Rule of Thirds
Learn the rules well so you know how to break them
properly. -Dalai Lama
Rule
of thirds: Divide your picture area into three equal
horizontal sections and three equal vertical sections. The rule of thirds holds
that the eye will naturally be drawn to the intersections of these lines,
sometimes known as "Hot Spots." Items that you want attention drawn
to should be placed on these spots and the viewer's eyes should be led
along the lines. The following examples help to illustrate this.
Notice how perfectly the lighthouse is aligned with a vertical line and the horizon is near a horizontal line. The closer seagulls are also near a vertical line.