The most basic rule to consider when composing a photograph is the rule of thirds. This rule is a great starting point for a composition. It has a long history, first mentioned in 19th-century articles, but similar techniques, including “The Golden Ratio, ” famously popular with DaVinci, have been used to create balance, order, and symmetry by dividing the composition into sections.
If a person draws two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines, the photograph will be broken into nine equal parts. The rule of thirds advises you to place the focus of the image near or on the intersection of one of the vertical and horizontal lines. If you are photographing a person this is likely their eyes, for a vehicle this can be the subject in a wide panorama, or a vital detail in a close shot. Interestingly, many equate a vehicle’s headlights to a person’s eyes.
See the attached photos for several examples showing the use of this rule and helping to illustrate its effectiveness.
When using the rule of thirds with a directional object, such as a vehicle moving across the frame or a person looking across the frame, it can be uncomfortable for the viewer if a car is running off the image or a person is looking off the photo with no space in front of them, If a subject is moving or looking from right to left it is usually more appealing to place that object on the right side of the photo so that they are moving or looking into the frame not out of it.
The Rule of Thirds is a simple starting point. Like all “rules,” it is important to understand them and how they can improve your compositions, but don’t be scared to rebel and break them when you have a vision in mind.
