L+Garvin

[|Lauren Garvin]

Rule of Thirds The basic principle behind the rule of thirds is to imagine breaking an image down into thirds (both horizontally and vertically) so that you have 9 parts.  Before you snap the picture, imagine your picture area divided into thirds both horizontally and vertically. The intersections of these imaginary lines suggest four options for placing the center of interest for good composition. The option you select depends upon the subject and how you would like that subject to be presented.





As you’re taking an[| image]you would have done this in your mind through your viewfinder or in the LCD display that you use to frame your shot.

With this grid in mind the ‘rule of thirds’ now identifies four important parts of the image that you should consider placing points of interest in as you frame your image.

Not only this – but it also gives you four ‘lines’ that are also useful positions for elements in your photo.

The theory is that if you place points of interest in the intersections or along the lines that your photo becomes more balanced and will enable a viewer of the image to interact with it more naturally. Studies have shown that when viewing images that people’s eyes usually go to one of the intersection points most naturally rather than the center of the shot – using the rule of thirds works with this natural way of viewing an image rather than working against it. 

     But what if there's simply nothing in the image to apply the rule of thirds to? Although rare, this might be the case for extremely abstract compositions. However, the "spirit of the rule" may still apply: give the photo a sense of balance without making the subject appear too static and unchanging. The basic element of the rule is that if you place points of interest or divisions within the image either along the horizontal or vertical lines or at a point of intersection that construction of the image will give your photo more balance and will help the viewer to engage with the subject matter. It will lead the eye away from the centre of the image and towards one of more natural points of interest.

Sources: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.digital-photography-school.com/rule-of-thirds <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: arial,verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">[]

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