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THE RULE OF THIRDS
A good photograph must be in sharp focus, perfectly exposed and composed in a visually interesting way. We can all spot an out-of-focus picture or an incorrectly exposed image, but when it comes to composition it gets more tricky as the ball is entirely in the photographer’s court. Cameras may be advanced these days, but they can not tell you how to frame a scene or where to put the main subject for an effective, well balanced composition.
The rule of thirds gives balance to your compositions and although it was devised by artists, it can be applied to photography. To use the rule, divide your camera’s viewfinder into nine equally sized sections, using imaginary horizontal and vertical lines like a noughts and crosses grid. You can then position important features in a scene.
HAVE A STRONG CENTRE OF INTEREST
It is usually best to have one main point of interest because a picture can tell only one story successfully. The principal subject may be one object or several. For instance you may want to include a secondary subject, but make sure that it does not detract from your main subject. Whatever the main subject is, always give it sufficient prominence in the photo to make all other elements subordinate to it.
Avoid putting your center of interest in the center of your picture. Usually, if the main subject is in the middle of the picture, it looks static and interesting. You can often make excellent picture arrangements that have pleasing composition by placing your center of interest in certain positions according to the rule of thirds. When you divide a scene into thirds both vertically and horizontally, the dividing lines intersect in four places. Any of these four intersections provides a pleasing position for your center of interest.
If there is an obvious focal point, such as a single tree in a field, a red flower among a group of yellow flowers, or a boat on the sea, position it on one of the four intersection points of the grid. Any point can be used, and by doing so you produce a more interesting composition than if the subject was just placed anywhere in the frame.
The vertical lines of the grid can also be used as a guide to dividing the frame vertically.
When photographing landscapes, use the horizontal lines to position the horizon. Put it on the top line to emphasize the foreground, put it on the bottom line to emphasize the sky.
Photographers mainly use the rule of thirds for scenic and landscape shots, but also very useful for still-life, portraiture, architecture, close-ups and any subject with a main point of interest. The rule also applies to the up-right, portrait format, the grid is simply turned on its side.
