Basic Tips on Composition in Photography – Rule of Third

Of all the rules whimming in your head, this rule of the trinity you’ve got to remember.

This is the most basic among the so-called ‘Photographic rules’ and hence is always spoken of first. This rule originated way back when painters realized the psychology behind it, after which the photographers also started to apply this rule successfully to their creations.

What is this rule all about?

It is really very simple to understand it. If the photographic frame can be divided into nine equal sections by two equidistant horizontal and two equidistant vertical lines, then the four intersecting points thus created are called ‘Golden Points’ or simply ‘Power Points’ or ‘Nodal Points’. Whenever a photo is taken, the photographer must pay special attention to place the main subject at any of these four Golden Points or along these horizontal or vertical lines.

The rule is named so because of the fact that the frame of the photo is divided into three vertical sections by the three horizontal lines and into three horizontal sections by the two vertical lines.

Why at 1/3rd? Why not at the middle?

This is one of the obvious questions that strikes at one’s mind when one hears about this rule for the first time. Actually the photo becomes more balanced one and easy-to-eyes if the main subjects are placed like this rule. The human psychology tells that when we look at a photograph, our eyes first view these Golden Points and then follows these horizontal and vertical lines. See the examples:

Representative, Ribdhi

Yet Another Sunset, Chandrabhaga Beach

Morning News

What will help me taking a snap using this rule?

In most of the digital cameras, there is an option to make grids appear on the view finder or the LCD screen. These grids generally have these horizontal and vertical lines to assist in following the rule of third during taking a snap.

In case of a film camera, there may be grids already available in the viewfinder. But if the grids are not available, then the only option left is to assume the grid lines on the view finder. Imaging these lines on the view finder may seem to be difficult at first. But small practice will make it simpler soon.

Can I apply this rule during post processing?

Yes, definitely! Even if one forgets about the rule of third, one can still try to apply it during post processing. Cropping the photograph properly during printing or during photo-editing will help you place your main subject at the golden points or along those horizontal and vertical lines.

Which point or line to choose?

This question is what is of most importance when you try to apply this rule in your actual photographic works. The point or the line you chose to place your subject on really matters and can dramatically change the meaning or emphasis of your subject.

For a single subject-photo, it is a bit easier to determine which point or line to choose for composition. You choose the left-aligned vertical line or the golden points at the left. The reason behind this is related to the way we read any text. In most of the cases, we read from left to right manner. For this reason, our eyes first fall on the left hand side of the photograph and then traverse through the right side of the frame. Similarly, in those cases, where people read from right to left, the right aligned vertical line or the golden points at the right of the frame becomes your default choice.

For photos with multiple subject or elements, the emphasis on each subject can be changed by placing them at different golden points or along different lines. Subjects in the foreground should be placed at the bottom-right golden point to match the strength of the foreground subject as the bottom-right golden point imparts the strongest emphasis on the subject and the foreground subject generally requires the strongest attention. In the same line, the background subject should be at the upper-left golden point to give it less emphasis. One point of caution here is that the wrong placement of subject element in the frame according to the strength of the golden points may confuse the viewers’ eyes and mind as they may not be able to justify the strength and emphasis to be given to different subject elements.

Want to know more?

Here are some links to other sites on the same topic:

• Some good examples
• Logic behind the rule
• Detailed Discussion

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