Weekly Photo Challenge – Rule of Thirds

French Angel Fish

A basic and powerful guideline for composition whether in photography or other visual arts, employing the rule of thirds can make the difference between producing a snapshot and an artful shot. I use it all the time and work consciously to frame my photos to take advantage of the rule of thirds. By dividing the frame into thirds in both directions, vertical and horizontal, and placing the main subject on one of those lines, a shot can create a sense of tension or ease.

To take the rule even further, the places where those lines intersect can add even more interest. Called power spots, one can compose the shot so that the entire subject or part of the subject, such as the eyes, fall on one of those intersections. As I scanned my photo files, I found this shot of a French Angel Fish taken on a recent trip to Bonaire. It was one that I had overlooked, but I realized that I had framed the shot with that fish smack-dab in the center of the left lower power spot. This shot was not cropped in any way during post processing – a happy circumstance since they move really fast!

To learn more about The Weekly Photo Challenge, click here.