The Rule of Thirds
Some photos are easier to look at then others. Just like some buildings are strangely pleasing to the eye. This has a lot to do with how this are laid out or composed. In photography, the rule of thirds is one of the most commonly used tools to compose photographs. The photo is divided into a 3 x 3 grid. Using the lines and spaces on the grid, one can compose a photo in an organized manner. The grid used for the rule of thirds is completely even. All of the lines are the same length.
When using the rule of thirds, you can either place the subject on the lines or in the spaces between. Both ways make for very different images. Some people insist that rule of thirds is only on the lines, while other insist it is only in the spaces, though through some research I have found that both ways work equally as well for different reasons.
If you are using the lines in rule of thirds, you place the subjects on each line. The lines can be used to arrange the background as well. In the above image, the people are placed on each of the vertical lines, while the bush in the back is placed on the first horizontal line. Using both vertical and horizontal lines to position your subjects and background make for a more cohesive image. Using the lines to compose your photo works well with two or more subjects
The second way to use rule of thirds is by placing the subject in the spaces between the line. In the above picture, the subject is place in the middle row of spaces. The subject can be placed in any of the rows or columns. Often times they can take up two columns, or three rows. They are not always in only only one square. In the picture above, the subject takes up one column across three rows.
Overall, the rule of thirds is a tool that can be applied to make composing photos easier and more visually pleasing. There are many ways to apply this tool and use it.
