Free Photography Lesson: Rule of Thirds | Icon Photography School (2024)

FAQs

How to teach the rule of thirds in photography? ›

To understand the rule of thirds you need to break your photograph down into three horizontal parts and three vertical parts which will create 9 separate boxes. Studies show that the human eye doesn't like to rest on objects in the center of a photograph.

What is the rule of thirds in photography? The rule of thirds in photography is a guideline that places the subject in the left or right third of an image, leaving the other two thirds more open. It divides a photo into nine equal parts, split by two equally spaced horizontal and vertical lines.

The rule of thirds means that the subject isn't centered; rather, the main focal point can be to one side or at the top or bottom of the image. It's a tool to help artists draw the viewer's eye into the composition, rather than just glancing at the center.

The guideline proposes that an image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines, and that important compositional elements should be placed along these lines or their intersections.

The rule of thirds is quite a simple rule. Divide the image in nine equal parts, by drawing two horizontal and two vertical lines at thirds from the edges. Place your subject on one of the lines or at the intersection of the lines, and you're done.

It involves dividing an image into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, to create a grid of nine equal parts. According to the rule of thirds, the most important elements in an image — i.e. the main subject or focal point of the photo — should be placed along these lines or their intersections.

The best way to master the rule of thirds is to experiment. Try shooting the same scene multiple times and frame the shot differently every time—first using the rule of thirds, then placing your subject in the center of the frame. You'll experience how the rule of thirds makes films more interesting to watch.

Breaking the rule of thirds.

Pull back from your subject: “If your subject is going to be a really small part of the image,” photographer Derek Boyd suggests, “sometimes the best way to highlight them is to break the rule of thirds and put them almost dead center in the image.”

For example, if the sky is more interesting, then place the horizon on the bottom third. If the foreground is more interesting, position the horizon on the top third. Place the main subject off-center onto one of the vertical lines of the thirds grid, ideally where the lines intersect.

The rule of thirds is a photo composition tip that comes up a lot because it really is universally applicable. Using it can be a small change that makes a big difference to your final image composition. The rule of thirds refers to dividing your image into three horizontal sections and three vertical sections.

What is the golden point rule in photography? ›

a/b = (a+b)/a = φ

In photography, the golden ratio can be used to create balanced and aesthetically pleasing compositions. This is achieved by dividing the frame into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, and placing the subject or key elements of the image at the intersection points of the lines.

There are seven basic elements of photographic art: line, shape, form, texture, color, size, and depth. As a photographic artist, your knowledge and awareness of these different elements can be vital to the success of your composition and help convey the meaning of your photograph.

Lesson Summary

The rule of thirds definition divides the frame with two evenly placed horizontal lines and two evenly placed vertical lines to create a grid of thirds. The idea is to use the grid to put the most important elements at the intersecting points on the grid, known as crash points.

Placing your subject or horizon in the centre of the image is the most obvious alternative to the Rule of Thirds, and works well for many subjects. A prominent horizontal line in the dead-centre of an image perfectly bisects it and gives equal weight to the two halves of the image.

Like in graphic design, the rule of thirds in UI (User Interface) design is a fundamental principle that helps structure and organize elements on a screen. It involves dividing the screen into a 3x3 grid, which results in nine equal parts. Usually, the four intersections are ideal for placing crucial elements.

The Rule of Thirds is a common compositional technique that divides your frame into an equal, three-by-three grid with two horizontal lines and two vertical lines that intersect at four points. The Rule of Thirds places your subject on the left-third or right-third of the frame, creating a pleasing composition.