Photography Basics: The Rule of Thirds — By Britton Perelman (2024)

FAQs

What is the rule of thirds photography basics? ›

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.

Rule of Thirds (definition) A composition rule that divides the screen into thirds horizontally and vertically, like a tic-tac toe grid placed over the picture on a television set.

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.

The rule of thirds is one of the most important composition rules used by photographers to create high-quality photos. The rule of thirds states that placing important objects along the imagery thirds lines or around their intersections often produces highly aesthetic photos.

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.

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 important because it creates a good balance between the elements in the frame. It helps you decide how much background and foreground are necessary for a visually appealing photograph. It also helps you manage the empty space, especially when your scene has plenty of it.

The rule of thirds involves mentally creating equally spaced vertical and horizontal lines on a potential shot or image, then placing points of interest on this grid's lines and intersection points. The theory is that the filming style will create more pleasing visuals to the viewer's eye.

Examples of the rule of three

In storytelling: “The Three Little Pigs,” “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” and “Three Billy Goats Gruff” are all classic examples of stories that use the rule of three. In speeches: “I came, I saw, I conquered” is a famous example of the rule of three used by Julius Caesar.

The Rule of Thirds is another way to look at the layout of a design (be it a web page, a painting or a photograph). The idea is straightforward; you place a simple grid overlay (divided equally into thirds, both horizontally and vertically) on the space to be used for the design.

What are the measurements for the rule of thirds? ›

To make a grid using the rule of thirds you must first know the dimensions of the image you will be using. Once you know the height and width, divide each evenly by three and place marks at these intervals on the top, bottom, left and right sides of the page.

The rule of thirds is a compositional rule that suggests aligning your subject within specific guidelines and intersection points. The rule states that an image should be divided into nine equal parts with four imaginary lines. This involves two horizontal lines and two vertical lines, equally spaced.

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 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.

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.

The basic idea of the rule of thirds is to divide your picture into nine equal parts–like a tic-tac-toe board–and put the interesting parts either along the intersections–called focal points–or along the lines themselves. Simply put: You don't need to center every picture you take!