Rule Of Thirds In Photography

Looking for information on the rule of thirds in photography? The rule of thirds is a compositional rule that is also used in other fields, such as design and painting. In regards to photography, when you are taking a photo, the rule of thirds states that you should imagine that the image you are taking is divided into nine equal parts. To do this, you have to imagine two evenly spaced vertical lines and two evenly spaced horizontal lines. When those imaginary lines intersect, you are left with an image that is cut into nine equal parts. There are actually many digital cameras out there that can apply a rule of thirds grid to your LCD screen or viewfinder for you.

Photographs look very boring when the main subject of the photo is placed in the center of the photograph. According to the rule of thirds in photography, after you have divided your image up into nine equal parts, you are to place any important elements in the photo where the vertical and horizontal lines intersect. Your image becomes more balanced when you apply the rule of thirds concept because the focal point has been strengthened. The human eye has a tendency to only look about two-thirds up a page, so by placing the focal point on the left or right hand side of the photo where the imaginary lines intersect, you are engaging the human eye.

Even if you are an amateur photographer, you can take some amazing photos by sticking to the rule of thirds concept. If you are unable to get the look you were hoping for when you captured the photo, you can always crop the photo at a later date to achieve the rule of thirds look. If you have never taken advantage of the rule of thirds in photography before, make sure you take some time to master the art of it. There may be cases where the rule of thirds doesn't apply to the photo you are taking, but you won't know that until you give it a try. Generally speaking, if you are taking landscape photos, it is recommended that you place the focal point on either the upper or lower horizontal lines. For portraits, keep the focal point exactly where the vertical and horizontal lines intersect.