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How to use the Rule of three for picture composition

A very common compositional technique professional photographers use when setting up a shot is called "the rule of 3". this is done by dividing your scene into three imaginary horizontal or vertical spaces. Using this technique can help you organize your vision and improve quality.

Things You'll Need

Camera
Scene you want to photograph

Instructions

- 1
  
  Begin by looking into your viewfinder and imagine the entire screen divided into 3 equal parts, either horizontally or vertically.
- 2
  Now place the subject within the center of the 3 sections.
- 3
  Next, take a look into your viewfinder and decide what is it that you are trying to place emphasis on in your photograph? Is it detail? Size? Shape? Form? Or maybe trying to show something in action?
- 4
  
  Are you trying to capture a shot of the subject's details or form? Try placing the image up close in the very center of your 3 sections.
- 5
  
  Another example of how to use this technique could be shown when trying to emphasize action or the size of a subject. Place the image into one of the 4 far corners of your sections so that a background makes up more than half of your frame. The subject will more clearly show its size in contrast to the things around it. Or if it is an object in motion, it might clearly show a pathway of movement juxtaposed against a background.
- 6
  Ultimately these are fundamental examples of how to use the "rule of 3" in your composition. It is simply a technique to help you organize your image, and using this technique can help add dimension to your photographs.

Amateur Photography