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The rule of third

May 13, 2008

Long before the DSLR comes to life, the photographer used a very simple camera. It really test the photographer’s skills. But today half of the hardship has been reduced by the sophisticated electronic camera. The image are sharper, the exposure are more accurate. But still there is one important element to complete the best pictures criteria still cannot be done by today’s sophisticated camera and that is composition. No matter how sharp the image is, how beautiful the colour is, how accurate the exposure is, the image wont be the best if the composition part failed.

The Rule of Third

The rule of third is a guideline to create a well balanced pictures and it has been used even by the painters for centuries. The centre part of a picture is not the best place for the eye to rest and it describe the pictures as static and non dynamic. To apply this rule, imagine your camera’s view finder is etched with a grid lines (as example below) and the subject is placed at the intersection of the grid lines.

By using this method, it is easier to compose a well balanced pictures. Now take a look at the comparison of these two pictures. The first picture does not use the rule of third and the second image use the rule of third.

Picture which does not use the rule of third

Picture that use the rule of third

These two picture was taken with the same setting, at the same time but only with a different rule. Now you have seen the different it makes only with this simple yet powerful rule. But what about landscape or other subject? The same rule can be applied and below are some tips to consider on how to use the rule of third in different situation:

Large Subject

Example of subject fall under this category is close-up flower.

Dramatic Skies

For this category, put the dramatic skies by placing the horizon at the lower line in the frame but if the skies is dull but have some photographic value put it at the upper line of the grid. Example:

Moving Subject

For a moving subject such as cars, animals, people etc, leave the space for the moving subject to “go into”. But if the subject is static or at rest, leave a space for the subject to “look” at (only if the subject does not look at the camera”. Example:

Feel free to give a comment or to provide any suggestion to the topic. Good luck and Enjoy!!!

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Leading lines

Entry Filed under: Composition Techniques. Tags: compostion, rule of third, tips.