Rule of Thirds

Overview

What is the “Rule of Thirds” in design for which we keep hearing about? In the past, the rule of thirds appeared to be a well kept secret “rule of thumb” taught only in classes at colleges or universities and known only to professional artists, photographers and a select few others to provide them an edge over others in their designs. Then Kodak started pushing the rule of thirds years ago for marketing which made it popular and with the creation of the Internet, this information is much easier to come across. Where did the rule of thumb come from and why do we use it? This tutorial will explain the rule of thirds with a quick version and in great detail.

Rule of Thirds Explained

The quick version of the rule of thirds in design is not using the main focus of the image in the center but to the side of the image allowing the image to be more appealing to the human eye.

The more detailed version of the rule of thirds in design is a design grid that is created. The rule of thirds has evolved and changed over the centuries and has settled into a rule of thumb for what we now know as an invisible 9 equal section design grid with intersecting crash points. The main object of the photograph or design sits on these crash points offset from the center.

The rules of thirds should not be taken as the only catch-all rule in photography, art or graphic design. We should not limit ourselves to only using the rule of thirds in our creations and design. There are arguably better concepts out there, such as dynamic symmetry. While we will touch base on dynamic symmetry in this tutorial, this tutorial is about the rule of thirds and dynamic symmetry is outside the scope of this tutorial.

Some people, including photography teachers, claim the rule of thirds is a waste of time and is for beginners or amateurs. We see the rule of thirds utilized in extremely professional and very impressive photographs and used in design every day so how can everyone be wrong and how can everyone be an amateur? The rule of thirds is in design all around us whether we look at photographs, books, television or the Internet.

Rule of Thirds History

While the rule of thirds in design has been shaped and changed over the centuries, the credit for the name of the rule of thirds has gone to John Thomas Smith in 1797 in his book, Remarks on Rural Scenery. In this book, John Smith talks about and quotes work on a painting in 1783 by Sir Joshua Reynolds.

Smith goes on in the book to name the design by Reynolds as the rule of thirds and then proceeds to explain the rule of thirds in design. While a grid system and crash points are not directly mentioned in his work, it is directly derived from how he speaks about one third and two thirds of the image.

Quote from the book remarks of Rural Scenery

Analogous to this "Rule of thirds", (if I may be allowed so to call it) I have presumed to think that, in connecting or in breaking the various lines of a picture, it would likewise be a good rule to do it, in general, by a similar scheme of proportion; for example, in a design of landscape, to determine the sky at about two-thirds ; or else at about one-third, so that the material objects might occupy the other two : Again, two thirds of one element, (as of water) to one third of another element (as of land); and then both together to make but one third of the picture, of which the two other thirds should go for the sky and aerial perspectives. This rule would likewise apply in breaking a length of wall, or any other too great continuation of line that it may be found necessary to break by crossing or hiding it with some other object : In short, in applying this invention, generally speaking, or to any other case, whether of light, shade, form, or color, I have found the ratio of about two thirds to one third, or of one to two, a much better and more harmonizing proportion, than the precise formal half, the too-far-extending four-fifths.

Why use the Rule of Thirds

This is a rule of thumb design preference only and not anything set in stone. It was decided quite a while ago, and throughout the centuries, that photographs look better when they use the rule of thirds. This concept has gradually made its way to graphic design so when designing book covers, banners, headers and more, graphic designers are following the rule of thirds in their design. Our own personal preference and how we believe the rest of the world will perceive our designs dictates whether we should use the rule of thirds in design.

Should we always the Rule of Thirds

We most certainly do not need to follow the rule of thirds for every picture we take or for every design we create but this highly depends on what is being created. Are we taking images of food, people, creating a design, a banner, an art mural? When considering whether we should use the rules of thirds in design, we need to consider exactly what we are doing at the time.
A tremendous amount of images I take are of food at places where we eat. I then upload these images to Google as a Google guide along with a review of the restaurant.

We can see these images at B2B I.T. Solutions Google Guide Images and most of the images that will be seen do not practice the rule of thirds. The images with food, instead of using the rule of thirds, I make the food the center of the image. For these images, I do not follow the rules of thirds because there it is not necessary to follow the rule of thirds. Take a look at some of the images I have taken with people in it and a lot of those I do follow the rule of thirds for those images.

When is it Safe to Use or Break the Rule of Thirds?

Since this rule is really more of a guideline, this is not something set in stone. There is no right or wrong place to use the rule of thirds in design. After finally understanding the concept of the rule of thirds, there are methods to breaking the rule successfully and still have a professional photo or design, one method of which I've already mentioned in this tutorial.

