Lesson 2 • Rule-of-Thirds

1. Planning a Photograph
In your sketchbook or blank piece of paper, sketch your ideas for how
you would frame a photograph of the Toronto skyline.
Think about…
Where would you position certain focal points (i.e. CN Tower, Lake
Ontario, etc.) Why?

2. Today, I will learn…
Rule-of-thirds
Learning Goals

3. Rule-of-Thirds
A concept in which the frame is divided into into nine imaginary sections
(Thirds vertically & horizontally)
Points (or lines) of interest should occur at 1/3 or 2/3 of the way up or across
the frame, rather than in the centre
For example: Eyes should 1/3 of frame down
Rule-of-Thirds example
http://vimeo.com/1461280

4. Sky
1/3
Sky
1/3
Trees
1/3
Trees
1/3
Lawn
1/3
Lawn
1/3

5. Skyline
1/3
Skyline
1/3
Field &
Subject
2/3s
Field &
Subject
2/3s

9. Try to avoid placing
your subjects and
lines, dead-centre of
your image.

10. It’s not about the gear!

11. Weekly
Photo Journals
This week’s journal focus is framing using the rule-of-thirds
Let’s go out and shoot some photos…
Take photos of people, buildings, objects, street signs, etc.
Close-up, far away; experiment with angles and heights