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Rule of Thirds - You can't create without it!
What is the rule of thirds and how does it work? Well, look at the graphic to the right and you will see a typical horizontal shape with two horizontal lines dividing it in thirds horizontally and two vertical lines dividing it in thirds vertically. The points at which the lines cross are the focus of our attention.
Most photos by amateur photographers have subjects in the centre of the frame. It is easy to understand why, as most cameras have a focussing aid placed centrally, and the metering systems in most cameras are centre weighted. However, placing your subject in the centre of the image is often just plain boring.
When placing your subject, use the cross over points as guides for placement. Pay attention to motion in your image, so if your subject is a football player on the run, leave space in front of him. If it is a close up of a face, use the eyes of the person as the "subject" and leave space in the direction the eyes are going.
On the far left we have a vertical photograph of a grad. Notice that her face is in the upper left third, and that she is looking slightly downward and to the right. The empty space has a purpose, that is to give her space in the direction she is looking.
Now look at the same photograph on the immediate left with the subject centred in the frame. You can see how "cut off" she looks, she has no room to move, no space to look into, and she is located in the vertical centre of the image.
Ah, the skate boarder! I love this photograph. It is by an Edmonton photographer by the name of Russell Timmerman, who has been kind enough to let us use it for illustration on our web site.
What a great action shot! What good use of the rule of thirds. Our young lad coming from the right to the left, with the bulk of his upper body in the upper right third. The action continues on down to the lower left third with his leading foot in the direction of action The upper left two thirds of the image is open for action. Add to that the tense "S" curve of the boarder giving a great geometric shape to the image, and this is a true winner.
Here is a couple, and once again they are placed in the frame in one of the thirds. This time the image reads left to right, and it would be appropriate to place such an image on the left side of your layout on the page. Remember that the way the photograph "moves" suggests where it should be placed on a page.
The "Rule of Thirds" is a really simple concept, and it works in portraits, landscapes and candid photographs. Use it whenever you can.
