How to improve your composition.
Today we will be talking with you about the rule of thirds, and why you should care about it. When picking up a camera, proper composition is not something that everyone has engrained in them – it is something that improves with time. The rule-of-thirds is a great guideline to create eye-catching composition in your photographs.
When I first read about the rule of thirds, I almost found it hard to believe. When I started out in photography, I used to be a stickler for symmetry, and sometimes I still am. It wasn’t until I realized that the rule-of-thirds is a well-known concept that I discovered how much I was already using it, and maybe you are too.
The rule-of-thirds can be applied to create better composition and intentional areas of focus in your images. This rule is best described by dividing an image up by two vertical, and two horizontal lines. This creates 9 equally-sized sections. Studies have shown that our eyes will naturally rest on the point of intersection of these lines. This is a good general rule when deciding where the intended focus of your image should be placed to provide balance.
When you take a photo through Instagram, do you ever wonder why you have the option to use a grid? This is technology’s way of making it easier for you to achieve good composition – you barely have to think about it. This can wildly affect your photography in a positive way. Utilizing the rule of thirds, with practice, can change a photo from looking messy and confusing to bringing attention and focus directly to where it is intended.
This is not to say that breaking the rule of thirds isn’t allowed, as it can be done in beautiful ways. I have found that when I succumb to creating symmetry as a form of balance (rather than the rule of thirds) that it is best done when the photo is simple and without distractions. That way, there is no distraction from the intended focus, and the right effect can be achieved even without the rule of thirds in play.