The Rule of Thirds.
Using the steps outlined previously will
help to tighten up your composition. Now we will look at a few techniques you
can employ to help improve your composition. If you are taking photographs for
your own pleasure, as I assume you are, then you only have to come up with
pictures that please you. You may be able to overlook the huge empty spaces or
people with their heads cut off but no-one else will. That cute kid looks
really cute it is just a pity that you need a magnifying glass to see him.
Producing pictures that are pleasing to someone other than yourself will make
your photography much more rewarding.
The Rule of Thirds.
One of
the most popular 'rules' in photography is the Rule of Thirds. It is also
popular amongst artists. It works like this:
Imaginary lines are drawn dividing the image into thirds both horizontally and
vertically. You place important elements of your composition where these lines
intersect. See (fig 1).
As well as using the intersections, you can
arrange areas into bands occupying a third or place things along the imaginary
lines. 
As you can see, it is simple to implement. Good
places to put things; third of the way up, third of the way in from the left,
you get the idea.
Using the Rule of Thirds helps produce
nicely balanced easy on the eye pictures. In addition, as you have to position
things relative to the edges of the frame it helps get rid of ' tiny subject
surrounded by vast empty space' syndrome.
One last thing about the Rule of Thirds for the time being, Once you have got the hang of the Rule of
Thirds you will very quickly want to break it ! This is fine. As I said,
earlier these 'rules' are best used as guidelines and if you can create a
better image by bending or ignoring rules then fire away.
The Rule of Thirds is fairly structured
but there are a great many methods you can employ which rely on your ability to
'see' things and incorporate them into your composition. Next up we will look
at some, but by no means all, of them.