaking the left two thirds of the image. I also put the fire right on an intersecting line. While this image would stand out due to the blackness of the scene, going that extra step helps pull the eyes into the scene.

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Adhering to the rule of thirds is purely optional. There is no clearly defined law that says you must or must not use this technique. If your scene dictates you break the rules, then by all means do it. However, if you are struggling to get a good composition, give this technique a try and see how much it can affect your final results.

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