Rule of Thirds

[Darren Rowse]

The first composition rule that I can ever remember being taught back at high school was the Rule of Thirds.

I find that it's become almost instinctive to use it these days but am interested to know what others think about it?

Do you use it?
Do you think about it?
Does it just happen?
Do you ever purposely break it?

[hitkaiser]

I think i was taught it at school.. well, she tried, not a very good teacher

Someone recently explained to me thoroughly was it was and I found myself applying it in the post processing, usually when cropping I would try to use it (if I didn't i knew something was "wrong")

I get the odd ocasion when im framing something and i suddenly remember the rule of thirds.. its usually when im photographing a single object or a person, but mostly I just let what i see compose itself automatically

[sid1987]

the rule of thirds almost comes naturally now that ive been photographing for a while now.. although violating it sometimes allows you a totally different perspective on the shot.. and sometimes if you're really lucky, u get an awesome shot purposely violating the rule..

[Darren Rowse]

yeah - i find that knowing it and then breaking it on purpose gives the best results. Actually its the same with most photographing 'rules'

[RainPacket]

I think it depends on how -- and to what degree -- you're breaking the rule. Completely ignoring it, and centering your subject, that will only very rarely work out well.

Honestly, I find the 'rule of thirds' matters less in my experience, than getting something into at least one of the 'power points' -- the four points where the dividing lines of the 'thirds' intersect.

[Joshua Schroeder]

My wife and I were taught rule of thirds at a photography course we learned this summer. It immediately made sense to me, and I try to compose that way ... failing that, I crop it appropriately :-)

My wife on the other hand, refuses to believe that the rule of thirds is right, and she aims for "bullseye" on her shots. Drives me nuts :-)

[Dave]

The rule of thirds was one of the first things I was taught when I took a photography class. It makes a lot of sense to use it, but like any composition rule it's not set in stone. So there are times it makes sense not to use it. I find I use it without even thinking about it anymore.

[Afulki]

I love the horizontal and vertical gridlines I can switch on, in my D70s, but why did they make them 1/4 rather than 1/3s? Also focus points, if the rule of 1/3s is so important (and I try to use it), why aren't the autofocus sensor points at the junctions, save me time having to focus and recompose?

Questions, questions

[chriswigginton]

The gridlines are 1/4 on the D80 as well. I guess they're meant more to help you make sure your shot is straight.

I don't know that I consciously think of the rule of thirds when I am shooting, but I do when I come back to the computer for cropping and post-processing. I don't stick hard and fast to it. I will use it as a starting point and then adjust it to whatever looks better to my eye or the shot I am trying to capture.

[NaturesPixel]

i have never been taught it .. i have tried reading it on these photography sites and don't understand it .. i learn better from someone showing me and telling me face to face...

as you can see most of my photos don't follow the rule... i don't think i do.. I realise my photos would really be better if i did