When we decide we are going to commit to the rule of thirds in our design then it is important to understand when it is safe for us to break the rule of thirds. Let us consider our focus object within our design or photography. The rule of thirds states to keep our focus object within the crash points leaving one third of space on one side and two thirds on the other away from the focus object but let us take a look at various images in different aspects to see which we like better.

1. Center the Focus Object
   When we center the focus object of the image, we are breaking the rule of thirds. Design and photographs do not always look bad when breaking the rule of thirds. Each viewer is conditioned to viewing differently. Those from the west in the United States are taught and conditioned to view and read left to right and top to bottom while some from other countries are conditioned to view and read right to left, top to bottom so centering the image is a good happy medium if the target viewing audience is worldwide.
2. Zoom in on the Focus Object
   Zooming into the complete image breaks the rule of thirds. Zooming in on the focus object does not leave the required amount of space necessary to meet the rule of thirds requirements but zooming in does not look bad in photography.
3. Images with Angles
   Sometimes angles, such as beads, a spider's web or even a maze of lines should not follow the rule of thirds. These types of images may appear better if we did not follow the rule of thirds rather than following it.
4. Repetitive Objects
   When we have many repetitive focus objects such as water droplets from rain on a window, or snowflakes then it is not typically possible to follow the rule of thirds in our photographs.

What About Dynamic Symmetry?

While arguably a better method of design for photography and this can be used in design depending on the design, this subject goes beyond the intention of this tutorial but we will touch base on this quickly.

Dynamic Symmetry is another conceptual grid just like the rule of thirds but this grid uses angles instead of 9 equal sections. Unlike the rule of thumbs, dynamic symmetry is designed to provide motion or activity within the photograph.

Steve Kaye has a Dynamic Symmetry image located on his blog:

If the Rule of Thirds is the first step in photography then Dynamic Symmetry would be the next step for photographers.

Other Rules to Learn

There are a lot of other rules to learn. We will not discuss those rules within this tutorial but we will list some of them along with an app for the iPhone. We could not locate any camera apps that display the different grid patterns for Android but for iPhone there is the Wise Camera app from Digiguys. This app can display various different grid concepts such as:

1. Break All the Rules : This rule tells us to challenge conventional norms and embrace experimentation to create our own unique and impactful images.
2. Dynamic Symmetry : This technique teaches us to use ratios and lines to balance and arrange elements within an image in harmony.
3. Fibonacci Spiral : The Fibonacci Spiral is a mathematical pattern found in nature that is applied in photography to create a visually striking and aesthetically pleasing composition.
4. Fill The Frame : This teaches us the importance of filling up the entire photographic frame with the subject, eliminating any blank or empty space.
5. Framing Depth : The term, Framing Depth, is referring to usage of the foreground, middle ground, and background elements to create depth and dimension within an image or photograph.
6. Golden Triangles : This is a technique that involves using triangles to balance and harmonize elements in an image. By using triangles correctly within the image, the results can be a very visually appealing image or composition.
7. Landscape Depth : Referring to the sense of depth and distance within a landscape photo. Depth and distance within the landscape image is achieved by using the foreground, middle ground, and background elements.
8. Leading Lines : Usage of this rule and these lines within an image is how we guide the viewer's eye towards the main subject in the image. We use leading lines to point to the focal point of the image.
9. Lines and Patterns : This rule or technique refers to using lines and repeating patterns to create harmony and interest within an image.
10. Multiple Positions : This is closely related to what it's named. It refers to the practice of taking photos from various angles, positions, and heights to create a set of dynamic and engaging images.
11. Negative Space : Have you ever seen an image with nothing but space next to the subject. That is negative space. This fancy term simply refers to the empty or unoccupied space within an image. That empty space is used to balance or complement the main focal point of the image.
12. Phi Grid : Another tool that employs math ratios to arrange elements in an image. Using the Phi Grid, we can make our image visually appealing.
13. Rule of Thirds : This will be the most common rule of them all. This technique arranges elements along imaginary lines that divide the photo into thirds. This ending result is a well-balanced and visually appealing image.
14. Symmetry : This rule will have us arrange the elements within an image in a mirrored or repetitive pattern to create a balance or harmony within the picture.
15. Vanishing Point : This is referring to the point where parallel lines converge, or appear to converge, in an image. This convergence creates a sense of depth and distance within the image.