One of the easiest and quickest ways to improve your photographs is to follow the rule of thirds. This photography technique guides how you frame your images to get the best composition. It isn’t a rule that always has to be followed, but it’s a good guideline, and it can make a big difference. The principle essentially suggests the photographer split the frame into thirds, both horizontally and vertically.
You can do this by imagining two sets of parallel lines that are an equal distance from each other and the edge of the frame. This will split the shot into nine equally sized rectangles, and guide you when taking a photograph. Positioning the subjects you want to focus on at the intersection points of these lines — the corners of the central square — produces naturally appealing photographs. You can also use the straight lines to know where to angle the lens to position things like the horizon or tall buildings.
Thankfully, you don’t have to rely on your imagination for these lines. Almost every smartphone has an option to turn on grid lines. This will add the lines and intersections onto your screen so you can frame a picture perfectly. Users simply have to go to their settings in the camera app and turn on the grid lines. There may even be additional options, like grid lines for the slightly different golden ratio.
