The Rule of Thirds
Video: The Rule of Thirds
Challenge level
DIFFICULT
MODERATE
EASY
Main subject and supporting elements you might need
Good for scenes such as cityscapes, landscapes, portraits, street photography, and even still-life photography.
Rule of Thirds
When it comes to balancing a photo through thoughtful composition, you can’t go past the rule of thirds. It’s a solid performer. With minimal effort, you can arrange a subject in exactly the right place, and the results will speak for themselves.
When an image is well-balanced, you feel it instinctively. You may not be able to put into words what you like about the image, but you will have an unconscious appreciation for its balance and harmony. The rule of thirds achieves this because it adds a simple but dynamic element to photo composition—it moves the subject away from the center of the frame.
Too many photographers position their subjects in the middle of the screen or viewfinder. Unless you are aiming for an expression of symmetry, this makes a boring photo. It’s too safe, too average. Moving the subject off-center makes it more interesting because the weight of the image has shifted. The rule of thirds grid provides an easy way to align your subject into one of the best positions for an engaging image.
What is the Rule of Thirds?
In the Wise Camera app, your iPhone screen is divided into thirds, both horizontally and vertically. The grid has two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines. Placing your subject along the vertical or horizontal lines takes it away from the center, but not so far that it becomes unbalanced.
When Can You Use it?
Landscape shots benefit from the rule of thirds because a photo looks more compelling when the horizon is positioned away from the center. Placing it one-third of the way from the top or bottom of the screen shows you are thinking about other elements in the image. Place the horizon on the top line if the foreground shows interesting texture and detail, but place it on the lower line if you want to emphasize the sky when it is filled with dramatic storm clouds.
The rule of thirds is not just for landscapes, though. Use it for anything! Portraits, street photography, wildlife, and fashion photos can all benefit from this artistic composition technique. Most of the time, you’ll see the rule of thirds displayed in a horizontal format, but it works just as well vertically. Tilt your iPhone upright to use this rule when taking photos of buildings, tourism landmarks, and people too.
When shooting pictures of people, have them lined up with one of the vertical lines, and make sure they are facing towards the area with the greatest amount of space. This gives them the appearance of having somewhere to move into. If they are turned the other way, it’ll look too claustrophobic. It will seem as though they are facing a wall.
Using the Hot Spots
Another great reason for choosing this composition rule is for the hot spots on the grid. Each of the intersecting areas on the grid is a hot spot of excellence. If you can position your subject on one of the areas where lines join, you are incorporating an extra key element into the design of your photo. In a full-length portrait, make sure the person’s head is at one of the hot spots. In a closer shot of a person’s face, having one of the eyes at an intersecting point is definitely worthwhile. And if you can get the smile along with one of the horizontal lines, you end up with an even stronger image.
In seascapes, position the setting sun, a sailboat, or the crest of a wave at one of these hot spots. In landscapes, place a feature subject such as a barn, shapely tree, or the peak of a mountain at one of the intersecting points and when doing street photography, if you can press the shutter button when a person is at one of those hot spots on the screen, the viewer will automatically see this individual as the main subject of the image.
Fix a Photo
If you have a collection of photos you are proud of, but some of them don’t receive the attention you think they deserve, maybe they need another edit. Revisit these images with the wisdom of hindsight and the technological help of the Wise Photos app. Apply the rule of thirds option, and you’ll probably discover that it was the missing piece of the composition puzzle.
Conclusion
If this is the first time you’ve heard about the rule of thirds, you’ll now start to see it in the images of your favorite photographers. Just about everyone with a camera or a paintbrush makes use of it or at least considers it while composing an image. It’s not necessarily going to turn your photo into a masterpiece, but it will make it more creative.
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Photography, like any other art form, is deeply rooted in storytelling. Unlike music, movies, and books, which unfold their narratives over time, photography captures a single moment. Through artistic composition, we can guide the viewer's eye across the scene, effectively telling our story with an image.
The Rule of Thirds plays a crucial role in this storytelling process. The viewer's eye typically scans an image in a few seconds, following a Z pattern from the top left to the bottom right. We can use this to guide the viewer through our scene.
Positioning the main subject on the left vertical line immediately captivates the viewer, potentially diverting attention from supporting elements on the right. Conversely, placing the main subject on the right allows the viewer to gradually explore the scene, encountering supporting elements on the left first, thus building the narrative as their gaze moves rightward to the main subject.
Consider your audience when crafting your story through photography. If the viewer is scrolling through social media, you may want to capture their attention immediately by placing the main subject on the left side. In contrast, if the viewer is in an art gallery, they'll have more time to engage with and explore the scene, allowing you to unfold the story more gradually. Tailoring your approach based on context can significantly enhance the storytelling impact of your photography.
Storytelling Corner
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
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What is the Rule of Thirds?The Rule of Thirds is a composition technique used in photography where the frame is divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines. Positioning the subject along these lines or at their intersections moves the subject away from the center, creating a more balanced and engaging image.
