Punch up your photo composition with the rule of thirds

One of the most basic rules of photographic composition is the rule of thirds. Take a look at some of your favorite photographs — chances are, the subject of the photo is slightly off-center, and the composition probably follows the rule of thirds. Following these guidelines gives your photograph more visual tension and interest and keeps it from looking stodgy.

What is the rule of thirds and how do you apply it? As you're looking through your camera's viewfinder or at the LCD screen, imagine that the scene is divided equally into thirds by both horizontal and vertical lines. You should frame your shot so that the important element or elements of your photo are located either at the intersections of those lines or along the lines themselves.

In the set of photographs below, there are two main elements (the fireworks and the man with the hose) and one secondary element (the big tree in the upper right). As you can see, all three of those elements sit right at the intersections of the lines.


If your scene has a distinct horizon line or any strong vertical lines, you should place them along one of these lines as well. A photograph in which the horizon is placed in the exact middle of the scene tends to look very static and boring. It is also a good idea to provide the eye visual paths to follow in the scene, to lead the viewer from one part of the image to another. In the example below, the horizon line is at the upper horizontal third, and the place where the river meets the bay is at the point where the upper and left thirds meet. The curve of the river serves to lead the viewer's eye around to the lower third of the image.


One thing you should also be aware of is to always give your subject somewhere to go. If you're capturing a subject in motion, this means you should position the shot so that there is more space in front of the subject than behind. If the subject is standing still but looking in a certain direction, give her somewhere to look. In the example to the right, the subject's head is positioned in the upper right third, looking down and to the left, so that we, the viewers, have the entire lower two-thirds of the frame in which to follow her gaze.


Of course, we all know that the first rule of anything is that rules were made to be broken. Sometimes, to accomplish your composition goals, it makes sense to break the rule of thirds. But you have to learn the rules in order to break them!

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