Composition and the Rule of Thirds
What makes an image look good? Are there any guidelines to follow?
Above: Lets take a recent example of a photograph I took in South Africa. I have been trying to get this image for a while now, and this is a classic composition where I used the rule of 3rds. I photographed this zebra with this image in mind, there has been no cropping and I had to get very close to capture this image.
One of the composition rules that we learn in photography is called the rule of thirds.
This is where we break up a picture into 1/3 blocks horizontally and vertically. Where the lines intersect at the points of interest.
So what are points of interest? The eye naturally moves to areas within the image looking for lighter areas, or areas that are in focus or have more contrast. If these areas fall within these intersection points, then the image has a more pleasing composition.
So lets take this image of the zebra and analyse how it works.
First we cut up the image into 3rds. Divide the image into 3 equal parts vertically and horizontally.
Notice where the lines intersect? These positions within the image are where the focal points, or points of interest should be situated.
Check out the following image. Notice where the focal points are?
So which focal point did I choose to be the primary point of interest in this image?
The zebra eye is the place I want the viewer to settle on in this image. It’s the sharpest, most in-focus and the warmest (more red/yellow) part of this image. Lets have a closer look at the zebra’s eye.
Notice how I used a shallow depth-of-field to achieve the eye in-focus and the rest of the zebra to be out-of-focus. I did this by using a wide-open aperture. Check out my video on aperture and depth-of-field if you want to know how to do it.
So, do you think the rule of 3rds has made this image better? Please leave your comments below.
Brent
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I am understanding the concept. In other words, by off-centering the point of interest, the image becomes more attactive to the viewer. Whereas, a symmetrical composition would be 'boring' to the eye … especially when there is so much similarity of detail (the stripes)
Hi Brent, based in NZ and own a Fuji X10 and loving it. I am enjoying your emails/videos and wanted to let you know they are really appreciated. I enjoyed your rule of 3rds article here which I was actually aware of but your example just made it so easy to understand. Keep it going! Howard.
Thanks Howard, glad you are enjoying my work. I put a lot of energy into these videos and articles. Cheers, Brent
LOVE this shot. Thanks for sharing it … and the great teaching that came along with it.
hello brent,
that's an impressive shot. but what i don't follow is that how many points of interest should be there in a picture? what i'm trying to understand is the should a photographer aim for a primary point of interest and can he ignore the secondary points of interest?
You are right Jamal, normally 1 point of interest. Where do you want the person’s eye to settle on? Sometimes you can look for a 2nd point of interest, but mostly it’s only 1. Hope this helps. Brent
hi brent,
would like to see an example of a composition without using the rue of thirds……is it possible ?.
by the way love your zebra, but dont like the overall colour..sort of a sepia………. but poetic licence.?
Hi Warren and thanks for your comments. I have other images from the zebra shoot but that one was taken so close, barely any crop. I shot it thinking about the rule of 3rds. As for the colour, that is the natural colour of the zebra, they are full of dust from the Africa winter – thus adding the sepia tones. I guess they would look more black and white once they have a swim. Cheers, Brent
great instruction. thank you for sharing!
Great Shot. i got me looking at the eye from the first view. thanks for all your mails and ebooks. God bless you
been working on the rule of 3rds, but the warm (red/yello) has me currious. Can you explain the concept on the color composition, does that also draw attention to the focal point?
Learned this from a really great photographer, got me thinking and I totally agree, warm colours tend to attract the eye, like a fire in the early morning, or a light at night, we are attracted to warmth. Brent
great shot, it forces the viewer to see the whole picture but to put their attention to the focul point of the eye, had the eye been anywhere else it would not had the impact of this photo.
Excellent pic, I think by using this method, you want the viewer to concentrate on your point of interest of the subject. You are drawn to the eye, and not distracted by all the stripes.
Exactly – you got it. Brent