Understanding the Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is a technique that photographers use to make their pictures look more interesting and balanced. Imagine that your picture is divided into thirds both horizontally and vertically, like a tic-tac-toe board. The key elements of the picture, like people or objects, should be placed along those lines or at the points where they cross.

For example, if you are taking a picture of a minifigure, you would want their eyes to be on one of the horizontal lines.

If there are different elements in your photo that help tell your story, you can also place them on the lines or where they meet. This creates a sense of balance and movement in the picture, making it more pleasing to look at.

You can also use the rule of thirds to decide where to put the horizon if you are taking a picture of a landscape. If you put the horizon on one of the horizontal lines, it makes the sky and the ground share the space differently and it looks more interesting.

In the photo below a person is working to clear a flooded street! Thankfully four helpers are on their way to lend a hand. Different parts of the photo are lined up to the grid.

Did you notice what parts of the photo use the grid? Have a look at:

• Where the water ends in the horizon
• where the person’s body is centred
• where the minifigures are placed

The Rule of Thirds grid is a great way to start composing your photos. It’s like when you are building a scene with LEGO bricks and you want to make sure all the pieces are in the right place, it makes the build more fun and interesting to play. Same goes for taking a picture, if you put the elements in the right place, it makes the picture more fun and interesting to look at.

Try it out next time you take a picture, and see if it makes a difference!