Following the guidelines
Activate the grid overlay to help when you’re composing your imagery
One useful in-camera tool that can help with framing a shot is the Grid Display function. This enables you to superimpose a selection of grids over the image that can help you to line elements up, keep vertical and horizontal lines straight, and work out where to place objects within the frame.
It’s widely available across Canon’s EOS range of cameras, although with some models there are fewer grids and if you’re shooting on a DSLR then it may only be visible when using Live View mode.
Some advanced DSLRS, such as the EOS 90D and 5D Mark IV, enable you to show the grid in the viewfinder. To activate this, head to the ‘Viewfinder display’ option in the yellow Set-up menu. You may also be able to display the grid when you check your images – you’ll find this option in the blue Playback menu. The grid lines aren’t saved on the image, instead, they’re just overlaid on the screen.
The 3x3 grid option is the most basic and, arguably, most useful option when aiding composition, because it conforms approximately to the rule of thirds. So, not only does it allow you to quickly check that your shot is level, it can help you work out where to place the horizon and the subject. By lining up the most important detail in a scene (such as the eyes in a portrait) at one of the points where the lines cross, you can create more visually interesting pictures. Obviously, there are some subjects that suit a more centred and symmetrical composition – flowers and spider webs for example
– and not all pictures should be constructed rigidly according to the rule of thirds, as there’s a risk that your photos can start to look too similar. But it does provide a great starting point to build from.