Basics: know the rules well, so you can break them effectively

This is not a wisdom we can take credit for. It's the Dalai Lama who came up with these very wise words. And they even apply to photography. 

This post is about the 'rule of thirds'. There's a short explanation on this rule of thirds and we'll show you some examples. And we'll also shed some light on the rule 'always straighten your horizontal line'. 

Let's start with the 'rule of thirds'. 

The rule of thirds divides your image in 9 rectangles, using 2 horizonal and 2 vertical lines. The subject of your picture is placed along those lines. This is where it becomes (even more) interesting: 

1. Here's an example of placing the subject of your picture in the middle of the image. 

When you place the subject along the lines of the rule of thirds the image is stronger. 

Now let's take a look at the next picture: the idea being that an off-center composition is more pleasing to the eye and looks more natural than a picture where the subject is placed bam in the middle of the frame.

So here you have the same picture of the dog, but now he's no longer smack in the middle of the frame. Which one do you prefer? 

This rule of thirds is deemed most important for landscape pictures. Then again: rules are just rules. Know how they work, so you can figure out your best way to break them effectively. 

Then: the horizontal line in your images. When shooting and editing, don't forget to look at your horizontal line. When you talk about pleasing to the eye: it's most pleasing to have a straight horizontal line in your images. So how about when the horizontal line in your picture isn't entirely straight? It's very easy to correct this with Lightroom CC.

To straighten the horizontal line
1. Open the picture and go to the Develop module.
2. Choose Crop Overlay (R)

3. Click on the Straighten tool

4. Draw a line over the horizontal

5. Crop the picture

Et voila! The result is a picture - with the rule of thirds - with a perfectly straight horizontal line. 

Then again, when shooting sports it can work really well to not have a perfectly straight horizontal line. This can give your image more dynamics. Like the image I shot during the uphill race in Åre. 

So, think of this post. And the Dalai Lama. Know the rules so you can break them effectively!