What is the Rule of Thirds in Photography and How to Enhance Your Skills in This?

Do you have a flair for photography? Want to pursue this passion or hobby professionally? Do you have the know-how of what angles to take captures from, what rules to follow, what precise methods will make your photos stand out?

Well, being interested in photography is one thing, however, being able to craft outright captures is what makes one a professional in this field. And this is where you need to be aware of the technicalities involved. One of the most important rules that every photographer should be aware of and practice is – the Rule of Thirds.

What is The Rule of Thirds?

The rule of thirds is one of the most common, easy to learn, and apply, and therefore every newcomer in the photography field should be able to get a grasp of this. This rule refers to a composition in which the capture is divided into thirds, applied both vertically and horizontally (two vertical and two horizontal lines, thus yielding nine parts having 4 intersection points). Like any other image, there is a specific subject in this type of photography, which needs to be put at the intersection of lines dividing the sections.

Image Composition in Rule of Thirds

The image is broken into thirds vertically as well as horizontally and all the important elements i.e. subjects are placed on the intersection points or four lines that help to create a balanced and strong image. It isn’t that this composition is the only one applied for all Rule of Thirds, and thereby whereas some images will use more than one point or line, some use only a single point or line pertaining to the composition.

This is a cinematographic and photographic technique that is essentially used to frame the shots. This rule is all about keeping the important elements at the intersection points which works to produce a naturally enhanced capture.

Why is the Rule of Thirds Useful or Important in Photography?

Rule of thirds helps to create an off-center composition and makes the resulting image more pleasing to the eye. In essential, Rule of Thirds helps to:

• Create conversation or interaction between the background and the subject in an effective way.
• Achieve a composition technique or method that helps to produce a result that is natural and pleasing to the eye.
• This technique helps to make use of the negative space in a particular image in a creative way.

With the Rule of Thirds, the result deviates from an image having the subject as fully centered, and thus an off-center subject means there is better interaction between the viewers and the space between. There is enhanced and effective communication between background and subject.

As per the layout sweet spots in the Rule of Thirds, the eyes do not glance at the center but it draws the viewers’ attention to the composition with a spread ratio of focus as you can see in the above image.

Now, after understanding how your eye scans an image as per the Rule of Thirds, it helps to:

• Embrace the blank space in a better way
• Highlight the interesting background element in an effective way
• Convey a feeling of motion in an interactive way with off-centered subjects, much better than the centered images

Rule of Thirds brings together a timeless theory that works to explain why it has been so successful in creating works of art. An image that is centered is static in feel and when you glance over it you keep stuck to the center without moving anywhere else. However when an image has the subject off-centered your eyes follow it to the edges resulting in lingering over the image for a longer duration, interacting with the entire creating an illusion where it seems you are communicating with the whole image.

There is no doubt that professional photographers take to the Rule of Thirds meritoriously when they are tasked with photo enhancement services as it adds to establish a conversation between the viewer, subject, and the background elements (with an interesting touch).

What works great with the Rule of Thirds is that this technique can be applied to any photography genre.

When to Use the Rule of Thirds?

As you know what the Rule of Thirds is, and what significance it can add to your photographs, now the question comes is when you should use the Rule of Thirds. Well, this depends effectively on what you are photographing. The basic thing that you should keep in mind is that you have to understand that off-center compositions do work well, and in almost all types of photography genres. Therefore, it is all about how and when you want to implement this in your photography application.

As a beginner or as a non-professional photographer, it is obvious that one will keep the subject in the dead center. While it can also be a strong composition, using this for every photograph can be boring or monotonous. Adding interest in a different way to different photographs is one aspect that every photographer should look to proceed with. This is where applying the Rule of Thirds will bring variety to your captures.

Now to start using the Rule of Thirds

• Imagine a grid of 3x3, or make use of such a grid if it is built into your camera. After processing this, place the subject(s) along the lines or points of intersection.
• When you are finding it hard to add depth or create meaning with your images having a centered subject, the Rule of Thirds is a great way to make your captures highly dynamic.
• For small subjects make use of grid intersection, and if the subject is large then make use of a line to place the subjects along that.
• When applying the Rule of Thirds in landscape photography you should remember to place the horizon on any of the horizontal grid lines. This way, you can capture and highlight the landscape element i.e. land or sky in a better way.

