Rule of thirds

The rule of thirds is probably the most well know photography technique. It is a fairly simple technique, where the photographer imagines four lines over the image, two vertical lines dividing it into three, and two horizontal lines doing the same. Using these lines can help a photograph be more interesting and draw the viewers’ eyes to different parts. An example of using these lines effectively is, when taking a picture of a horizon, imagine the horizon lying on one of these lines, instead of in the centre of the picture, or anywhere else. The same applies when taking a picture of a person or a building, apart from using the vertical lines to place the object on. Where the four lines intersect are known as points of interest. The main focus of a picture should lie on one of these four intersections, as a viewer is naturally drawn to these points in a photo, rather to the centre. However, this rule is not definitive, and doesn’t always mean that it is going to make a picture better than if rule was not applied.