4 How to use the rules of classical composition

Borrow methods employed by artists over the centuries to compose your shots, and you’ll achieve engaging compositions in every frame you take

As the age-old saying goes: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That’s certainly the case with the tried-and-tested ‘rule of thirds’ for composing your photos – whatever the genre! This is a compositional trick where you divide your frame into nine equal boxes and place points of interest along those lines or where the lines cross for even more compositional clout.

It is largely agreed that a composition following the rule of thirds is more engaging and eye-catching than one that doesn’t use it: you can find examples of this framing technique in the paintings of JMW Turner and even further back, so the rule has seemingly been around forever.

That being said, we’d also like to remind you that rules are made to be broken; so once you’ve tried a few shots using the rule of thirds, be sure to experiment with different compositions to see if you can get an even better one.

PRO SHOT Blueberry pancakes

We whipped up a stack of nine banana pancakes and dropped in some blueberries to the batter as they cooked, to add extra colour and points of interest. We also took care to make sure they all came out a similar size, to make the stack look neater. A drizzle of honey provided some action and a beautiful glossy sheen.

PRO ADVICE Lush lighting

Shooting with direct sunlight or bare flash will create harsh and unpleasant lighting, so aim to take your images near a large window on an overcast day, or use a large softbox attachment on your flash to diffuse the lighting further. The larger your window or softbox attachment is, the softer the lighting will be.