How Can the Rule of Thirds Help My Pictures? The "Rule of Thirds" is a simple compositional guideline designed to help photographers with placement of the
important picture elements. Start by dividing the frame into equal thirds, both vertically and horizontally, with
imaginary lines. (Imagine a tic-tac-toe board superimposed over your view-finder.) Then place the main
subject, horizon line and other important picture elements near the intersection points of these lines or along
the lines themselves. (In the example shown, the horses eye is on the upper right intersection point, and the
lne of it's hind leg follows the left vertical line.)
Note that since the Rule of Thirds grid divides the picture into nine identical blocks, its shape changes for the
different picture formats.
Like all compositional rules, the "Rule of Thirds" is just a suggestion or guideline to help improve your pictures
in many (but not all) situations. If you practice composing in this way, it will soon become instinctual. Then,
when the image warrants, you can "break" the rule and move your subject or horizon line even more (or less)
off-centered to achieve your own artistic effects.
What Is Meant By Compositional Framing? Compositional frames are picture elements that work to visually surround a subject so as to draw attention to
it — not unlike how a gilded, carved wooden frame might draw attention to a fine painting in a museum. The
trick is to pick a framing element that is not so interesting as to steal the viewer's attention away from the real subject, which is probably located in the midground or background
