Understanding ‘The Rule Of Thirds’

Posted on June 19, 2016

by Abu

The Rule Of Thirds In Photography
Among the most basic rules of photography, the Rule of Thirds is arguably the most essential rule that must be learnt in order to achieve balance and composition in your photographs. Some would argue (me) that it is not always obligatory to follow this rule but understanding it is still important even if you are trying to get creative with your shots. My philosophy is learn the rule and know when to break it.
Understanding the Rule of Thirds

Rule of thirds (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In simple terms, the main principle of this rule is to imagine breaking an image down into three equal parts both horizontally and vertically so you have 9 parts in total like so:

By doing this, you have four intersection points in your frame. Now all you have to do is to frame your point of interest so that it comes at one of these intersection points. Another method is to place the object of interest along the dividing lines to get a balanced frame. This enables the viewer to follow the image more naturally by allowing them to attract with the focus point at a glance.

Embed from Getty Images

Most digital cameras have this option built-in so when you are looking at an object or a scene through the viewfinder or LCD, you can frame your shot using the Rule of Thirds easily. Even if you forget about this rule while capturing a shot, you can incorporate it while editing your photos in order enhance their balance and composition.