Rule of Thirds in Photography: The Essential Guide 258.5K The  rule of thirds  is perhaps the most well-known “rule” of  photographic composition . Use it carefully, and you’ll take some truly stunning images. But what actually  is  the rule of thirds? Is it really that helpful? And when can you break the rule for a great result? In this article, you’ll discover everything you need to know about the rule of thirds. And by the time you leave, you’ll know how to use it like a pro. Let’s dive right in. What is the rule of thirds? The rule of thirds is a compositional guideline that breaks an image down into thirds (both horizontally and vertically) so you have nine pieces and four gridlines. According to the rule, by positioning key elements along the gridlines, you’ll end up with better compositions. Here is a visualization of the rule of thirds: And to follow the rule, simply use the gridlines to position essential compositional elements. So when shooting a flower, you would place its