When you take PHOA101: Principles of Photography, you'll learn about the Rule of Thirds. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this rule, a basic description of it reads as such, "In a tic-tac-toe fashion, mentally divide your viewfinder into nine rectangular areas by visualizing two equally spaced horizontal and vertical lines. The result will give you three horizontal and vertical layers of the same size, with four points where the lines intersect. You then place the elements of the shot according to this grid. The strategies for using the Rule of Thirds fall into four general categories." (Suler, John, web).
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| Visual Example of The Rule of Thirds |
Chances are good that you'll continue to hear about this "rule" throughout your time as a student at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division. The question remains, "what's so special about this so called rule"...or perhaps you ask yourself, "why should I follow a rule; shouldn't I be creative with my photography?". Both of these are valid questions although, a lot of psychological studies have gone into The Rule of Thirds and why its use attracts a viewer's eye to the intended subject matter. In John Suler's book titled Photographic Psychology: Image and Psyche he explains the impact this rule can have. Click "here" to read more.
Works Cited:
Suler, John. "The Rule of Thirds." Photographic Psychology: The Rule of Thirds. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 July 2015.
Composition. Digital image. PHOA101: Principles of Photography - Milestone 1. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division, n.d. Web. 12 July 2015.