When using the Rule of Thirds, always remember that the subject isn’t in the center but as the focal point is off to one side.

When You Should Stay Away from Using the Rule of Thirds – When and How to Break the Rule of Thirds?

While we have said that you can use the Rule of Thirds with any photography genre, there are times when you should avoid using this rule. There could be scenes or captures when if you use the Rule of Thirds then it can lead to leaving out certain important elements from the focus and compromising the composition. This is where it is always recommended that you do not tinker with what you want to capture and tell with your photo and that basics have to be followed. So not use Rule of Thirds just for the sake of it if it leads to cookie-cutter composition.

Additionally, you must not take it this way that when your subject is off-center it has to follow the Rule of Thirds to the core and it has to be exactly placed on the intersection points or lines. No, when you want to take your subject off-center, just framing it slightly off can work wonderfully without having to adhere to the Rule of Thirds. All you want is to develop a strong image overall, with finely combined methods including color, leading lines, symmetry, contrast, etc.

Note – Go through mane your previous captures and you will find that even without knowing about Rule of Thirds you might have applied this in some of your images. And also note how interesting and interactive those images would have turned out to be.

How to Work with Rule of Thirds – Key Tips to Follow

Of course, knowing about a ‘Rule’ or ‘Guideline’ is one thing, and applying that in your work is another. Thereby, we help you take to the Rule of Thirds in your photography with some basic yet essential tips:

1. Subjects Should Always be Off-Centred

For Rule of Thirds, ask – what is the main subject of your capture, and then this subject has to be placed somewhere but the center. Now you have to decide which line or point is where the subject should be positioned. Picking a junction point where the vertical and horizontal grid lines meet is the right place for the subject to be placed at so as to create more impact. For example, in the below photo the main subject is the sun and is placed at the junction point where the left and top grid lines would be meeting.

2. Horizon Positioning

Make sure to position the horizon when shooting landscapes. If the horizon is centrally placed, it won’t make for a good landscape composition that isn’t pleasing to the eye. Therefore placing the horizon near to or on the thirds lines will work well to create a naturally balanced composition.

3. Focus on the Eyes in Portraits

When you are shooting portraits of humans or animals, then the viewers’ will be drawn to the subject eyes, and therefore positioning the eyes off-center will help to develop the impactful composition. For two eyes, position them on the gridlines, however, if you are able to capture only one eye then it should be placed on the junction point of gridlines.

4. When Subject is Moving or Looking in a Certain Direction

When the subject is looking in a certain direction then it works well to leave the empty space where the subject is looking (for example – in a portrait capture place the subject on the right grid line when the subject is looking left).

Similar to the above point, when the subject is moving then you should leave the empty space in the area direction where the subject is moving in.

Now, when it is not clear whether the subject is moving or looking in what direction, then you should place the subject on the right as it helps to draw the attention of the viewer through the entire image.

5. Break Symmetry

When there is water in the foreground then you can create a symmetrical image with the use of reflection by placing the horizon centrally. But as you can see in the image below, the leaf acts as the main subject and is off-centered, and is used finely to break the symmetry while also balancing the composition.

6. Aligning of Vertical Subjects

When you can capture an image having a vertical subject, then here too you should place it either on the right or left side, or you can also place the subject near or on the vertical grid lines.

7. How You Should Leave Out the Empty or Negative Space?

If your photo scene contains empty space or what is also called negative space then you should carefully work with it as it is very powerful to create an impact. When there is a lot of empty space, then not paying attention can lead to creating an unbalanced composition. Herein application of the Rule of Thirds works wonders to allow the subject to balance that negative space by aligning the subject on the gridline or on the intersection point.

8. Capturing Close-Up Shots

When you are taking a close-up shot of a subject then you need to emphasize the important elements of the subject. Many might think that the Rule of Thirds might not work here. But that is only a myth. In fact, applying the Rule of Thirds can work effectively great for close-up captures. Highlight what is the central aspect of the subject which can become the focal point and place it off-center on a junction point and you will be amazed by how great the result will turn out to be as you can witness in the image below.

If you want to brighten up your chances in professional image editing services then understanding and developing such skills will definitely work to your advantage and make your captures stand out.