Rules of thirds; an effort to make a balance composition within the frame of the photograph to allow the viewers to explore the whole part of the picture. Even though there is no prohibition order to put down the object in the middle of the frame, but however you can get a more drawing composition, a more drawing and optimal photo by placing the object not in the middle of the frame.

By applying the rules of thirds will make the viewers exploring your photo not only centrally to the middle of the frame. Placing the object in the middle of the frame tends to centralize the interest in the middle of the photo, and that’s all. The result is that the photo becomes flat. You can strengthen the composition by shifting the focus point a little bit away from the center of the frame.

What is the Rules of Thirds?

The basic principle behind the rules of thirds is to imagine breaking an image down into thirds (both horizontally and vertically) so that you have 9 parts. As you’re taking an image you would have done this in your mind through your viewfinder or in the LCD display that you use to frame your shot.

With this grid in mind the rules of thirds now identifies four important parts of the image that you should consider placing points of interest in as you frame your image. The idea is to place the subject or the most important part of the subject in the intersection points of the lines (point of power) or around it, you will make the viewers to explore the whole part of the picture. This will create a balance composition.

Studies have shown that when viewing images human’s eyes usually go to one of the intersection points most naturally rather than the center of the shot – using the rules of thirds works with this natural way of viewing an image rather than working against it.

Please pay attention to the above photo; the mom and the girl were playing along the beach avoiding the incoming wave. Both are residing at one of the points of power (according to rules of thirds) at the upper left corner; they become point of interest on this photo. Coastal area and the wave take broader portion to affirm the moment of playing at along the beach and the wave.

I stood up at higher level of the ground to get the higher shooting angel to cover this wide coastal area by using Canon standard zoom lens EFS 17-85. ISO speed was set to 100 and aperture was f/22 to get wide detail of the landscape. White balance was set to auto and picture style was set to “Emerald” – a user defined picture style that is best used to provide a green impression on the sea water.

Another example about rules of thirds which also follows other composition techniques is provided on the photo above. The girl is residing in one of the points of power on this photo regarding rules of thirds theory and she also becomes point of interest. I also gave a broader area ahead of her as an active area for her to assure the moment of enjoying the beauty of the wave along the beach. See also discussion about active area on the other article.

As I mentioned before, if orders limit your creativity and you would like to express something on the photograph; just break the orders. Don’t let the orders kill your creativity. You don’t have to follow rules of thirds all the time, just feel the best you think in creating the photos.

Have a look at the above photo; the horizon has followed the rules of thirds but not the palm tree with the sunrise. Remember; do not divide the horizon and the landscape equally. This photo is made to allow the viewers to focus on the beauty of the sunrise with the golden ray of lights that form star light.

Now; you can compare to the below photo, still the same sunrise panorama but captured in different way.

The rules of thirds theory is applied to the above photo; the main object is the sunrise resides at one of the points of power. But the photo tells different story; it tells about dry season. There was no cloud at the east, the sky was clear as if It would tell us that the daytime would be very hot.

Check also:

• Lighting Techniques and
• Knowledge about the DSLR Lenses