How to Use the Rule of Thirds

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Let's face it: photography can be challenging. There are many variables to consider, from lighting and exposure to aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. And then there's the whole issue of composition. Do you center the subject or offset it? Do you include the entire scene or zoom in on a specific detail? It's enough to make your head spin!

I wrote an entire article on photography composition techniques, but today, we will tackle one of the most fundamental composition techniques - the rule of thirds. And trust me, it's way more fun than it sounds.

How to Use the Rule of Thirds?

Experiment with your camera's grid
Practice with your camera
Eyes should always be the focal point

Okay, so imagine you have a blank canvas in front of you and want to create a masterpiece. You could slap your subject right in the middle of the canvas and call it a day, but where's the fun? Instead, let's divide that canvas into thirds - both vertically and horizontally, like a giant tic-tac-toe board. Now, imagine that the lines and the spots where they intersect are the sweet spots of your canvas. That's where you want to place your subject. When you do this, you create a more visually appealing and balanced photo that draws the viewer's eye to the essential parts of the scene. And who doesn't want their photographs to be visually appealing and balanced, right?!

You could slap your subject right in the middle of the canvas and call it a day, but where's the fun? Instead, let's divide that canvas into thirds - both vertically and horizontally, like a giant tic-tac-toe board. Now, imagine that the lines and the spots where they intersect are the sweet spots of your canvas. That's where you want to place your subject. When you do this, you create a more visually appealing and balanced photo that draws the viewer's eye to the essential parts of the scene.

Of course, many other composition techniques exist, so you can rely on something different than the rule of thirds. However, this is one of the more common ones, and it's nice to fully grasp this technique.

Related article: Photography Composition Techniques

Related article: Landscape Photography Composition

Joshua tree in the middle of a desert at golden hour, rule of thirds overlay

How to Use the Rule of Thirds?

Practice makes perfect. Once you do a photograph with the rule of thirds technique a handful of times, it will become rooted in you, and you will start to always look out for the imaginary grid lines and how to perfectly capture the rule of thirds. Here are three tips to improve your photographs:

Experiment with your camera's grid

Once you turn on your camera and look through your viewfinder, you can play around with your camera's grid and how you would create a photo with the rule of thirds composition technique.

Practice with your camera

Get out there and start practicing. Go out in your backyard and test this technique to get a strong feel. Try inanimate and animate subjects to really test the waters.

Eyes should always be the focal point

If you use a person as the subject, focus on their face, eyes or their smile.

Woman standing in a balcony and smiling at the camera, rule of thirds overlay

When Should You Break the Rule of Thirds?

Even though there's a rule, you can still follow it. Sometimes you have to break the rules to make some magic happen, you know? So, when should you toss the rule of thirds out the window?

Here are a few situations where you might want to consider breaking the rule of thirds:

When the subject demands it: Sometimes, the subject you photograph looks best in the center and fills the frame, regardless of the rule of thirds. This might be the case if you're shooting a symmetrical object or a face-on portrait.
When you want to create tension or drama: Breaking the rule of thirds can create a sense of tension or unease in a photo, which can be helpful if you're trying to convey a certain mood or emotion. For example, placing the subject close to the edge of the frame can create a sense of movement or instability.
When you want to create a specific effect: Ultimately, the rule of thirds is just a guideline, and there are no hard and fast rules regarding composition. If you have a particular effect or look you're going for, breaking the rule of thirds might be the best way to achieve it.

Remember, you're the artist here, so don't be afraid to experiment and break a few rules.

Thankfully, You Can Always Edit Your Photos!

If you take only a handful of photos with the same composition technique, you can always edit to fill the frame or use the rule of thirds. However, this is an excellent reason to always take as many photos as possible and use different techniques for the same subject.

Remember, it's just a guideline, not a hard and fast rule, so feel free to break it when it suits your creative vision. But at the end of the day, the best advice I can give you is to experiment and have fun!

The rule of thirds may sound like a fancy term, but at its core, it's a simple and effective way to create visually stunning and balanced compositions in your photography. Remember, it's just a guideline, not a hard and fast rule, so feel free to break it when it suits your creative vision. But at the end of the day, the best advice I can give you is to experiment and have fun!

Photography is all about exploring and pushing the boundaries of what's possible, and the rule of thirds is just one of many tools you have at your disposal. So grab your camera, get out there, and see what magic you can create with this powerful composition technique.