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Why is the Rule of Thirds important in photography?It adds a simple but dynamic element to photo composition, moving the subject away from the center of the frame to create a well-balanced, harmonious image. This technique makes the photo more interesting and engaging by shifting the weight of the image and providing an unconscious appreciation for its balance.
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Can the Rule of Thirds be applied to all types of photography?Yes, the Rule of Thirds is versatile and can be used for various types of photography including landscapes, portraits, street photography, wildlife, fashion photos, and more. It works well in both horizontal and vertical formats, making it applicable to a wide range of subjects and scenes.
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How does the Rule of Thirds benefit landscape photography specifically?For landscape shots, positioning the horizon one-third of the way from the top or bottom of the frame rather than in the center can make the photo more compelling. This technique allows the photographer to emphasize interesting textures in the foreground or dramatic skies, depending on the horizon's placement.
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What are hot spots in the Rule of Thirds and how are they used?Hot spots refer to the points where the grid lines intersect in the Rule of Thirds grid. Placing your subject at one of these intersecting points incorporates an extra key element into the photo's design. For example, in portraits, aligning the person’s head or an eye at a hot spot can significantly enhance the image's impact.
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How can the Rule of Thirds improve photos that seem lacking?Revisiting photos with the wisdom of hindsight and applying the Rule of Thirds can breathe new life into images that may not have received the attention they deserve. Using this composition technique can often reveal it as the missing piece in the composition puzzle, making the photo more appealing and well-composed.
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What is negative space in photography?Negative space refers to the area around the main subject of a photograph that is left empty or uncluttered. This compositional technique emphasizes the main subject by providing lots of room around it, directing the viewer's focus to the subject and adding a sense of calmness and contemplation to the image.
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How does negative space impact the viewer's perception of a photo?Negative space creates a dramatic effect that makes the viewer stop and consider the impact of the photo. It draws attention to the main subject, induces feelings of solitude and peacefulness, and provokes curiosity about the photographer's intent by breaking traditional photography rules.
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What is the difference between positive and negative space?Positive space in a photo is the area occupied by the subject, whereas negative space is the area around the subject. Using a lot of negative space can make the subject stand out more prominently, offering a clear contrast between the subject and its surroundings without making the image feel crowded or cluttered.
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Can negative space have color or texture?Yes, negative space doesn't have to be completely white or blank. It can include color or texture, such as a blue sky or a field of grass, as long as these elements do not distract from the main subject. The key is to maintain contrast and ensure that the background objects in the negative space do not draw attention away from the focal point.
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How can photographers effectively use negative space in their compositions?Photographers can use negative space by ensuring that the background occupies more space in the frame than the subject. Using the Wise Camera app, photographers can position their subject within a guided area, leaving ample space around it as indicated by the app's guidelines. This approach helps in isolating the subject and drawing the viewer's attention directly to it.
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What are some tips for creating negative space in photos taken with an iPhone?When using an iPhone, photographers can take advantage of its wide angle of view to leave extra space around the subject, emphasizing the negative space. If necessary, photos can be cropped afterward using the Wise Photos app to adjust the composition and create a more impactful negative space image.
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What is the Left to Right composition rule in photography?The Left to Right composition rule involves positioning the subject on the left side of the frame, making them look or move towards the right. This technique leverages the natural way viewers scan an image, particularly in cultures accustomed to reading from left to right, creating a dynamic and engaging visual flow.
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Why position the subject on the left side of the image?Positioning the subject on the left side of the image takes advantage of the natural reading and viewing habits of people in Western cultures, who tend to scan images starting from the left. This positioning guides viewers through the image in a comfortable and familiar pattern, enhancing the photo's impact.
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How does the Left to Right rule enhance storytelling in photographs?By having the subject look or move towards the right, photographers can introduce a sense of direction, movement, and mystery to their images. This technique encourages viewers to ponder what has captured the subject's attention or where they are heading, adding a storytelling aspect to the photograph.
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Can the Left to Right rule be applied to all types of photography?Yes, the Left to Right rule can be applied across various photography genres, including sports, street photography, portraits, and more. It is especially effective in scenes with moving subjects, such as racing cars, sailboats, airplanes, and people walking or running.
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How does cultural reading direction influence the effectiveness of this composition rule?Cultural reading direction significantly influences how viewers perceive an image. In cultures where reading occurs from right to left, such as those using Arabic and Hebrew scripts, the visual path through an image may be reversed. Photographers working in these cultures might place the main subject on the right side of the frame for a more natural viewing experience for their audience.
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How can photographers implement the Left to Right rule in their work?Photographers can implement the Left to Right rule by using tools like the Wise Camera app, which offers guidelines for positioning subjects. They should ensure the subject is placed on the left, looking or moving towards the right, and leave ample space on the right side of the frame for the subject to "move into." This composition approach makes photos more appealing and engaging to viewers, encouraging them to explore the entire image.