One of the most popular ways to compose your photographs is to use the “Rule of Thirds”. Although this compositional rule is frequently used by photographers, not everyone understands exactly what it is or when it works. This article introduces the rule of thirds and explains when to use it for composition (or not). Keep in mind that this rule is a suggestion for beginners and those who struggle with properly composing their pictures, and it is far from the only way to take good images.
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What is the Rule of Thirds?
The Rule of Thirds is a type of off-center composition where important elements of a photograph are placed along a 3×3 grid, which equally divides the image into nine parts. For many photographers, this type of composition is a basic way to give structure to photographs and make them more appealing. With the rule of thirds, photographers envision four lines across their photographs, which also creates four intersecting points. Take a look at the illustration below:
The important elements within a frame should be placed at the intersection points of these lines, as shown in the above diagram. Or, when photographing subjects like a tree or horizon, which are comprised of straight lines, the rule of thirds suggests placing them along one of the four lines instead. Take a look at the below photograph:
As you can see, both the horizon line and the primary subject are placed along this grid:
You can apply the rule of thirds to any genre of photography. In the portrait example below, the subject’s eyes are placed about two thirds up the photograph, and her nose aligns with the rule of thirds grid as well:
How to Use the Rule of Thirds
To use the rule of thirds, start by imagininga 3×3 grid and place your subjects along those lines and intersections points. When you evaluate the result, you may find that you like it more than with your subject in the center.
Some cameras also have a built-in guide for rule of thirds composition, which is shown as an overlay in the rear-view display or electronic viewfinder:
As a bonus, using these guides can help you straighten your horizon in landscape photography.
Finally, the rule of thirds isn’t only for composing while shooting. You can also use it for cropping photos in post. All modern Raw editors have an option to show thirds guides while you are cropping so you do not have to guess where the thirds lines are.
When to Use the Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds works well when there is a strong point of interest in your photo, and you want to contrast that point of interest with the supporting elements in your scene. As an example, consider this shot:
In this shot, the attractive eye of the Egyptian Goose is placed roughly in the upper third of the photo, contrasting with the rest of the scene. Not only does this give the rest of the scene more room in the photo, it also places the bird in a more natural pose that shows most of its body.
In landscape photography, the horizon line is also frequently placed roughly on the thirds line:
This breaks the balance between the sky and the ground, and gives one more emphasis than the other. Even if you do plan on placing the horizon line outside of the basic thirds lines, starting with a rule of thirds composition in your viewfinder can be the first step to the perfect composition.
The rule of thirds works very well in more minimalist compositions, where the subject is concentrated in a relatively small area of the photo, and the rest of the photo is subdued, such as in photos of people with a blurred background:
So, when should you use the rule of thirds? The basic value of this rule is to remind yourself that off-center compositions can work well and be successful. Most of the time, beginner photographers will place their subjects in the dead center by default, forming central compositions. Although central composition can be a very strong way to compose photographs, using it for every photo can be boring. If you find that you are doing this, you can add more interest and variety by using the rule of thirds.
So, if you are struggling to compose your images, you might find that the rule of thirds can be a quick way to make your photos more dynamic.
When Not to Use the Rule of Thirds
The biggest problem with the rule of thirds is that it doesn’t change, even when your subjects do. It simply does not take into account what you are photographing. For example, in some scenes, you might be compromising your composition and excluding important elements just to adhere to the rule of thirds.So, in a way, it is a cookie-cutter composition.
The whole idea of the rule of thirds is that it introduces beginners to off-center composition. However, it might lead you to think that your subjects always (or often) need to be placed along the exact lines and intersections of the 3×3 grid in order to capture a successful composition.
In reality, any type of off-central composition – not just the rule of thirds – can work well. Instead, try framing your subject just slightly off center, or even in the extreme corners. Sometimes, the scene itself will dictate the type of composition which will work best for your photograph. In the image below, you can see that the subject has been placed close to the edge of the frame in order to convey a sense of isolation with anegative spacecomposition:
While taking this photo, the goal was to make it look somewhat striking and unexpected. Had the photo followed the rule of thirds, it would not have conveyed that emotional message.
Along with that, do not underestimate central composition. Although it can be boring if you use it too much, it also can be the most powerful way to compose and frame photographs. For example, it works very well if there is a single, strong subject in the scene:
The rule of thirds is a consequence of a more general theory of composition that the elements in your photo should work together to create a sense of balance between harmony and disharmony, that convey both the subject of your shot and your own emotions as a viewer of the scene. In some cases, and especially with simple compositions, the rule of thirds gets pretty close to that ideal. In other cases, you may need to try something else.
Conclusion
The rule of thirds is certainly worth exploring, especially for those who are just starting to learn composition in photography. However, as you get more advanced, you will start to realize that good composition is not about adhering to strict rules, but rather about composing each photo for its own merits. Different compositions will be ideal in different situations. While the rule of thirds works well for some photographs, it is not the only way to capture a good image. Indeed, any type of composition can be beautiful, and you will miss many opportunities if you never go beyond the rule of thirds.
