The rule of thirds

Harmony in the picture: dividing into three parts

The Rule of Thirds is one of the fundamental design rules for a harmonious image composition in photography. Here you can find out why this is the case, how best to apply it - and when you should break the rule.

Let's first clarify what we're actually talking about: To take photos using the rule of thirds, you divide the format - the image section - into nine equal parts using two horizontal and two vertical lines (see image). The rule now says: If the intended main subject is placed in the right or left third of the picture, this creates a particularly harmonious overall impression for the viewer.

Pictures in the right proportion

But why is this the case? And what does harmony mean in this context? Well, harmony is not only an essential factor in photographic image composition during the shooting process, but also in the placement of picture frames on walls and is generally regarded as a creative goal in the art of photography.

The word harmonia comes from both Greek and Latin and means harmony, the right relationship. Achieving visible harmony through colors and shapes is the goal of all art - and therefore also of photography.

The rule of thirds, for example, leads to visual harmony because the proportions are in a balanced relationship to one another: If the main motif - for example a tree or a face - moves from the center of the picture closer to the right or left edge of the picture, this arrangement leaves more space on the respective opposite side. This counterbalance - main motif close to the edge of the picture versus larger area in the picture section - ensures that the design remains stable and therefore harmonious in the overall format of the picture. It also creates a dynamic of its own within the picture, for example when a portrait in the left half of the picture looks into the distance in the direction of the right half.

Photos: Mary Ruffinony

Photograph by WhiteWall ambassador MARY RUFFINONI - Aude-Jane - 2020, Paris / - Tiffany - 2019, San Francisco. On the left: The model is placed in the center. Right: The model's head is on a third line, the view is to the left.

Familiar viewing habits

An essential aspect in connection with the rule of thirds in particular and the design of an image in general is our habitual viewing and reading direction: from left to right, from top to bottom. This means that when we look at a photo, our eyes generally start at the top left and from there look for visual points of interest (shapes and colors), scan the image and finally "exit" the image at the bottom right.

This means, as described above, that a portrait on the left side of the picture should look into the picture to the right so that the overall picture is perceived as harmonious (and in accordance with our reading direction). If a portrait on the left-hand side looks to the left, then the large area on the right-hand side of the picture no longer has any reference, the harmonious balance is disturbed and the result is disharmonious. Incidentally, these relationships also apply in portrait format, for example for the arrangement of the horizon on the line of the lower third of the picture, and of course also for square pictures.

Create a counterweight

The larger area in the picture as a counterweight to the main motif on the other side of the picture is the simplest variant of a harmonious picture composition. But of course it's not the only one: the main motif, which is positioned from the center in the left or right third of the picture, can be counterbalanced by a counterpoint in the other third of the picture at roughly the same distance from the edge. This counterpoint can have a contrasting signal color or relate to the content of the main motif. Example of the former: A large yellow flower in the right third of the picture and a blue butterfly (complementary color to yellow) keep each other in balance, but still create tension in the picture.

Example of the second: The portrait on the left-hand side of the picture, which has already been quoted several times, is looking at a specific object or at another person. The viewer's gaze is not directed into the distance, but towards a concrete second motif. If the line of vision is then also diagonal, the dynamics in the picture are further increased.

How to use the rule of thirds creatively

How do I go about applying the rule of thirds in photography? By starting with another rule: the composition must begin with the shot, i.e. with the composition in the viewfinder - and not just rely on possible cropping and post-processing. This means that if my camera offers the option of displaying a grid in the viewfinder, I should also set this in the camera menu. This makes it much easier to position the main subject and the other image elements in the viewfinder section according to the rule of thirds.

What do I want to emphasize in particular? Should the main subject be placed on the left or the right? How large do I show it in the format frame (zoom?) What can be seen on the rest of the viewfinder area and how does this fit in with the main subject? What is the relationship between the individual image elements? Do I possibly have to change the image section, i.e. the aspect ratio (2:3, 3:4, 16:9 etc.) in order to obtain a harmonious image of the desired subject? Does the whole thing look better in portrait or landscape format? or square? Is it formally more exciting to crop individual motifs? How can I use other photographic design factors such as depth of field to emphasize or soften individual parts of the image?

The answers to these and many other questions about the composition of an image can be summarized in one word: Composition. Like a piece of music made up of individual notes, we combine the parts relevant to a harmonious image into a visually strong whole on the image surface in the viewfinder. Ideally, no picture element is too much or too little. This deliberate composition in the camera's viewfinder is not only a lot of fun, it also immediately leads to better, more harmonious compositions and therefore really good pictures. Images that are then perfect for displaying on a wall in your own home. In addition, WhiteWall offers you further possibilities by choosing different materials such as aluminum dibond or handmade frames and individual passe-partouts.

Know the rain, break the rules

Particularly interesting photos are created when the rules are deliberately broken. This also applies to the rule of thirds. For example, you can place the main subject in one of the corners of the picture, position shapes against the usual reading direction or create a strictly symmetrical image composition in the viewfinder. The more and the better you know the valid rules for image composition, the more successful and convincing the breaks with these laws will be. This is a practically infinite field of experimentation that constantly produces new facets of one's own visual language and advances the development of every photographer.

Conclusion

The rule of thirds can be used first and foremost to elegantly compose harmonious and balanced shots. By knowing this, you create visible and invisible connections in your image and generate tension and attention among viewers. But you don't have to apply the classic rules of composition across the board. On the contrary: use them to skillfully break them at the right moment. For unique shots that inspire and captivate.