The Rule of Thirds: A Guide to Balanced Composition
Jamie Perez • September 30, 2024
An example of the rule of thirds being used to compost this interview shot ⬆️
Videography/photography is about more than just capturing a moment; it’s also about creating visually appealing images where every frame is intentional. One fundamental rule to follow is “The Rule of Thirds.”
What is the Rule of Thirds?
The Rule of Thirds is a simple and effective guideline for achieving balanced and visually engaging compositions in photography/videography. It divides an image into nine equal parts by creating two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines, resulting in a grid of nine squares. (See image above ^)
How Does It Work?
The idea behind the Rule of Thirds is to place key elements of interest along or near the gridlines or at their intersections. Instead of centering your subject, you position it off-center to create a more dynamic and visually pleasing composition.
To break that down:
- Gridlines: Mentally divide your image into thirds both horizontally and vertically. This creates four intersection points where the gridlines intersect.
- Placement: Position important elements, such as your subject or a prominent object, along one or more of these lines or at the intersection points. This draws the viewer's eye to these areas and creates a sense of balance and harmony in the composition.
Why Use the Rule of Thirds?
- Balance and Harmony: Placing elements off-center creates a more balanced and harmonious composition. It prevents your subject from getting lost in the middle of the frame and adds visual interest.
- Leading Lines: The gridlines themselves can serve as leading lines that guide the viewer's eye through the image. This helps create a natural flow and storytelling within your photos.
- Negative Space: The Rule of Thirds allows you to incorporate negative space effectively. Negative space can be used to emphasize the subject, convey a sense of openness, or add depth to your photos.
- Visual Impact: By following this guideline, you can create frames that immediately capture the viewer's attention and leave a lasting impression.
When to Break the Rule:
While the Rule of Thirds is a valuable guideline, it's essential to remember that visual art is also about creativity and breaking rules when necessary. Sometimes, centering your subject can work exceptionally well for specific compositions. The key is knowing when to apply the Rule of Thirds and when to deviate from it to achieve the desired effect. You have to master the rules before you know how to break them.
Most of the time when nonprofit organizations are sharing stories, we are hearing from staff members, the founder and clients. All of these are perfectly fine stories to tell... but what about sharing the donor stories? When a nonprofit has regular donors, there's probably a story behind WHY they believe in your cause so much. There's a heartfelt element to why out of all the nonprofits they could donate to -- why do they choose YOURS to give to time and time again? They most likely relate to your mission. They believe what you believe about a problem that needs to be addressed and they wanted to be part of the solution. Maybe they went through a traumatic situation that your organization is helping people solve. Get to know your donors. Be curious. They're just as much a part of your organization as your staff and clientele. By sharing their stories, they not only feel more involved in an organization they already care so deeply about, but it also could be a great way to attract MORE donors who can relate to their story. Donors give because of stories -- their gifts don't come from coercion; they come from emotion, a desire to connect. It opens up a relationship and this is how wallets open and lives are transformed. People want to know they belong to something and that they're making a difference. It feels good for anyone to know they're needed, wanted and appreciated. Show them the impact of their gift through storytelling. Don't just focus on them when you need something from them. Engage them. Make them part of the organization's journey. To help get you started, here are a couple questions that could ignite some great soundbites when interviewing your donors: What happened in your life that makes you so compelled to support our cause? Why is this need so important to address? With these questions, you're not only asking them to address the need that your organization is addressing, but you're still focusing on THEIR story. By bringing them along this journey and asking these questions, it helps remind them why they give monetary gifts to you. And their story and their reasons could encourage others to do the same. BE CURIOUS. THESE ARE THE TYPES OF STORIES THAT ARE NEVER TOLD BECAUSE WE NEVER ASK . By being curious, sharing THEIR story, you're showing them you not only care about them helping your cause, but you care about them as people. And who doesn't like to share their story with someone who is truly interested?
Owner of Beyond Words Jamie Perez interviews woman on camera in studio setting
We see this time and time again... organizations wanting to tell an emotive story through video and then being disappointed that the final product wasn't as heart-tugging as they'd hoped. This mainly happens for three reasons: 1. Controlling the narrative. There are too many cooks in the kitchen. Organizations want to include everyone in the conversation and then there's too many opinions on what should be included in the video, who should be included, what should be shown, etc. This convolutes the message and becomes a jamboree of information and takes away from the natural flow of what the true story should be. 2. Trying to fit everything into one video. Organizations often don't think about what it truly means to tell a story. It's not talking about all the facts and features of the organizations, the different types of programs, showing the building, etc. We don't need to know everything about you. We KNOW you're doing incredible work, but we can read the facts and figures through the caption or text on your website. What we want to see and feel is the stories and emotions that accompany what you do. Which brings us to the next point... 3. Focusing on the features rather than the people. While it's great to inform people of the logistics of your organization -- those things are often not unique and they don't really retain people's attention. What does accomplish these two things, however, is gripping people by the heartstrings by focusing on one or two people's stories to show the audience the impact you make. It's not about telling me all the generalities of your organization. We really need to hyperfocus on ONE story that embodies the difference you make in people's lives. Remember what a story truly is. It has characters, it follows a journey, it presents a problem, a solution, has layers, and evokes emotion. If your videos are mostly just a summary of what you do as an organization, then you haven't really told a story. You've told me WHAT your organization does. The true heartfelt stories are always found in the WHY.
