This document discusses the rule of thirds in photography composition. The rule of thirds involves imagining a 3x3 grid over the frame and placing key elements of the photo at the lines' intersections or along the lines. Studies show people's eyes are naturally drawn to these areas rather than the center. Examples demonstrate positioning the subject on a line or intersection to create a more balanced, interesting photo that guides the viewer's eye. Students are then tasked with taking photos around their college using the rule of thirds.

1. Photography
Composition:
Lines
Angles
Subject matter
Rule of thirds

2. Rule of Thirds
The basic principle behind the rule of thirds is to imagine breaking an image
down into thirds (both horizontally and vertically) so that you have 9 parts.
With this grid in mind the ‘rule of thirds’ now identifies four important
parts of the image that you should consider placing points of interest in as
you frame your image.

3. Rule of Thirds
• The theory is that if you place points of interest in the
intersections or along the lines, that your photo
becomes more balanced and will enable a viewer of
the image to interact with it more naturally.
• Studies have shown that when viewing images that
people’s eyes usually go to one of the intersection
points most naturally rather than the centre of the
shot – using the rule of thirds works with this natural
way of viewing an image rather than working against
it.

4. Rule of Thirds
Examples of good use of points
of interest

5. Centre of the lighthouse
Negative space and diagonal
follows the vertical line
lines of the clouds and snow
draw the eye towards the lighthouse
Balcony
intersects
Top of with
mountain in top
distance horizontal
matches line
lower
horizontal
line
Centre of balcony falls on
Vertical line
point of interest.
goes through centre of top window
And frame of bottom window.

6. Point of interest falls on
Negative space leads the eye
centre of subject matter
towards the cliff and the ruin
Rocks and horizon echo the
horizontal line for the
bottom third

7. Side of head
Use of depth of field creates
follows first vertical
soft focus in background
line
Eyes are on
Depth of field
line of top
draws the eye
third.
towards the
sharp focus
in the face

8. Rule of Thirds in portrait
photography

9. Cropping a portrait image

10. TASK
• Using the college, take 10 striking images
using the rule of thirds
• Remember to MOVE AROUND!
• You must take 10 images each
• Take loads of photos of the same subject,
moving to find the best perspective
• Move up and down, as well as closer to
objects.
You have 30 minutes 