Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 490 Journalism: Publishing Across Media Working with Photos: Composition Working with Photos: Composition Great design requires great photos, composed well, shot well and edited well. These basic principles apply equally to photography and videography. Rule of Thirds Rule of Thirds Artists, architects and designers have long known the power of thirds and that our eye is attracted to images arranged according to this principle. Look at Figure 16.3. Imagine that the image is split into three equal parts horizontally and three parts vertically. When the center of interest in your photo, or in art, architecture or design, is placed at one of the points where those imaginary lines intersect, the eye is drawn to the image and the image is more pleasing. That is the power of the rule of thirds. Figure 16.2 Using a variety of shot distances and techniques, Marcus Yam gives the viewer an inside look as members of the Coast Guard perform their duties. Courtesy of Marcus Yam, the Los Angeles Times Figure 16.3 Using the rule of thirds can make an already strong photo even more powerful. Photo by Tori Caudill, The Crimson Crier, Sparkman High School