This is the first part in a series of tips looking at the “rules” of photographic composition.

While these “rules” are by no means exhaustive or compulsory, learning how to use them will help make your images more aesthetically pleasing and help you move from taking “snapshots” to more professional-looking photographs.

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Ask any photographer about the “rules” of composition and the first that will probably come to mind is the Rule of Thirds.

Used by photographers and artists alike, it’s a method of placing the subject in the most visually interesting point of the image, rather than dead-centre which tends to produce a more bland and uninspiring result.

To find those “power points” or most visually interesting positions, you divide the image into thirds (hence the name of the rule) both horizontally and vertically, creating a grid with nine segments.

Placing your subject at or very close to one of the points where the lines cross makes the image more dynamic and eye-grabbing. This is probably easier to demonstrate visually with the photograph in the above right. By positioning the centre of the closest tulip at the bottom left intersection it creates far more interest than if I’d placed it slap bang in the middle.

Of course, you can also use the whole of a line for composition, not just the intersecting points. This is especially useful if you have a strong visual line in your photograph, such as the horizon.

In the case of the photograph to the left I have lined up the lower horizontal third line with the breakwater, which also meets the strong line of the harbour wall at the bottom right intersection of the third line. The horizon is also fairly close to the upper horizontal line.

Be aware that there will always be times where the Rule of Thirds is inappropriate for your image or when a more striking effect can be found by ignoring the rule. However, it’s a powerful composition technique that every photographer should have in their arsenal.

Have a go and post a link to your photographs using the Rule of Thirds in our comments. Most of all, have fun!