Photo Assignment 4: Rule of Thirds

Tessa Trivax, a junior majoring in fashion media and journalism at Southern Methodist University, photographs Isabella Rickel on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada. ©2025 Tessa Trivax

I applied the rule of thirds by placing the person on the left vertical third. Her eyes sit close to the upper-left intersection, which naturally draws attention to her face first. This placement leaves open space to the right, giving the portrait breathing room and a sense of direction. Viewers look left to right and stop at her expression before noticing the setting.

I reinforced the composition with contrast. The white blazer pops against the dark wall, so she separates well from the background. The warm light from the doorway adds dimension and keeps skin tones lively. Because the brightest area is the left edge, it frames rather than steals focus.

I used the lines in the camera to help me with where to shoot her face. The doorframe and panel seams create subtle verticals that echo the subject’s posture and lead back to her face. Her angled elbows form diagonals that point inward, preventing the viewer’s gaze from drifting off the frame. These cues make the left third feel anchored and intentional.

I controlled crop and balance to support the thirds. Tight framing keeps the face and body within the top-left grid while the jacket’s flare fills the lower-left third. The negative space on the right counterweights the visual mass of the blazer. 

I tried to keep the mood cohesive. The warm interior light, dark backdrop, and minimal set let the composition do the work. The rule of thirds organizes the scene, the color contrast makes it readable, and the lines deliver the viewer to the subject. The result feels deliberate, polished, and easy to read at a glance.