How to Improve Your Photos Using the Rule of Thirds

Ever wonder why some pictures grab you and others just leave you cold? With today's automatic cameras, most of your pictures will be in focus and have the correct exposure but the arrangement of the objects or subjects called the composition, is totally up to you. By learning and using the Rule-of-Thirds, you can dramatically improve the quality of your photographs.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• camera

1. 
    
   In this vertical shot, the subject's face is in the top third of the photo.

   What is the rule-of-thirds? The rule-of-thirds divides your camera's viewfinder into three area ... top, middle, bottom for a vertical; left, center, right for a horizontal. To make your photographs more interesting and artistic, place the subject in either the top or bottom third for a vertical or in the left or right third for a horizontal. Avoid the middle or the center.

2. Most people put their subject dead center in the middle of the frame. Oftentimes this produces an image with a lot of dead space at the top, the subject's face in the middle, with their body cut off below the waist. Using the rule-of-thirds for a portrait means you place the person's head in the top third. For a horizontal portrait, place the person to the left or the right.

3. 
    
   In this shot, the foreground was the most interesting part of the picture, so the horizon was placed in the top third.

   The rule-of-thirds works for landscapes and scenic pictures as well. Most people put the horizon smack dab in the middle of the picture, cutting the picture in half. Instead, move the horizon line to the top or bottom third of the photo. To determine whether to put the horizon at the top or bottom, ask yourself what is more interesting. Is the sky filled with spectacular clouds? Then tilt the camera up and put the horizon in the bottom third. Is the foreground what caught your eye? Then tilt the camera down and put the horizon in the top third.

4. By using the rule-of-thirds you will find your pictures are more dramatic and eye-catching. Soon you will be shooting like a pro!

Tips & Warnings

• Many digital cameras allow you to set your focus by depressing the shutter button slightly. You can pre-set your focus with your subject in the middle of the frame and then, while keeping the shutter button slightly depressed, move the camera to create the composition you want and then click the shutter.

[adam-12]

on 6/14/2009 Good article, I'll keep these tips in mind next time I shoot a roll of film.