A well known photographer, Ernest Haas said, “The camera doesn’t make a bit of difference. All of them can record what you are seeing. But, you have to SEE.”
Each photographer gets to choose the elements included in a photograph as well as those that are made less important or excluded. During the Renaissance, painters created a simple formula for helping the viewer to focus on the main subject of a painting while at the same time allowing their eyes to wander around it. They discovered that a person does not simply stop and look at the centre of a painting but is generally curious about everything that is within the frame.
Photographers use the Rule of Thirds to help draw attention to the centre of interest, focal point, or main subject of their image.
Imagine a grid of two horizontal and vertical lines, equal distance apart…like tic tac toe…and notice the four points where these lines intersect. Studies have shown that the human eye naturally sees the area of one of these intersecting points before moving through other parts of an image.
Thinking about the composition of a photograph before you press the shutter can make your images more appealing. When you’re looking through the viewfinder to set up your picture, take a moment to think about what makes the strongest element in the scene and place it on one of the locations where the horizontal and vertical lines meet.
the dock placed in the centre of this photograph is not nearly as pleasing to the eye as in the location in the image below
the dock placed in the upper right allows the eyes to notice it first and then wander through the rest of the scene
Of course, this is not a fixed rule but rather a guideline to help image makers.
Each photographer will use their own creative expression in choosing the composition. However, if you’ve always been placing your main subject in the middle of the frame, give the Rule of Thirds a try and you may develop stronger images that your viewers will enjoy.
Below are two images of pears. In the first, I placed the pears in the middle of the frame. It is definitely pleasing to the eye. But, take a look at the photograph below it. By giving the pears more space within the frame on the right and placing the focal point on the left, the image is stronger and allows the viewer to take their time and explore the image.
the pears are centered in this image
the pears are placed in this composition using the Rule of Thirds
“My theory of composition? Simple: do not release the shutter until everything in the viewfinder feels just right.” Ernest Haas
If you would like to see more of my photographs, check out my Fine Art America Website.
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Everything Neat 
What a great post! So helpful to have a quick and easy tip to follow. thanks!
Ernest Haas said, “The camera doesn’t make a bit of difference. All of them can record what you are seeing. But, you have to SEE.”
Ahhh that is a wise, wise quote. I will repeat this when I hear someone say “You take awesome pictures, you must have a nice camera.”
I just learned about this rule during the week. I had never thought about it before and had usually placed the subject in the centre, but when I look at compare pictures, like you have above, it makes sense!
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I loved trying to teach this concept to high schoolers…they were always so confused by it and just made the subject off center by the tiniest bit.
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Nice tip, allways had this feeling, but never knew why, this makes sense…
Thanks
Thanks for the instructions and wonderful image comparison. I have been reading about the rule of thirds and been trying to improve my photography. Great tips. Have a good weekend! 🙂
Wow…I’ve never really considered how such a simple rule can completely change an image. Thanks for sharing this tip…
that’s knew to me. although i am not that addict to photography, i am frustrated to engage in one. when i take pictures, i always center my subject. maybe i could try your tip for a change and see how it really works.
LOL … my lovely digital camera has these guideline in the viewer on the back but I never really understood what it wanted me to do with them! Thanks for the simple straightforward explaination. I’m sure my future photo will be more intriguing for it.
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nice tips 🙂
Ah, I’ve had this rule so ingrained into my consciousness that I now see in terms of photographic composition (rule of thirds and depth of field). It’s actually quite irritating, but at least it makes my photos better.
visit da forum helped me learn many interesting things, hoping that there would be more ideas or more for people learning
I’m so glad that your blog was freshly pressed! Great tips!
Thanks.
Some very good advice, keep up the good work.
I enjoyed seeing the illustrations you put in to show the rule of thirds at work. i came across the rule a couple of months ago but the clear and vivid photos you posted will help me remember it all the better.
A triptych of clarity. Thank you.
Makes a lot of sense when you think about it. I think I’ll try this out sometime with my own photos
Excellent post! I am a constant advocate for using the rule of thirds. Our agency just recently hired a NEW graphics expert. The new expert said, “Nobody uses the rules of thirds anymore!” She stated that this is what she learned as a new graduate from her professor. I took her to her office and reviewed each and every book cover, poster on her wall, brochure on her desk, magazine spread in her office and challenged her to find one that did not use the rule of thirds at least a little. Between the two of us we found none. She now avidly uses the rules of thirds again and has forgotten her old professors name.
i knew it all along! 😀
Nice tip mate, Another good deed thou have done for the World! 😛
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That is the 2nd time this week I have read the Rule of Thirds. Love your demo. Beautiful photos.
Simple, well-written and well-illustrated explanation of the Rule of Thirds. Congrats on the front page feature – this definitely deserves it!
wow! I never knew that but this could really help!
love.
summer.
