Photography Tip #4: The Rule of Thirds

I don't know about you, but every time I go to the theatre to see a movie I make a bee-line for the seats in the center of the theatre.  To me, the view is just better there.  I'm willing to bet many of you do the same thing.  Odd habit?  Apparently not.  There's actually scientific reasoning behind it.  Did you know that our brains automatically try to center everything we look at?  

This scientific fact explains why most people naturally center their subjects while taking a photograph.  While the brain may like things dead-center, placing your subject in the middle of your image is the fastest way to get your images ignored.  It practically ensures no one will take a second glance at your work.  It's too ordinary.  It's too expected.  It's too natural.  

Just like advertisers are constantly seeking new gimmicks to get their consumers to take notice of their product, photographers have to use a few tricks of their own to get people to stand up and take notice of their work.  First up in a photographer's bag of tricks is a little something we like to call The Rule of Thirds. 

The basic concept of the rule of thirds is to place your subject anywhere BUT the center of your photograph - more specifically on one of the thirds.  The diagram below illustrates this concept.  The goal is to mentally divided your image into thirds both vertically and horizontally. Your subject should be placed on one of the points where these lines intersect (indicated by the green dots).  By using this concept, you can take your images from ho-hum to WOW!  

How, you ask?  Since your subject is no longer in the center, your brain suddenly takes notice.  Alarm bells go off.  It takes a second look to see what's going on - and it likes what it sees. Goal accomplished!  Isn't that the reaction we're after?

In the image below, I purposefully placed the fence post and sign on one of the thirds.  This helps to add interest to an otherwise ordinary scene. I used another little trick as well (in addition to a large aperture) - a little something called leading lines.  But, I'll cover that trick of the trade next time.