The compositional elements of a photo are just as important as its quality. Hence, ignoring the rule of thirds might dull your pictures and fail to convey the message you want to share with the audience! In this article, we’ll explain what the rule of thirds means, how to use it effectively, when you can break it, and more.
In This Article:
The Meaning of Rules of Thirds in Photography
In simple terms, the rule of thirds refers to a compositional guideline that suggests dividing your image into 9 equal parts (using 2 horizontal and 2 vertical lines). The theory is to place key elements along these lines or at their intersections to create a more visually appealing and balanced image.
There are a few reasons why this approach works:
Human Eye Movement
As you can see, our human eye often gravitates toward points of interest, and the intersections of the rule of thirds grid are usually the natural focal points.
That’s why placing your subjects (or important elements) near these points can effectively guide the viewer’s attention to the areas you want to emphasize. This also results in a natural flow in the image, where the viewer’s eye moves smoothly from one point to another. Simply put, the entire photo becomes more engaging and easier to explore.
Balance
Dividing the image into equal thirds (with the elements placed along those gridlines) creates a sense of equilibrium that contributes to a more harmonious arrangement within the frame. This sense of order/stability is not only visually pleasing to the human eye but also prevents the viewer from feeling overwhelmed or lost.
Dynamic Composition
From our observation, placing the main subject off-center (as suggested by the meaning of the rule of thirds) usually leads to a more visually interesting composition than centering it, as it adds a touch of movement and tension to the image. Not to mention, there is also a greater depth that makes the photos appear more three-dimensional; your viewers can explore the scene more fully that way.
How to Use Rule of Thirds Photography Definition in Your Projects
Identify Your Key Elements
Every photograph has at least one primary subject meant to evoke viewers’ emotions or tell the story. They should always be the focus of your composition!
Once you have identified all these key elements, strategically place them within the rule of thirds grid, as discussed above. Also, remember to consider the hierarchy of importance among these elements and how you want to guide the viewer’s attention; that way, it will be easier to control the narrative (as well as impact) of the photograph in general.
A simple example: In a portrait of a person holding a flower, position the person’s eyes along one of the upper horizontal lines and the flower (still important but less so than the person subject) at an intersecting point.
Off-Center Is The Key
One of the most common applications of the rule of thirds is placing your main subject at one of the four intersection points of the grid (or off-center).
As discussed earlier, this helps avoid the static — and often very uninteresting — appearance of a centered subject. Plus, it also allows for more space and depth around the key subject to guide viewers’ attention more effectively.
A simple example: In wildlife photography, place an animal at one of the intersections. The space in front of it is left bare to suggest a sense of movement.
Align with Horizontal Lines
These horizontal lines hold a lot of weight in the mood and atmosphere of a landscape photography project.
For example, the horizon placed on the upper line turns the sky into a dominant element, which translates to more drama and weight. On the contrary, putting it on the lower line suggests openness/spaciousness often associated with the land or water below. Choose your approach accordingly to make the image more aesthetically dynamic.
A simple example: For a photo of a mountain range, place the horizon along the lower third to highlight the expanse of the sky and clouds above.
Vertical Lines Should Also Be Utilized
We have just discussed working with open landscape shots. But how about central subjects with a stronger vertical orientation (like people or tall buildings in architectural and portrait photography?)
In that case, aligning them with one of the vertical grid lines is strongly recommended! This strategy emphasizes the subject’s overall height/length to make it a dominant figure in the image while creating leading lines that guide the viewer’s eye through the composition.
A simple example: Photograph a skyscraper with its facade aligned with one of the vertical lines; its towering height will feel more prominent to the viewers.
Consider Headroom (for portrait photographers)
In portrait photography, headroom refers to the space between the top of the subject’s head and the top of the frame.
Hence, one effective method is to position the subject’s eyes along the upper horizontal grid line while leaving sufficient headroom. It leaves more room for interpreting openness/direction and keeps the subject from feeling too confined within the frame. This tip is especially important if you are aiming for professional-looking portraits!
A simple example: In a close-up portrait, place the person’s eyes on the upper third line while leaving space over their head.
Combine with Other Compositional Techniques
Given the versatility of the rule of thirds, you can always combine it with other techniques to add even more depth to your (already) dynamic shots!
Many professional photographers use leading lines to converge at one of the grid’s intersection points, for instance. Others incorporate the golden ratio to give their composition techniques a more… mathematical approach. The more options there are, the better the result, so do not hesitate to experiment until you find out what works best.
A simple example: In a street scene, use the lines of a road or buildings to lead the viewer’s eye toward an intersection point where your main subject is placed.
Break The Rules Intentionally
The rule of thirds is a valuable composition guideline, but remember that it’s never meant to be a strict rule. Breaking it from time to time can bring unexpected yet mind-blowing results (as long as your rule-breaking approach is intentional and not out of a lack of attention, of course). We will talk more about it in the next section.
Practice Always Makes Perfect
Last but not least, consistent practice is key to mastering these compositional rules. The more you apply it in your photography, the more intuitive you become. Over time, you can develop a sense of direction so strong that the rule of thirds naturally grows into your photographic process; you will instantly know when to apply the rule and when to break it!
When to Break The Rule of Thirds in Photography
When The Subject Is Perfectly Symmetrical
Symmetry naturally draws the human eye. Hence, when a subject looks perfectly symmetrical, the photo can be quite satisfying, especially if you know how to make this symmetry the focal point.
Let’s say you want to capture the front facade of a cathedral, whose twin towers and entrance perfectly mirror each other. You can center the building in the frame to emphasize this symmetry and draw attention to the details.
When The Subject Is The Only Point of Interest
Sometimes, centering a solitary subject is a better choice if you want to amplify its presence.
A lone tree in a vast snow-covered field, for instance, can evoke strong feelings of solitude placed in the middle rather than on the side. When coupled with the stark contrast between the dark tree and the white field, the tree becomes the obvious focus in an otherwise empty landscape.
When The Subject Is A Macro Photo
Macro photography usually benefits from centered compositions that highlight the subject’s minute details, as it makes them appear more significant and larger than life. For example, take a macro photo of a beautiful snowflake; putting it in the dead center allows the viewer to appreciate its delicate and unique patterns.
4 Best Editing Software & Tools for Rule of Thirds
- Adobe Photoshop: Its core features, like cropping, resizing, and perspective correction, allow you to fine-tune your images to align with the rule of thirds. You can also create custom grids to overlay on your photo.
- Adobe Lightroom: Lightroom is known for its non-destructive editing capabilities. That means your original image remains intact while you experiment with different compositions, including the rule of thirds.
- GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program): For budget-conscious photographers, GIMP is a wonderful free alternative! You can configure your workspace under View > Show Grid and adjust the grid properties in Edit > Preferences > Default Grid to fit the rule of thirds.
- Affinity Photo: Affinity Photo includes various cropping options and aspect ratios. When working on a landscape photo, you may activate the grid overlay to ensure the horizon aligns with the upper or lower third.
Conclusion
We hope you now understand how to use the basic rule of thirds in your project.
And while we’ve provided some tips on when it might be good to break the rule, feel free to experiment and trust your instincts if you’re confident in your skills. After all, “breaking the rules” means there aren’t any of them to follow!
