The rule of thirds

To days image idea will look at the rule of thirds, as with many rules, they can be broken but there is a big difference between braking the rules for effect and not knowing them or ignoring them. Now before you get your camera have a look through some magazines and books, news images will have the subject in the centre but if you look at advertising and art images you are more likely to see this rule applied.




Now when looking at an image in your minds eye draw a line down from top to bottom 1/3 in from the left of the image and then again from the right, now repeat drawing the lines across the image 1/3 in form the top and bottom. So now, in your minds eye you have overlaid a grid of four lines, nine boxes and four intersections (where two lines cross) over the image, it is important that you do this with your minds eye as it will help you when composing with your camera.




When you look at an image try to work out which elements you are drawn to first and if your attention keeps jumping from one element to another. Now overlay your minds eye grid, you should find that the elements you are drawn to are very close to or on one of the four lines, if it is a very strong element then it will be close to or on one of the four intersections.




Nest time you use your camera keep in mind the grid when composing your photo and rather than just have your main subject in the centre, try placing it on one of the four lines or intersections. If your subject is a person and they are looking to their left then place them on the left of the photo so that you will follow their gaze into the centre of the photo this will give the photo a felling of space and travel.




The photos in this post all make use of the rule of thirds but that is not the only rule they use and next time I will be telling you about lead lines.