photograph composition - the rule of thirds
TRANSCRIPT
PHOTOGRAPH
COMPOSITION - THE
RULE OF THIRDS
Benjamin Perlin
Introduction
A photographer and philanthropist, Benjamin Perlinowns a wide range of cameras. He works with both digital and film photography. However, he typically prefers film and enjoys developing pictures using darkroom printing processes. Benjamin “Ben” Perlinregards himself as a natural photographer and he instinctively views the world within the frame of a picture.
One of the most basic principles of photography, the rule of thirds relates to a picture’s composition. It involves breaking an image into nine parts by dividing it into thirds both horizontally and vertically. These lines help photographers determine where to place their points of interest to ensure their picture is engaging and balanced.
Rule of Thirds
According to the rule of thirds, pictures with points of interest on the intersections or along the lines are more balanced and pleasing to view. When viewers look at a picture, their eyes naturally go to one of these intersections even though the lines are not actually visible. As a result, off-center compositions give pictures a better sense of direction and appear more natural than compositions that place a focal point directly in the center.
Although the rule of thirds serves as a good guideline, photographers do not need to perfectly line their picture up with these invisible lines every time. Further, the rule of thirds does not always have to be followed. There are numerous situations when the rule of thirds is best ignored and certain shots do not include a specific focal point that can be neatly lined up.