The Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is a guideline which applies to the process of composing visual images such as designs, films, paintings, and photographs.

The guideline states that an image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines, and that important compositional elements should be placed along these lines or their intersections. Proponents of the technique claim that aligning a subject with these points creates more tension, energy and interest in the composition than simply centering the subject.