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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.



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