The Rule of Thirds: What every photographer must know
When it comes to learning photography, there are some rudimentary rules and skills that everyone needs to understand quickly if they are going to start producing great images.
In the world of art and photography, no rule is more fundamental than the Rule of Thirds. And on a Nicaragua Photography tour you can learn these composition rules while taking in the breathtaking scenery Nicaragua has to offer.
The Rule of Thirds is basically a compositional guide that recommends that any image should be (imaginarily) divided into nine sections by equally spaced vertical and horizontal lines (like a tic tac toe grid). Any major elements within the image should be placed along these lines and preferably at the points of intersection.
The rule of thirds is applied by aligning a subject with the guide lines and their intersection points, placing the horizon on the top or bottom line, or allowing linear features in the image to flow from section to section.
When filming or photographing people, it is common to line the body up to a vertical line and the person's eyes to a horizontal line. If filming a moving subject, the same pattern is often followed, with the majority of the extra room being in front of the person (the way they are moving).
Likewise, when photographing a still subject who is not directly facing the camera, the majority of the extra room should be in front of the subject with the vertical line running through their perceived center of mass.
Take this photograph for instance:
As you can see, the tree and the horizon, which are the main elements of the photograph, are placed almost perfectly along the horizontal and vertical lines drawn through the image, with the middle of the tree perfectly on the intersection of the lines. This is a textbook example of the Rule of Thirds in photography.
It is important to remember that the Rule of Thirds is really only a guideline. There are many times when it is acceptable to break this convention. For people who are new to photography however, it is a good guide to creating well composed photographs.
Some other image that utilize the Rule of Thirds in their composition:
As you can see, the Rule of Thirds can really help, especially with basic composition for basic subjects.
Find out more in Nicaragua. With its fantastic landscapes and engaging wildlife, Nicaragua provides a perfect canvas for amateur to highly skilled photographers to practice their craft.
