To Use or Not to Use the Rule of Thirds?

So, I have a question for you… to use or not to use the Rule of Thirds? That is the question.

And I ask because the Rule of Thirds is THE most controversial photo composition technique among photographers.

And a lot of photographers say it’s overused—which, it can be, especially since it’s so easy to learn and apply.

This leads to some photographers getting stuck creatively because they’re unaware of any other way to compose their images.

Fear not, in this video, you’ll learn when to use the Rule of Thirds, and why, and when NOT to use it, and what to do instead.

Stay until the end and I’ll share a bonus pro tip for getting the most out of the Rule of thirds. If you’re ready, let’s do it.

Famous Artists Use the Rule of Thirds?

Now, you may have heard of one or all three of these photographers.

Two of them said you shouldn’t use the Rule of Thirds.

But here’s the thing: All three have images in their portfolios where they used the Rule of Thirds.

Which is confusing. Am I right? So, should you or shouldn’t you use the Rule of Thirds?

Well, artists have been using the Rule of Thirds for centuries. This painting by John Singer Sargent is just one of many examples.

And I’m pretty sure the last TV Show and movie you watched incorporated the Rule of Thirds in multiple scenes, like this iconic scene from Star Wars.

I say, if it’s good enough for Hollywood, then it’s good enough for you and me.

And here’s a quick explanation of the Rule of Thirds and how to use it to help you better decide when to use it and why.

The Rule of Thirds is a composition technique built around a grid with three guidelines that help you place your subject or other elements within your photo.

According to the rule, using one or more guideline placements creates a better photo.

The first guideline uses vertical lines; you’ll place your primary subject along the left or right sides. The second option is the horizontal lines.

When shooting landscapes, you’ll place the horizon along the top or bottom line, depending on which part of the scene you want to emphasize.

For portraits, you’ll place the eyes, or, in the case of Mona Lisa with her quirky smile, along or near the top line, which is best when creating portraits.

The third guideline suggests placing a subject at a point of intersection based on where the lines cross, which creates a strong, exceptionally delicious composition.

Should You Use the Rule of Thirds?

Let’s examine some examples of when the Rule of Thirds is perfect and why.

Focus on Key Elements: I placed the primary subject along the left vertical line for this portrait.

This helps draw the eye toward the subject and makes them stand out more than putting them in the center of the frame.

So, in a way, according to the “Rule,” you will draw more attention to your subject when placing it along the left or right vertical line.

Space to move into + tension: If your subject is moving or looking to the side, the Rule of Thirds can help you create a more dynamic image.

For example, this Green Heron is looking to the right. By placing it along the left vertical line, I gave it space to look into, and our eyes naturally follow its gaze across the image.

You’re essentially guiding the viewer’s eye through the photo using the Rule of Thirds.

I also like to place a moving subject on either the right or left side to give the subject room to move within the frame.

Now, if you place a subject close to the edge, it can create a feeling of tension.

Although this Flamingo was walking, I decided to crop in tighter and placed its head along the left line to create tension that matched its glossy, angry-looking gaze.

Emphasize sky or land: You can also apply the rule of thirds to landscapes when you have a primary subject you want to lead your viewers to, as I did for this waterfall I captured in Kentucky.

But I use it differently when a horizon is visible.

I’ll place the Horizon along the top Horizontal line to emphasize the land as I did for this sunset… and this long exposure during Blue Hour early one morning in Florida.

For this image, again during Blue Hour, I wanted to include more of the shoreline and the rocks to provide context for this location, which is why the Horizon was placed along the top.

Now, I’ll line up the “Horizon” along the bottom horizontal line to make the sky more prominent… balance the image… or add to the story I’m creating.

For this image, the sky takes up most of the frame, and I was waiting and hoping for more color in the sky, so I framed it with the Rule of Thirds the way I did for that reason, but unfortunately, this was the best Mother Nature could provide on that day in terms of color in the sky.

Mother Nature provided the same amount of color as before for this image.

However, due to the foreground elements and the angry sky, again during Blue Hour, I created a much more dramatic image with the Horizon along the top line.

Intersection: As I mentioned previously, placing your primary subject at a point where the lines intersect can create a stronger, more appealing composition.

I did this for this sunset over the hills of Kentucky and this Egret flying towards the sunset.

For this Screech Owl, I placed it along the left line AND placed its eye directly on the point of intersection to maximize the Rule of Thirds, creating a dynamic portrait of the owl.

When To Use the Rule of Thirds?

So, understanding when not to use the Rule of Thirds in photography will allow you to be more versatile and creative.

Here are some examples, and then I’ll share the pro tip for using the Rule of Thirds.

Canyon Ridge: In this canyon ridge photo, I focused on contrasting colors, plus light and shadows, to highlight the landscape's structure and textures.

The Rule of Thirds wasn’t necessary here; instead, I relied on those other compositional techniques to tell the story.

Here’s another example of Color, plus Light and Shadows as the primary composition techniques and one more.

For this next image, I used Light, again as the primary composition element, to shape my subjects and help tell the story of this moment.

Maple Leaf: This image of a maple leaf on a moss-covered boulder gave me a feeling of peace and harmony. I utilized the symmetry composition rule to create that feeling.

Road: For this landscape, I wanted to guide the viewer’s eye from the foreground to the background, so I used leading lines rather than emphasizing the sky or land with the Rule of Thirds.

This image is primarily made up of Layers, Leading Lines, and color as the composition techniques applied.

And for this one, again, I’m using multiple composition techniques, except for the Rule of Thirds.

Bonus Rule of Thirds Tip

Now, for the bonus pro tip. My best images, include not one but two or more photo composition techniques or rules.

And if we go back to Mark and Mads, they too are using multiple composition techniques.

So, even though they used the rule of thirds in some of their photos it’s not the primary composition technique applied.

For example, this is one of my favorite landscape photos from this past year and I used a total of five different composition techniques or rules.

The Rule of Thirds is only one of four. Can you guess the others?

If so, let us know in the comments below and check out the link to the composition tutorial to see if you’re correct.

Let’s look at this Screech Owl again and there’s a second composition technique used, which is one of my favorites. Do you see it?

If you said, Framing or Frame within a Frame, you are correct.

Now, check out this photo where the primary Color grabs your attention, and then the Framing naturally draws your eyes to the couple and as a bonus I placed them according to the Rule of Thirds.

So, three different composition techniques were used.

To use or not to use the Rule of Thirds?

The answer really depends on your creative vision and what you want to achieve with your photo.

Don’t think of it as a strict rule; instead, see it as a guide—a tool to help you thoughtfully place elements within your frame and for a stronger better image stack two or more additional composition techniques.

But the problem is, how many other composition techniques or rules do you know?

Do you know all thirty-plus of them?

If not, watch this composition playlist or this video to learn my Composition Made Easy system.