The Rule of Thirds
This week, we will explore more ways to help you compose your photographs. When we talk about composition in photography, we mean how we can arrange the various elements of the image to create a result that captures the viewer's attention, conveys whatever message or emotion you, as the photographer, wish to express—or is simply pleasing to the eye. These elements can be the subject matter (e.g. the people in a portrait, or things in a landscape) or more abstract elements like areas of light and shade, edges and lines, or parts of a pattern or texture.
It can be a little daunting trying to sort all this out when you first look at a scene in the viewfinder, or on the screen of your phone. That is why there are a number of guidelines, or ‘rules of thumb’ that can help bring a little order to the chaos. They are certainly not actual rules, just suggestions that often work, and can give you somewhere to start… but don’t be afraid to break the rules and see what happens!
The Rule of Thirds is probably the most well-known of the common photography guidelines and definitely worth adding to your mental toolkit. The principle divides the frame into an imaginary 3×3 grid, encouraging photographers to place key elements along intersecting lines or junctions to achieve balance and dynamism. Originating in 18th-century artistic theory and later popularised by Kodak for mass audiences, the Rule of Thirds brings modern practicality to classical aesthetics. Its simplicity makes it particularly valuable for beginners seeking to improve their compositions.
Historical Origins of the Rule of Thirds
The Rule of Thirds traces its conceptual lineage to the 18th century Enlightenment era, when artists and theorists sought to codify principles of aesthetic harmony. The earliest written reference appears in John Thomas Smith’s 1797 book, Remarks on Rural Scenery, where he described dividing landscapes into thirds for compositional balance. Smith, an English painter and engraver known as “Antiquity Smith,” argued that placing focal points at the intersections of these divisions created more naturalistic and appealing scenes than rigid central placement. His work reflected the broader artistic trends of the time, emphasising mathematical harmony in visual arts.
Smith’s formulation drew indirect inspiration from the Golden Ratio, an ancient system that governs aesthetically pleasing arrangements in nature and art. However, the Rule of Thirds simplified this complex ratio into a more accessible 3x3 grid. This pragmatic adaptation allowed amateur artists and photographers to approximate classical balance without advanced geometric calculations.
The Rule of Thirds gained widespread prominence in the 20th century through Kodak’s efforts to democratise photography. As consumer cameras became affordable, Kodak incorporated the rule into instructional materials, framing it as an easy-to-remember guideline for snapshot composition. By the 1960s, photography textbooks routinely featured the 3×3 grid, cementing its status as a foundational technique. This corporate endorsement transformed an artistic theory into an educational staple, though critics argue it oversimplified compositional nuance for commercial appeal.
Grid Structure and Power Points
The Rule of Thirds divides an image into nine equal segments using two horizontal and two vertical lines. This creates four intersection points (often called power points) where subjects can be placed to maximise visual interest. The grid’s psychological effectiveness stems from how human vision scans images. Studies suggest viewers instinctively gravitate toward these intersection points rather than the frame’s centre.
Negative Space and Dynamic Tension
A critical but often overlooked aspect of the Rule of Thirds involves negative space—the areas surrounding the main subject. By positioning subjects off-centre, photographers allocate two-thirds of the frame to supporting elements, such as environmental context or atmospheric effects. For example, if you’re photographing something moving, like a jogger or a bicycle, leave extra space in the direction they’re heading. The negative space makes the photo feel more active and tells a tiny story.
Famous Photographers & Iconic Images
Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Master of Moment and Composition
Henri Cartier-Bresson, renowned for his concept of "the decisive moment," incorporated the Rule of Thirds as one of his compositional tools. His carefully balanced photographs demonstrate how this guideline can create dynamic visual narratives.
His iconic 1932 photograph "Behind the Gare Saint-Lazare" shows a man leaping over a puddle near Saint-Lazare train station in Paris. While the picture is celebrated more for capturing the perfect moment of suspension—the man forever framed in mid-air before touching the water—its composition also reveals Cartier-Bresson's attention to placement and framing. The photograph places key elements at strategic points that align with the Rule of Thirds principles. However, Cartier-Bresson was known to embrace a more intuitive approach to composition rather than rigidly following prescriptive rules.
What makes Cartier-Bresson's work particularly instructive is his ability to combine the Rule of Thirds with other compositional elements such as leading lines and framing techniques, creating images with remarkable depth and movement.
Steve McCurry: Balancing Human Subjects
Contemporary photographer Steve McCurry, famous for his "Afghan Girl" portrait and extensive work in South Asia, provides excellent examples of the Rule of Thirds applied to portraiture. In his compositions, McCurry often places his subjects' faces, particularly their eyes, at intersection points of the Rule of Thirds grid.
McCurry's approach demonstrates an interesting application of the rule: he typically allocates two-thirds of the frame to his main subject while reserving one-third for context or background. This creates a natural balance that draws attention to the human subject while providing environmental context.
Analysis of McCurry's work reveals his consistent but fluid application of this principle. In portraits from India, he frequently positions faces at grid intersections while allowing the composition to breathe by maintaining balanced proportions throughout the frame. This technique is particularly valuable for smartphone photographers working with portraits, as it creates natural, engaging compositions that avoid the common pitfall of centred, static subjects.
