what is the rule of thirds in photography

The rule of thirds is a compositional guideline in photography that evenly divides an image into thirds using two horizontal and two vertical lines, creating nine equal rectangles. The purpose of this guideline is to create more interesting and appealing compositions by placing the subject or elements of interest where the lines intersect. According to the rule of thirds, you should put your primary subject on one of those points (or along one of the lines). In general, using the rule of thirds will help you create a pleasing, well-balanced image. It is a way to give your main point of interest special emphasis, marking it as important. The rule of thirds is widely considered to be one of the most important first techniques you can learn to create better compositions and help you progress from “taking pictures” to “making photographs”. While it is a fundamental principle of photography, it is not a hard and fast rule, and there are times when breaking it can lead to more interesting and creative compositions.