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  Simple Composition - Breaking the Rules  
 
 


Like all rules the Rule Of Thirds can be bent or broken. The human eye is drawn to patterns, and sometimes these patterns may not conform to the rules. For example reflection images where neither the land or sky are dominant often work best using the dreaded "Central Composition" where everything is in the middle of the frame.

 

  
 

 

For Example this image where the photographer has completely ignored the Rule Of Thirds and placed the horizon right along the central horizontal line. This was done due to the fact that no single area of the image dominates, and because the clouds in the sky and reflected in the pond form strong diagonal lines to form the shape of a cross leading to the brightest (and most empty) area of the image. This focuses the eye right into the center of the image, and meant that using the Rule Of Thirds here would have resulted in a weaker less dramatic image.

 
 

 

Photography is subjective in that what one person may see and like, may look far less pleasing to another person. The Rule Of Thirds is based on what the vast majority see as pleasing, so a shot conforming to it will be seen to be compositionally pleasing to the majority, although some will see it in a different light. It is up to the artist, in this case the photographer, to decide exactly how he or she wants to portray the subject, and to make the most out of the chosen subject. This could mean conforming to the rules where possible, but with the knowledge that sometimes it is better to break or bend the rules a little for a stronger image.

  
 
 
 
 
 

 

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