Rule of Thirds explained
It is an age-old adage, but the Rule of Thirds is present in a surprising amount of photographs.
The rule states that an image can be divided into nine equal parts by two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines. The four points formed by the intersections of these lines can be used to align features in the photograph. Proponents of this technique claim that aligning a photograph with these points creates more tension, energy and interest in the photo than simply centering the feature would.
There are quite a few sites out there that talk about the rule of thirds, and there is a lot of discussion going on as to wether it’s a load of poo-poo, or if there is some sense to it. We’d be the last people to say that you should be using the rule of thirds, but one thing it certainly does is that you become more aware of your framing and what’s actually going on in your frame.
Read more about the rule of thirds on Silverlight, Wikipedia and Everything2.
To see some examples of the Rule of Thirds in action, check out the example galleries on Pixalo, PhotoInf, Digital Photography 101 and Better Photo!
Now go out there and give it a try!
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Insights, suggestions and comments
I typically use this technique with pretty good results and when I can’t achieve it in camera (due to environment or subject limitations) I usually tend to crop with this in mind.
Ever since I started applying this rule to almost everything I shoot, the quality of my photographs has increased enormously. Especially when shooting stock photos, because it gives an editor the option of copy space.
But really, anyone who’s serious about photography should know this, and know how to apply it. Once understood, you can break the rules again and take the next step. But in order to break them, you’ll have to know the rules first, so you’ll know when it’s OK to take that next step.
In other words: great post!
I learned of the Rule of Thirds when I started in ‘91. Ever hear of the Rule of Fifths? probably getting a little more fine tuned.
Headshots follow the rule of thirds; where are the eyes? 1/3 down from the top, generally speaking.
This is also why when shooting an horizon, you should try to put the horizon approximately 1/3 from top or bottom, never dead center.
Nonetheless, it’s not necessarily a rule, because any good photographer has either broken or bent all the “rules” :)
I have shots where the subject is dead center, and it works. Look at the gallery on my website for the single child’s shoe on the ground. It’s virtually dead center.
Cory Johnson
Max Photography
http://www.coryjohnson.net
I teach photo to JH students and I explain the rule of thirds as a means to tell more of a story with each image. To center the subject places an enormous amount of attention on it, so there better be some added intrigue somewhere in the photo (extremely detailed texture, repetition, color). Most of the time we want to see a relationship with the subject. By cropping the subject to the side or high or low, the image “opens up” to give the viewer a setting, situation, context, or sometimes a plot. I keep telling them, “try to find the story,” even if it’s just a lonely leaf on a wide open lawn, there’s more story than just a leaf.
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