The rule of thirds is a compositional guideline used in visual arts such as photography, painting, and film-making. The guideline proposes that an image should be divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines, and that important compositional elements should be placed along these lines or their intersections. The rule of thirds is applied by aligning a subject with these points, which creates more tension, energy, and interest in the composition than simply centering the subject.
The rule of thirds is perhaps the most well-known “rule” of composition and is one of the fundamental principles of photography. It is a way to give the main point of interest special emphasis, marking it as important, and feels natural and harmonious. While some proponents claim that points of interest in the photo do not have to actually touch one of these lines to take advantage of the rule of thirds, the primary subject should be placed on one of the four “rule of thirds” points or along one of the lines.
In general, using the rule of thirds will help create a pleasing, well-balanced image. However, it is not a hard and fast rule, and there are always exceptions. Sometimes breaking the rule of thirds can create a more powerful composition.
