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his month I want
to talk to you about
a subject I suspect
I take for granted.
Something that,
over my years as
a professional photographer,
I undoubtedly use but very
rarely, if ever, actually think
much about.
The rule of thirds is one of the
building blocks of composition
in photography. It’s all about
positioning the most importantelements off-centre to create
a balanced and harmonious
composition. While it sounds
simple, it’s often overlooked
or misunderstood.
Like all rules in photography
it is there to be broken and,
again like all rules, is at its best
when you have learnt about it
and then absorbed it into
your subconscious.
So, the rule of thirds states
that if you draw four lines (two
vertical and two horizontal) onto your picture, thus creating
nine squares/rectangles, the
points with the most impact
are where those lines cross.
It can be a very effective
compositional tool and the best
way to see it on your iPhone is
to turn on the grid.
It can be particularly useful
for mobile photography as
it strengthens an image,
especially when that image is
being looked at when small, and
it often, especially in landscapephotography, encourages the
use of negative space.L
ike I said, be aware of it,
but try not to think about
it. Make it like turning the
pedals of a bike, and
always remember the words
of my hero Edward Weston
who said: ‘Consulting the rules
of composition before taking
a picture is like consulting
the rules of gravity before
going for a walk.’Rules of composition can sometimes be frowned upon but there is a rule
worth knowing. Once learned it can be used or broken as you want.
Tim Clinch discusses the rule of thirds.
TECHNIQUE SMART GUIDE TO PHOTOGRAPHYAll images
© Tim Clinch1
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