Good photography isn’t only about your camera equipment. You also need a great eye, technical skill, and practice. The photographic composition can make or break your image. With the right knowledge and practice, you can make a shot of a common subject look unique.
What Is the Rule of Thirds in Photography Composition?
The composition is how you arrange the subject and objects within your frame.
The rule of thirds effectively divides your frame into nine equal rectangles. You can do this by creating two vertical and two horizontal lines. The four lines will intersect at four points. These are where your point of interest(s) should be.
You can do this mentally or you can also change the settings on your camera. Most digital cameras have an option to add the rule of thirds grid onto the screen.
How to Use Points of Interest
The relationship between negative space and the subject creates a natural focal point. By default, the viewer looks at the intersection points. Placing points of interest at one of these points balances your image. This also creates more tension, energy, and interest in the photograph.
In a portrait, the subject or other main points, like the subject’s eyes, are important. Place these elements on one of the intersections.
For instance, the subject in the photo below is on one of the intersections.
The same goes for landscape photography, like in the image below. Using the rule of thirds, the photographer placed key elements on the intersections.
The rule of thirds grid shows this better. The boat and the mountain lie close to the two intersecting points.
Important Compositional Elements
Some images, like landscapes, seascapes, and cityscapes, don’t have one point of interest. Aim to divide the image into one-third and two-thirds. For example, when capturing a landscape, use the rule of thirds to place the horizon on a horizontal line.
For instance, take this photo of a road scene. This image isn’t very dynamic, as the horizon falls in the middle of the shot.
This photo below is more interesting. The landscape takes up one-third of the image, whereas the sky takes the remaining two-thirds.
This is an effective way to show two elements and which one is more important than the other. This image would not be as dynamic if the sky only took up one-third of the image.
Can You Break the Rule of Thirds?
Of course, you can break the rule of thirds. But before breaking the rule, it is important to learn it. In general, only break the rule for a specific reason.
The photo below, for example, won Coco Amerdeil 2nd place in the 2017 LensCulture Portrait Award. The subject doesn’t fall on any of the intersections. Nor are any of the key elements (eyes, lips, etc.) on the grid lines. The story behind the image was strong enough to justify breaking the rule.
The concept behind a picture will always outweigh the photography composition. However, the composition can make your frame more interesting if the content is lacking.
Rule of Thirds in Post-Processing
You can also use the rule of thirds during post-processing.
On software like Lightroom or Photoshop, crop your images to remove distracting elements. A tighter crop makes the viewer focus on your composition.
The rule of thirds grid can help you achieve a better crop so that subjects fall on the intersections.
In Lightroom, press R on your keyboard to toggle the rule of thirds grid on your image. Clicking on the Crop tool will also activate this overlay.
In Photoshop, there is no such command. You can make your own by using guides, found in View > New Guide.
Conclusion
Utilizing the rule of thirds is an essential composition technique that can add balance and harmony to your image. We recommend you practice this by using the grid of your camera’s Live View.
Eventually, you’ll end up guiding your viewer’s eyes better and making your images even more engaging!
