chapter 4: compoSition 79
the ruLe oF thirdS: When to FoLLoW it and When to
ignore it
Once you start studying a bit about composition, you’ll hear about the rule of thirds.
The rule of thirds is a guideline that is designed to help you get your subject and
strong visual elements such as horizons out of the center of the picture. It gives you
a framework to simplify your choices for strong positions within a composition.
The rule of thirds starts by dividing your picture
into horizontal thirds (Figure 4.2). This results
in two lines at the intersection of the thirds.
Visually, these lines work very well as positions
for horizons. When the horizon is placed at
the bottom-third line, you have a very strong
emphasis of sky in the photograph with less of
the ground (Figure 4.3). When the horizon is
placed at the top third, the ground is empha-
sized and the sky is deemphasized.
ISO 100
1/30 sec.
f/
250mm
(APS-C)FIgure 4.
In this image
of sunrise over
California’s Santa
Monica Mountains,
strong horizontal
elements of the
picture line up
closely with the
rule of thirds.FIgure 4.
The rule of thirds starts by dividing the picture horizontally
into thirds.