The Rule of Thirds is a simplified compositional guideline designed to be easy-to-understand. But it is a guideline rather than a rule! It’s ideal for people who are new to creating compositions and need a practical tool to help them. I personally find it useful and follow the Rules of Thirds principal for many of my photos.
It's a shortcut to a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing image - every time!
Here's a little test I was asked to do in design school. Get a piece of paper and draw a line of any length on it. Now make a mark somewhere along the line. Anywhere you like! After you've done it, scroll down* No cheating! 😂
Now back to the Rule of Thirds...
It involves dividing an image into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines, essentially creating a grid. You may have noticed one on your camera screen or in your editing program, looks like this:
The rule of thirds doesn't derive directly from any mathematical formula, but it's an approximation that mostly results in balanced, engaging compositions.
It is roughly based on the Fibonacci Spiral pictured below, but the spiral is more precise and aligns mathematically with the natural proportions we often find in nature - like ferns, shells, flowers and even galaxies! Who'd have thought maths could produce such fascinating stuff!
The Fibonacci Spiral is based on the Fibonacci Sequence, a series of numbers where each number is the sum of the two preceding ones (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, etc.). This sequence is closely related to the Golden Ratio (approximately 1.618), which has been used for centuries in art, architecture, and nature for its pleasing proportions.
The Fibonacci Spiral is a logarithmic spiral that curves outward in increasing radii, creating a visually natural flow. Unlike the rule of thirds, which is a rough guideline, the Fibonacci Spiral is mathematically derived and is more precise in its application for creating balanced compositions.
The Rule of Thirds might be simplified, but it still has a powerful effect on your compositions!
Both the Rule of Thirds and the Fibonacci Spiral aim to create balance and guide the viewer’s eye through the composition. They both place emphasis on positioning the subject off-centre, which creates a more dynamic and engaging image.
These techniques tap into human psychology and visual perception. Images composed according to the Rule of Thirds or the Fibonacci Spiral often feel more natural and harmonious.
Would you like to receive my monthly newsletter? It's a round up of my latest videos and blog posts, plus news and exclusive content and downloads - only for subscribers. Opt out if you're over it with just a click or two!
*Going back to our little experiment, where did you place your mark on the line you drew? Was it roughly one third or two thirds along the line? A minority of people will place it in the middle, but most of us will be automatically guided by natural wisdom to place the mark in close alignment with the Golden Ratio 🤯 Crazy eh?
Let's return to the 'grid'. The four points where the lines intersect are considered "power points" where the eye is naturally drawn. Placing key subjects (such as the eye, horizon, or your subject in general) at, or near these points, makes the image more interesting and guides the viewer’s gaze effectively through the frame.
Which one did your eye return to? In one, I have placed the Ospreys eye directly on the 'power position'.
The direction our Osprey is facing also makes a difference. We need to have space for him to 'look' at or the photo can look visually imbalanced. The Rule of Thirds is a quick and easy way of getting the placement right every time!
Using the Rules of Thirds also helps corrects a problem we frequently encounter preparing images for social media - cropping too tight. I am definitely guilty of this, especially when I started out.
You want your image to make an impact, and you want to show off the sharp details. But the screen is so dam tiny?!! So the obvious solution is to make your subject as big as possible is the frame....right?
Well, yes your eye might jump to those 'larger than life' images. BUT ... do they hold your attention? Or do you quickly move on as there's something not quite right about them?
Having space around your subject gives the eye somewhere to rest. Cropped too tight and it gives the feeling of the bird being almost caged or boxed in. Our lovely Rosella model appearing smaller in the frame is cropped using the Rule of Thirds.
The other is blown up to fit the space as much as possible but our lovely bird looks a little cramped in the space. Don't know about you but my eye returns to the more spacious photo again and again.
Which do you prefer? Which looks more professional? Let me know in the comments!
Breaking the Rule
While the Rule of Thirds is an excellent guideline for composition, like all 'rules' of photography, it’s NOT an absolute rule. Photographers and artists often experiment by breaking it - once they understand its principles.
Not every shot benefits from strict adherence to the Rule of Thirds. Some scenes may work better with a centred subject, symmetry, or leading lines.
Like any compositional tool, mastering the Rule of Thirds takes practice. With time, you'll start intuitively applying it to your compositions without needing to think about the grid explicitly.
When in doubt, you really can't go wrong following the Rule of Thirds! Call it the lazy no-brainer option but it's a technique I use in 80 - 90% of my photos and I find it really helps when I'm deliberating over an edit.
You don't have to be exact with your placement - visually break your composition into blocks and objects, and try to create a harmonious balance between them, roughly allocating space for each using the Rule of Thirds principles.
Your images will likely feel more balanced and compelling, providing a professional and polished look.
Kommentare