15 - The rule of thirds
What is beauty?
The rule of thirds is probably the most important and most commonly used rule in composition. Its prominence is the reason why other composition rules, such as symmetry, are less frequently used and discussed.
The rule of thirds is a simplified version of the golden ratio which itself is a derivative of the Fibonacci number. In short, this number was repeatedly observed by mathematicians when trying to answer a simple question; what is beauty?
It would seem that things we consider to be beautiful can be found to contain the Fibonacci number. Whole books can be written on the subject, but all you need to know in terms of photography composition is that photos composed with the subjects placed at a third tend to look better. i.e if you divide your image into thirds horizontally and vertically you should place your subjects where the lines overlap.
Assignment: compose a photo that conforms with the rule of thirds.
Reading material:
https://www.capturelandscapes.com/the-rule-of-thirds-explained/
https://digital-photography-school.com/rule-of-thirds/
https://expertphotography.com/improve-your-composition-the-rule-of-thirds/