Image Composition – The Rule of Thirds

Time to slice and dice!

Almost invariably, the first thing that comes to mind when we start to talk about composition in photography, or just about any other visual artform for that matter, is the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds, although more of a general guide than a rule is a compositional staple of photography, much like bread and water is a staple of basic dietry requirments.

The term “rule of thirds” was originally published back in the latter half of the 1700′s with references made as to how light, shade, colour and proportion were balanced within paintings. These days however, with photography, we tend to use it for proportion only. Don’t get me wrong, we’re still absolutely concerned with light, shade and colour, but for most of us, when we talk about the rule, it’s more to do with proportion and layout than anything else.

What is it?

So what is the rule of thirds? Quite simply, it’s a method of balancing the layout of scenery and objects within your frame and for determining strongest areas for object placement. The rule is not doctrine and can be completely ignored in cetrain circumstances, but when used as a guide it often provides us with favourable results.

How does it work?

So let’s go over the mechanics of it. We start by dividing our frame into 9 eaqual segments. This is achieved by drawing two disecting lines horizontally, and 2 more vertically.

The Rule of Thirds

As you can see, with our lines in place, the vertical and horizontal panes of the frame have each been broken into thirds. Using these lines for placement of large objects or elements, such as a horizon for example, will generally give us a sense of balance and stability within a scene. Take a look at the comparisons below as an example. The initial shot doesn’t look balanced at all, but by using cropping to recompose the image, and using the rule of thirds as a guide, the resultant photo is balanced and seems more pleaseing to the eye.

Frangipanis un-cropped

Frangipannis cropped

When we’re arranging or placing objects within the frame, it’s commonly accepted that the strongest areas for placement are where our dividing lines cross over and intersect. Placing our subject on a dividing line and centering on an intersection provides us with the strongest possible placement within the frame. Again, take a look at the example above and take note of where the lines cross each other. By placing the subject (the objects of focus) on the cross-points we’re providing them with optimal positioning for stregnth within the frame.

Go and try it our for yourself!

So that’s the rule of thirds in a nutshell. Next time you’re taking a photo, try to imagine your frame is divided appropriately and see how it can help you balance the scene. Take a few shots with and without and compare your results!