RULE OF THIRDS COMPOSITION | PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS WITH JEAN

What is the “Rule of Thirds”?

In any two dimensional art, such as a drawing, painting or photograph, the “Rule of Thirds” describes the type of composition laid out on the page where the lines or subject are found in an imaginary grid divided into thirds, both horizontally and vertically. This type of composition is naturally pleasing to the eye and provides visual balance and interest.

Imagine a grid or horizontal and vertical thirds over this photo. You’ll notice it has several instances vertically and horizontally that fall into the “rule of thirds”, however the lines are not EXACTLY at the invisible thirds grid. Although the water line runs in the middle of the photo, the mountains are in the upper third of the photo and the log lines up in the the lower third. The subject is not exactly in a vertical third, but she is off-center and because the line of the log she is sitting on leads your eye up toward the upper right third of the image, it satisfies the rule, visually.

Ultimately, YOU are the artist of your composition, but it is good to think about where you will line up the elements and subject of your picture frame. Centering your elements vs. off-centering them in thirds will determine the visual appeal of the image. Try and practice some different options and discover your style! And most of all HAVE FUN!

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