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.
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.
