How to Use the “Rule of Thirds” in Photography

Composing a photograph to catch the viewer’s eye, causing him or her to linger, is the goal to which every photographer aspires. In addition to an intriguing ratio of lightness and darkness in your shot, composition plays a crucial role. The Rule of Thirds is a general guideline, designed to enhance the placement of the elements in your photo by creating a flattering composition.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Adjust your camera to show the Rule of Thirds grid. Many digital cameras offer a grid, visible through the viewfinder, that divides your frame into thirds, looking like a tic-tac-toe grid to help you compose your shots.

2. Place horizontal elements along the bottom or top third of the photograph to create a dynamic result. If you’re photographing a landscape with a horizon, place the horizon at the top third of the frame. On the other hand, if your subject is a sky of rolling thunderclouds, the horizon would go at the bottom third of the frame.

3. Focus on a subject, and then adjust your composition to place it in either side of the frame, on a gridline. By focusing on it first, the subject will remain in focus as you compose the shot.

4. Compose shots with horizontal and vertical elements by using more than one gridline in your frame. A horizon can run along the bottom gridline, while a tree is located on a side gridline.

5. Incorporate diagonal features with the Rule of Thirds by placing the diagonal element off to one side to draw a viewer’s gaze.

6. Center your strongest element on one of the points where the gridlines meet. These four points where each gridline intersects are the strongest visual areas in your photograph.

Tips & Warnings

• Follow the Rule of Thirds but use your own judgment. If a photograph just doesn’t “feel right” when composed along the gridlines, experiment with other compositions. Every rule has an exception.
• When taking portraits, use the Rule of Thirds to place the subject’s eyes on the top gridline and the center of their head along a side gridline.