Using the Rule of Thirds to crop your photograph to make a better composition.  

The Rule of Thirds is a method used by many photographers to arrange or place objects and elements within the pictorial frame to create a better balanced composition.

Divide the picture into an imaginary grid with 3 equal rows and 3 equal columns – each grid space should be in the same proportions as the entire frame.  

Place the eyes, the main focal point of a portrait, at an intersection of the lines or along a horizontal or vertical line. Do not place the main focal point in the middle space of the grid.

Examples of subject placement using rule of thirds.

              Half body portrait                                        Head and shoulders portrait     

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The eyes in both of the above portraits are placed along the top horizontal imaginary third line. If the eyes were placed directly in the center of the photograph, the resulting image would appear stagnant and less interesting.  Using indirect lighting also adds dramatic impact to the face.

                   Half body portrait                                           Head and shoulders portrait

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CROPPING YOUR PHOTOGRAPH TO CREATE A BETTER PORTRAIT

Cropping a photograph is also referred to "zooming in" on your subject.  Cropping a photograph can create a much better composition for a portrait.  It helps to eliminate unnecessary and distracting background information.  The details of the face, especially the eyes, are more evident due to the cropping.  Try to avoid splitting your picture in half from top to bottom or side to side unless the photograph is symmetrically balanced.  Do not forget that a horizontal photograph can be cropped to become a vertical image.  A vertical picture is usually better for individual and odd numbered groups of people. 

                               Original photograph                                        Cropped Photograph

 It can be more interesting to have a subject not looking directly at the viewer as in the example below.

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                   Original photograph                                     Cropped Photograph

The placement of subjects using the rule of thirds is not limited to people.                               back to top

                             Original photograph                                        Cropped Photograph           

Placing the elephants in the middle of the picture creates a boring and static image.  Cropping out distracting background and placing the main elephant on the right vertical imaginary line creates a much better composition.

Never place the subject in the middle space of the grid – unless symmetry is used as the compositional balancing device.  For example, the person on the left balances the person on the right.  Both subjects are equal in importance.  The cropped picture on the left is much more dynamic than the original photograph.  In the charcoal portrait drawn from this photograph, the boy's shoulder is placed behind the girl's shoulder and they are placed sitting beside each other so they both have equal importance in the drawing.                                                                                                   

                       Cropped photograph                                           Original photograph             back to top

     Charcoal drawing 

When choosing your photographs for a drawing, remember that shadows can add drama to your portrait, but be careful to avoid shadows that obscure the eyes. 

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