• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
ScrapGirls
  • SHOP
  • LEARN HOW
  • BLOG
  • FORUM
  • CHAT
  • CONTACT US
Select Page
Home / All Posts / The Power of Thirds

The Power of Thirds

The Power of Thirds

Early in my scrapbooking, I ran across a simple idea that helped me to quickly improve my photo cropping and picture taking – the principle of thirds. I found out the eye likes to see the subject of a photo or layout one-third of the way from two edges. I tried cropping my photos that way, and I was amazed by the changes! Here are some examples.

This photo of my grandparents, sisters, and me by the silo is okay, but I wanted to improve it. I cropped the photo so my sister’s eye was one third of the way from the left side and the bottom of the picture. What a difference!

Original Photo
My sisters and I are almost lost in the photo below. By changing the orientation from horizontal (landscape) to vertical (portrait) and focusing on my sister’s eye, the resulting cropped photo is much better.

cropped photo of sisters
With cameras these days, it is easier than ever to place the subject in the right spot on your picture. You can usually push a button so that a grid of four lines appears on your screen. Hold the camera so the subject of your picture is where two lines meet and you are set!
However, there will always be photos that need cropping. Riley, a golden doodle, was a very wiggly little puppy. I think this fun shot is greatly improved by cropping.

photo of family pet
Here is a picture of me and my dad, and I decided to crop it horizontally. I really like the result.

family photo cropped
Finally, this is picture of my dad and Rory, my niece’s son, Dad’s first great-grandchild. I like their expressions, but neither Rory nor Dad is one-third of the way from two edges. In addition, I find the group of people in the background and Dad’s iron grip on Rory’s legs in the foreground to be distracting. You can see the difference in the cropped photo.

family cropped photo
I hope this gives you some inspiration. I’d love to see how you use this idea of thirds in your layouts. Just upload your pages to the Scrap Girls Gallery so we can all enjoy them!

Rule of thirds layout
written by Sue M
Article written by Sue Maravelas

Welcome to the SG Design Shop Blog - where modern memory keeping meets heritage scrapbooking! Here you'll find digital products and all the inspiration you need to complete your projects.

subscribe-imgTo our Free Newsletter

Search the blog

Favorite Categories


Learn How Sidebar Badge
Tutorials Sidebar Badge
hybrid projects sidebar button
art journaling sidebar button
mobile scrapping sidebar button
planners sidebar button

Connect with us

SG Facebook Image

Partners

Qwiklearn -The easiest way to learn digital scrapbooking!

Adobe Photoshop Affiliate Badge

Links

  • About Us
  • Storefront
  • Terms of Use
  • FAQs

HELP

  • Contact Us
  • Email

FOLLOW US

     

© 2023 Scrap Girls - All Rights Reserved.Privacy PolicySite Map