McCurry has noted, "Remember the composition is important, but rules are also meant to be broken. So the main point is to enjoy yourself while you're photographing and photograph in your own way and your own style". This balanced perspective recognises the value of compositional guidelines while encouraging personal expression.
Dorothea Lange: Social Documentary and Compositional Power
Though not explicitly cited for using the Rule of Thirds, Dorothea Lange's iconic "Migrant Mother" (1936) demonstrates how powerful composition amplifies emotional impact. The photograph depicts a mother with three children during the Great Depression, and its composition directs viewers' attention precisely where Lange intended—the mother's anxious face.
Lange's approach to this image is particularly instructive: she deliberately positioned the children with their faces turned away, allowing their mother to be the focal point. The composition avoids centring the subject, instead creating a more dynamic arrangement that draws the viewer's eye directly to the mother's worried expression.
This photograph exemplifies how effective composition, whether consciously applying the Rule of Thirds or intuitively creating balance, can dramatically enhance an image's emotional resonance.
Chris Burkard: Modern Landscapes and Aerial Photography
Contemporary photographer Chris Burkard applies the Rule of Thirds in landscape and aerial photography, demonstrating its continued relevance in modern image-making. Burkard places key landscape elements like mountain peaks or cityscapes off-centre to create balanced compositions that draw the viewer's eye through the frame.
His work shows how this principle can effectively apply to dramatic landscapes and aerial perspectives, creating visually engaging images that avoid static, centred compositions.
The Great Debate: Rule or Suggestion?
Despite its popularity, the Rule of Thirds is not universally embraced. Notable photographers and theorists have questioned its value and application:
Ansel Adams famously stated: "The so-called rules of photographic composition are, in my opinion, invalid, irrelevant and immaterial"
Photographer Michael Freeman described it as "probably the worst piece of compositional advice I can imagine"
Photographer Tim Parkin aimed to "rip up this part of the rule book and show it for the misdirected rubbish it really is"
This debate highlights an important consideration: while the Rule of Thirds provides a useful starting point for beginners, it should be viewed as a guideline rather than a rigid requirement. Many exceptional photographs throughout history deliberately and effectively break this rule.
Give it a try!
Most cameras and smartphones have a grid overlay feature. Turn it on in your settings, and the handy 3x3 grid will appear on your screen. Use it to practice lining up your shots. You’ll start noticing how off-centre subjects often feel more engaging.
When capturing landscapes or seascapes, align the horizon with the upper or lower third line, rather than in centre of the frame. If the sky is the most interesting part of the scene, put the horizon on the lower third line… or, if you have a great foreground then put it on the upper third line instead. I often take a couple of shots, trying out both options in case I change my mind later.
For people pictures, try to put your main subject on the left or right third line, depending which way they are looking or moving. Usually you’d want to have negative space for them to look into or move into… but breaking this rule can add mystery or tension to a scene.
Even in still-life or close-up photography, the Rule of Thirds can help. A flower’s stigma might align with a power point, while its stem follows one of the vertical third lines. This technique helps add structure to tightly framed scenes, preventing clutter.
But… When Shouldn’t You Use It?
Rules are made to be broken. Sometimes, centring your subject in the frame can work better. It tends to convey a feeling of stillness and symmetry and can make the subject seem small compared to its surroundings, such as a lone tree in a landscape or a solitary figure in a scene. Centering can also help with minimalist, very graphic, or abstract compositions.
The key is to consider why you’re placing things where you are. You are the photographer, and you are in charge.
Why Bother Learning This?
The Rule of Thirds is a great starting point when you’re staring at a busy scene and wondering where to begin—it teaches you to slow down, notice how elements fit together, and make intentional choices. Once you’re comfortable with it, you’ll naturally start experimenting with other techniques—or bending the rules to suit your style.
So grab your camera, switch on that grid, and play around. Remember: photography is about having fun and telling your story. The Rule of Thirds is just a tool to help you do that—not a strict law. Happy shooting!
Resources
This is a great video by Jeff & Sarah Ascough of Walk Like Alice, two professional photographers based in the north of England. They explain how to use the Rule of Thirds very clearly, and there’s some wonderful black & white street photography to enjoy too.
This video, by the awesome Ted Forbes, is showing its age a little now—but he talks wonderfully about various compositional techniques and goes into a little more depth into the art theory with examples from some of the great photographers of the last century. I have a lot of his videos in our main SENPC playlist which are worth checking out.
This week’s assignments…
Your brief for this week’s daily photos is to explore how to use the Rule of Thirds: the object of the exercise is to get your eye in, so that you can instinctively see the third lines and power points in a scene. You don’t always have to use them, but this is about levelling up your mental toolkit.
Let’s see photographs that use the Rule of Thirds. Any subject matter works, whether it’s a landscape or a street scene, a still-life of everyday objects, a pet photo or even a selfie. For bonus points try one or two images that bend the rule and use the negative space in creative ways.
