Good photography requires a lot more than just having the right equipment on hand. If you really want to take stellar shots that will catch people’s attention, you’ll need to master the art of composition.
There are rules of photography, after all, and keeping things like the rule of thirds in mind when crafting your shots can help to create stunning photos. What is the rule of thirds in photography?
If you’re unclear about this important photo composition guideline, read on. We’ll walk you through everything that you need to know.
Learning How to Frame a Shot
It’s perfectly possible to take a bad photo with a great camera, which goes to show there’s a lot more to the art than just the equipment. Framing your shots will have the biggest impact on their quality at the end of the day, so learning the basics of proper composition can be important.
The rule of thirds is one of the most important photo composition tenants – it helps the photographer determine where to place subjects in the frame.
The easiest way to think about the rule of thirds is to imagine a grid (think tic-tac-toe style) covering your camera screen and splitting everything into thirds. The rule of composition states that when objects are placed at the intersection lines of your imaginary grid, a better composition will result.
These intersections are often called points of interest, and they naturally help to draw the eye in and create a more compelling composition.
Many cameras even have a setting that allows you to display a grid on your screen so as to better practice this shooting philosophy.
Breaking the Rule of Thirds
How strict of a rule is the rule of thirds? It may end up being better to think of this rule as a very important guideline. All rules are made to be broken, and it’s perfectly possible to get a number of amazing shots without having to use these principles.
A well-centered portrait, for example, will rely on a different sort of composition than the rule of thirds suggests. It can still be quite striking (and often is, purposely, striking in the way it disregards commonly accepted rules).
However, if you’re just getting started out in photography, it’s better to get a handle on the rules before you start breaking them. Seeing how the rule of thirds can help your photography will also help you to become more conscious of how and why you’re breaking it in other instances.
You can then feel more comfortable delving into other tools and techniques, such as exposure tricks or the employment of a background remover.
What is the Rule of Thirds in Photography?
If you’re new to the world of photography, there’s a lot to learn and get familiar with. However, learning a few basic photography techniques can help get you started – rule of thirds being a vital one.
What is the rule of thirds in photography? The above information can help you to understand everything that you need to know about how to frame photos.
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