How to Use the Rule of Thirds in Photography

The human eye has a mind of its own, and good photography comes down to pleasing the eye. Certain elements arranged in a particular order are more interesting than others. The Rule of Thirds is one technique that can help you with your photo composition.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Imagine a tic-tac-toe grid on your lens. The vertical lines create a left, middle and right third while the horizontal lines create a top, middle and bottom third. Also, 4 points intersect in the middle.

2. Recognize all of the scenery that will be in your photo, not just the main subject. Green grass is a different object than a brown tree trunk or the blue sky.

3. Place as many objects as possible on the lines and 4 points using the Rule of Thirds.

4. Highlight the main subject off-center on the top line and at one of the 2 top points of intersection. That could be the subject's eyes or another object.

5. Fill in the rest of the photograph with objects that compliment the main subject using the Rule of Thirds.

6. Practice using your "photographer's eye" each time you take photos.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid having the main subject centered, but if you must, get the subject at an angle.
• Break the Rule of Thirds once you have learned it and think a photo would be more striking without it.