Basic Photography - Using The Rule of Thirds

Many people just use their cameras “point and shoot,” but by using the Rule of Thirds anyone can take better, and more professional looking photographs. The Rule of Thirds is a simple technique that doesn’t require so much as a settings change on your camera, and can even be implemented using a disposable camera.

The Rule of Thirds is all about subject positioning. Where you place the subject in your photograph is very important. If part of a subject is cut out of the picture, or if the subject is dead center or too off center, your photograph will either not be usable, or won’t look right due to awkward open spaces.

To help you visualize the rule of thirds, it helps to have a visual aid. Grab an index card or piece of paper and a pen. Position the card or paper horizontally in front of you and use the pen to draw two vertical lines that separate the page into three equal columns. Now do the same horizontally to create three equal horizontal rows. What you are left with is a grid of nine rectangles.

Notice that by drawing these lines you create a center rectangle. This is the magic box that you need to visualize when looking through the camera lens at your subject. You do not want to place your subject inside the box, but rather along it’s boarders and at it’s corners.

As an example, pretend you are taking a picture of your friend, from a medium distance. You do not want to put your subject’s head (the focus of the photo) in the center of the frame. This would cause too much open space above their head. Rather, you want to place their head where the top boarder of your magic rectangle would be. This fills your frame, and creates a more visually pleasing photo.

Let’s get into a more detailed example. Imagine in your mind (or sketch on a piece of paper) a large field of golden wheat. The sky is bright blue. Off near the horizon there is a fence that runs across the field. Near that fence is a large tree, and hanging from that tree on the left side is a tire swing on a long rope. Your subject is the tire swing.

If you use the Rule of Thirds and your magic triangle to guide your frame, consider this:

place the tire swing along the right boarder of your magic box, so that the tree falls to the right of that. The rest of your frame is open to capture the beautiful field and sky.

The subject may be the swing, but putting it off to the side adds visual interest. instead of just noticing a tire swing, a person viewing the photo would also notice the beautiful background.

Practice taking photos using the Rule of Thirds, and your eye for visual interest will improve.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenna_Kast