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 when you are photographing, try to place your subjects in the third parts of the picture; if possible both vertically and horizontal.
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.
So take a look at the subject and decide which part is the most interesting. Is it the sky or the ground? Are there beautiful clouds or are the subjects on the ground more interesting? Place two third of the photography with the most interesting part of the subject.
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.
Morten Elm is the editor of Foto Fan. Here you can read about fotos. You can also find information about subjects like kamera.
Tags: Camera, digital photography, digital photos, Entertainment, horizon, mathematic, painting, photography, photos, pictures, Rule of the Third, sky, subjects, the Golden Section