Thank you for this, it is really helpful. I like to take photos of my children – in particular close ups of their faces. Could you please show us a couple of examples of how this rule would work with people?
Composition is very important to think about in any visual art. Painting + drawing too.
When I do a landscape, this will help to remember 🙂
Good to know rules…which sounds similar for other types of art work compositions. I haven’t examined my photos too closely and my blogs aren’t even photography focused at all.
But also good to know when to break rules for composition.
thank for re-emphasis on the best known method – rule of thirds.
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Thanks! Great tips;)
good examples …. thanks
love this post. Basic but helpful indeed!
Think about where the object is “going”, not where it “is.” The pears in the picture are growing toward the outside, so you give more room to that side. Thanks for posting this!
Thanks for a helpful tip and a great example to illustrate the differences just a little tweak like that can make.
Very good indeed! I’ve worked with many photographers and indeed the best ones know this rule (though there are exceptions). I personally love applying it to portraits of people!
Also for portraits: blur the background (low aperature)
Step back and zoom in (wide angle distorts the face, creates big nose, etc.)
Use a soft, flattering light (unless you want shadows for guys) – ie reflector (even a car shade below the face can suffice!), and or shoot in sunset, and/or use a fill-in flash (especially if backlit)
Thanks for your clear, concise presentation of this important tip. Nice job.
I am interested in photography as a strengthening agent for the way I paint. This article was helpful. Composition is very important in a painting.
It’s a useful rule, but I find myself experimenting a lot of composition. Whatever interests my eye.
I think this is one of the easiest and most basic things to learn in the evergrowing list of photography rules (whether it be the list to follow or break). 🙂 I remember it was one of the first concepts taught to me in my highschool photography class, as well as one of the first I taught to my young photography campers.
Thank you!
Thanks for the tip!
I also learned that the viewers eye is drawn to the brightest areas of the photo,Along with the rule of thirds, this a useful rule to apply.
i can see how using these rules of composition can make for better photo’s as well as using the other basic elements and principals that are relevant across the board when it comes to visual art. but surely the quality of the camera does have something to do with good photography, depending on the effect your going for, and certainly depending on the skills of the photographer.
good tip
This is one of my favorite rules 🙂 Nice to hear more comments about it!
Wow awesome post!
Thanks for the tip. I just posted a picture using your suggestion, and it is one my better ones.
Very nice post. Excellent information.
This is one of the biggest tips to great photography and videography and it’s taken for granted sometime in the haste just to get shots or footage.
Thanks for posting
I wasn’t aware of this till I read your post. thank you so much for the tip…
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So true. I’ve never realized that. If I ever decide to pick a camera up again I will be sure to remember the Rule of Thirds.
So simply and clearly explained!!
thank you for the useful tip…will surely try it out the next time 🙂
Great article. This will be of great help to those who are just starting their career in photography. Thanks for sharing that wonderful idea. Cheers!!!
Thanks for such a simple and useful tip! Great post!
Very helpful
Might I note that this rule applies not only for photography, but blogs, graphics and a variety of visual potpourri.
Thank you. I finally understand the rule clearly.
I took a quick weekend course on how to use my camera, and the instructor emphasized this. Also, on my camera I can turn on those gridlines, and it’s a very helpful feature. It still feels odd while I’m doing it to place things off center, but I find my strongest photos follow the rule of thirds. It works.
I don’t know anything about photography, although I love taking pictures in a non-professional way – but this post is so interesting and explains in a very simple way a very useful tip! Thank you!
I’ve heard and read about this tip several times before and tried to use this tip several times but I still don’t think I can take good shots. I can create great looking interior spaces but somehow cropping them in a frame is quite hard to do. I guess it’s the stubbornness in me. Hehe..
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very useful tip. thank you very much
I’m a big believer in the rules of third. It’s amazing how just moving your lens just a little can make such an impact on your end image. Good tutorial.
Great article note that this rule applies not only for photography Thanks for such a simple and useful tip! Great post Photography Quick Tip 3 ~ the Rule of Thirds in Composition
I have never heard this before, but I think I do it unconsciously. I usually take a long time to frame a photo.
Great job on this post.
Good post. My own opinion is that the rule of thirds is overrated. I don’t think that it does produce better compositions and can be boring if it is kept to slavishly. Nice to see that you included two photos with and without the rule.
The rule of thirds has been around way before photography was invented
very good post but I don’t realy like to use the rule of thirds
Great post – very helpful!
Nice post. Really helpful 🙂
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I love your post. Thanks you very much,…:D
Also, on my camera I can turn on those gridlines, and it’s a very helpful feature. It still feels odd while I’m doing it to place things off center, but I find my strongest photos follow the rule of thirds. It works.