So, let’s see what the rule of thirds is and when you should use it.
What Is the Rule of Thirds?
The rule of thirds has one main purpose for better composition of your photos: balance.
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It is one ofphotography’s most basic guidelines.
The best way to imagine it is as a tic-tac pattern on top of your photo.
The four intersecting points are the most effective off-center points of visual interest.
There are otheressential rules of photographythat have been borrowed from mathematics and psychology.
Placing the main subject of your photo away from the center will not always give you a nicer photo.
It can improve your otherwise humdrum shots.
You might have to enable it.
To do so, head into the options on your camera and find the option to enable grid lines.
Some manufacturers will include several different options.
Photoshop and Lightroom have crop guide overlays that include the rule of thirds grid.
Use this grid as you crop your image to place the most interesting elements along the intersecting lines.
you might also customize grid prefs to create an overlay.
Open your photo and follow the steps below.
The rule of thirds helps to create visual appeal.
For instance, you’ve got the option to align the horizon with one of the intersecting lines.
Avoid placing the horizon in the middle of the frame when shooting landscapes.
Usually, placing the horizon on the bottom line is best to convey the vastness of the sky.
Eyes are always interesting points of interest, so you should place them along the intersections of the grids.
Use the direction of the glance to place the person on the right or left vertical line.
But do remember that the scene should dictate the composition and not the other way around.
Symmetrical photos like portraits, for example, will need an immediate and direct focus on the main subject.
you’re free to ignore the rule of thirds if some of them lie on the intersecting lines.
The element is then equidistant from all the four corners, creating symmetry.
For instance, a field of flowers or a crowd at a fair.
Use a shallow depth of field and center the main object of attention.
When Leading Lines Work Better
Leading linesare another composition technique.
Looking at everything from behind a grid might bake the rule of thirds into your muscle memory.
But always attempt to break out and try different compositions.
