Use the Rule of the Third Correctly
by Morten Elm The Rule of the Third (also called the Golden Section) might seem a little complicated: But actually it is not as complicated as you pr...
The Rule of the Third (also called the Golden Section) might seem a little complicated: But actually it is not as complicated as you probably think. If you are able to divide a square in nine equally sized parts, you will be able to use the Rule of the Third.
Before you do anything else, try to turn on your TV and find a news channel. Wait until you see the newsreader. Where is he sitting? In the middle of the picture? No, he is sitting either in the left or the right third. And that is the Rule of the Third.
Since the earliest days (long before the photograph) painters found out, that if you place the main subject either about one third or two thirds from the top and/or from the left side, the painting will be more balanced.
Actually the entirely right place is not in the third part of the picture. There is a complicated mathematically rule to describe the Golden Section. But who cares. As long as the subject is placed about one third, if is fine enough. So if the viewer of your photos is sitting with a ruler, you should try showing them to others than mathematicians.
So try to place your main subject in the third parts, when you are photographing. It can be either horizontal or vertically; or it can be both.
It is really important to use the Rule of the Third when photographing the horizon. In many photos the horizon is placed in the middle of the picture. That gives an unbalanced photo, because it is divided into two parts.
Instead look at the frame. What is most interesting; the sky or the ground? If there are beautiful clouds in the sky, then this part should fill up two thirds of the picture. Are the subjects on the ground more interesting they should fill up the largest part.
If you have a camera, where the subject has to be in the middle of the frame to be sharp, your must place the subject in the middle of the frame. Then you should press the releaser half down and turn your camera, so the subject is placed where you want it to be. This way the right part of the photo will be sharp.
Like all other photographic rules it is okay to break the Rule of the Thirds; as long as you do it on purpose and knows what you are doing.
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