The basic rules of thirds in photography

It turns out that a professional camera is not yet a guarantee of high quality photography. It turns out that "Photoshop" is sometimes not enough to correct the errors when shooting. It becomes known that the photographer's work is no less easy than any other, as it requires a huge amount of knowledge, skills, and abilities. The rules of thirds in photography are just one aspect, but every self-respecting photographer must take them into account. What are they and how to use them correctly?

A little about...

The rules of thirds in photography are part of the basis of composition. This is a kind of golden section of photo art.

As an important component, the rule of thirds in photography, examples of which will be discussed below, is applicable to almost any chosen genre. It is well suited for both portrait and landscape photography . This makes it a universal weapon for defeating the target of high quality right into the top ten.

Should I follow blindly?

Definitely not. Strict and rigorous adherence to good rules in art does not result, but the rule of three-thirds in photography can always be the starting point for creating a masterpiece.

And in order to use it correctly, you need to properly understand what it is, what advantages it gives the creator, what its attractiveness is and how, with its help, the ideal balance that any photographer seeks is achieved.

Balance in everything!

Balance is something that is everywhere in nature. The balance tends to all natural, because it should also be achieved in the artificial. In the end, everything that a person does is just a reflection of what is already in nature. He draws his ideas from her, she is his best assistant and adviser.

A bit higher the term "photo artist" has already been used. With the photo everything is clear, but why is it chosen such a second half of this definition? Well, the photographer in a sense is also an artist holding a famous instrument in his hand instead of a brush. To get a good result, it's not enough just to press the shutter release button and capture the moment: before that, you should evaluate the composition of the future shot. It is a pity that not everyone understands this, but nevertheless it is so.

What is a composition?

Roughly speaking, the composition is a whole set of various techniques that help to correctly place objects. The correct arrangement will allow individual particles to assemble into a single picture, which, in fact, will be pleasant to watch. Rule of the third is the main component of the composition, together with the rule of the golden section, the rules of diagonals and so on.

Essentially, the rule of thirds is a simplified version of the golden section. In the original version, calculations are more complicated, closely related to the Fibonacci numbers. The golden section is one of the principles that every photographer should also know, but this article is about third.

What is the rule of thirds?

Mental division of the image into nine parts (3 x 3 - 3 vertically, the same number horizontally), and they should be equal, - here is the description of the rule of thirds. In photography, it is important. The described separation is a grid of two horizontal and vertical lines. Objects should be located at or near their intersections.

What's the idea?

Using this principle, as a rule, the third, the photo becomes more pleasing to the eyes and more natural, because its important elements are not located right in the middle of the frame. Also, there is more space for imagination and imagination.

The photo does not change radically, but the significance of the subject of photography is attached. What is it based on? When a person looks at a picture as a whole in reality, focusing on one thing, at the same time it is necessary that the surrounding elements do not interfere, but be combined with the object. Of course, for a minute glance, this description is not suitable, but a long peering into the distance suggests exactly this. The task of the photographer is to express what the viewer should pay attention to (the frame will focus on what it was necessary to focus on, because it will not be possible to use the focus of your own eye on the final result). To put in this case the object directly in the center, which comes to mind first, is a very coarse solution of the problem and, as already mentioned above, is quite unnatural, like a lie sewn with white threads.

How can it be used?

It is necessary to imagine the grid mentally, to identify important elements of the future frame and arrange them near the lines. It is worth remembering that there may not be an ideal match, but it is necessary to achieve an approximate one. Grid is the reference component for shooting. This is art, and therefore no "exactly in point" can not be. With the lines you can "play", arrange the composition at your own discretion. If time and technology allow, you can make several different frames to compare the result and see the difference. Without an understanding of the idea itself, nothing will come of it, and blind adherence will lead to the fact that all the photographs will be taken as if by one pattern. But that's the advantage of the rule of thirds in photography: it's so simple, so universal, and at the same time gives so many options to use it. All ingenious is simple. The same comparison with nature: it's like a sunset, the beauty of which is so undeniable that a person admires it for already a millennium, and it's different every day. But from metaphors back to reality.

Maybe the position with which the survey will be taken will have to be changed. It's nothing. A balanced and thoughtful approach to photography is a great habit. Yes, modern technology allows for a minute to "click" to hundreds of frames, but at such moments it will be very useful to recall the photo artists who worked with the film, when each frame was incredibly valuable, and it was necessary to calculate its parameters at random, never knowing what would happen in The result, and whether it will work out at all.

To help the photographer

Manufacturers of some cameras advocate for their users, adding the device the ability to include and substitute the grid. This is a visual representation, and the photographer can master the rule of three-thirds in photography, without imagining lines mentally.

By the way, an interesting fact: the rule is spread as a principle of three-thirds. This is not entirely true. In fact, this rule is two-thirds in the photograph. But it does not matter how to call it, it's important how to apply it. This will help the following tips for each type of photos.

Where to apply: tips

As already mentioned above, universality is the rule of thirds. Portrait or landscape, or macro, or moving objects - it is applicable everywhere.

For the landscape, the horizon is best placed along one of the grid lines, and not in the middle, so that there is no sensation of dividing the photo into two equal halves. The object in the foreground sets the focus point, and it should be placed also in accordance with the principle of the rule. If the object is large, it is better to move it to the side so that it does not break the picture in two.

When a person looks at a portrait, he always pays attention to the eyes of a man (or a woman, a child, etc.) depicted in the photo. Therefore, the focus should be on them, and arrange them best on the upper horizontal grid line.

For a moving object, it is good to leave space on the side that is the direction of motion.

When shooting a person in full growth, it would be nice to put it along one of the vertical grid lines.

Point Strength

Despite the fact that the principle of the rule itself is built on an equal division, it is known that the right lower point has an impact more than the lower left. This means that if the photo has several objects, then the most important of them should be located near the first named intersection.

Crop as a way to improve the photo

Residents are used to crop the photo to remove unnecessary details from the overall picture. Masters remove them in "Photoshop" with the help of their secret tricks, as framing (the same trimming, in fact) gives an advantage in another. After all, thanks to him, you can force the frame to inherit the rules of thirds. "Photoshop" or another photo editing program can improve the overall picture in a simple way by moving the subject to a more appropriate place in accordance with the rule.

The rules were invented in order to break them

And the rule of thirds is not an exception. Yes, it is the basis of the composition, but if you feel it, this composition, intuitively, then violating the above-described principle, you can get something interesting, perhaps even brighter and more expressive than would come out with it. Nobody forbade to experiment! This is even useful.

But here's the thing: to break the rule with a benefit for yourself, you must first learn to follow it.