Last time we were talking composition and how to create that picture perfect moment. We told you that next time we would be talking about the rule of thirds. Thanks for joining us again.

The most shared composition guideline is the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds denotes the technique of dividing your frame into thirds vertically and horizontally to decide which spaces have the most aesthetically pleasing worth.

Double whammy

By strategically placing fundamental elements on a photographic frame’s thirds, you are able to create images that are easy on the eyes. You also disrupt the habit of placing your subject in the center of the composition. Also, when you place the focus off center you can create much more appealing photographs.

Your subject is whatever seems most significant to you in the scene. If you are having a hard time trying to figure out what your subject is in a scene, ask yourself why you are even taking the picture in the first place. Are you trying to capture a first dance at a wedding but still want people in the background, then of course, your focus should be on the couple (as photographed above). In this image, there are multiple subjects in one scene. This is a perfect example of when you can use the rule of thirds to prioritize each subject.

Conquer Composition

Imagine four lines-two horizontal and two vertical-and divide them into nine equal boxes. You can look at this as sort of like a tic-tac-toe board. These lines define the golden spots for positioning your scene’s vital elements.

Golden Points

The areas where vertical and horizontal lines cross are called golden points. These points are recognized to have the uppermost visual impact. Thus, inserting an important component in one of these areas makes it one of the strongest visual features in the frame.

But don’t get too hung up on positioning these elements exactly on the thirds. The positioning really doesn’t need to be exact to be effective in what you are trying to convey. But by using the rule of thirds, you can get a better idea as to where the most visually pleasing spaces are. If your main subject is a little more to the right of one of the thirds, that’s okay. Just look at this as a guide but not so much as rule per se.

That’s all for now on the rule of thirds. ‘Tis the season, couples will be getting engaged. Please contact us for availability information.