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There's a simple rule that can help you improve your photos

The rule of thirds exists for a good reason.

SMARTPHONE CAMERAS HAVE advanced so much, it’s easy for us to take high-quality photos without much effort.

With the resolution and editing features available at our fingertips, we’re spoilt for choice, but this can’t help you if you’re not able to take a good photo.

An easy way to solve this is to activate the grid view, an option all cameras have. How you activate it differs from phone to phone.

Some camera apps allow you to activate it directly in the app itself while others require you to go into its settings. If you have an iPhone, you have to go into Settings > Photos & Camera and scroll down to activate it.

How does this help? It’s because the grid allows you to follow the rule of thirds, a technique which helps you take more engaging photos.

The rule breaks down your photo into nine parts – using two horizontal and two vertical lines – helping you frame your shot. The GIF below is a good example of how it works.

Rivertree_thirds_md Wikimedia Wikimedia

In its most basic terms, it discourages you from placing the subject in the very centre so at one of the points where the grid intersects, you should place your photo’s subject there on the one side.

They don’t need to be perfectly lined up but having the subject as close as possible to one or two intersections helps.

The lines can also be used to position background horizons as well. Placing it along one of the horizontal lines can also help improve a photo’s composition. In the photo below, the snail is located where the bottom-left intersection happens, giving it a more prominent position.

Alone in the garden olivierbxl / Flickr olivierbxl / Flickr / Flickr

The other thing is you can still follow the same principle when you’re editing a photo. Cropping a photo can help you reposition the subject so it is close to the side.

You don’t always have to follow this rule, but when you get better at it, you will recognise the moments when you can break it.

Read: This cheap flagship smartphone is out and it’s impressing people* >

Read: WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or iMessage – which is your winner? >

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9 Comments
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    Mute Piero Tintori
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    Dec 26th 2013, 12:18 PM

    To be fair, Enterprise Ireland also deserve a lot of credit helping Irish companies grow internationally

    208
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    Mute knowyourplace
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    Dec 26th 2013, 12:34 PM

    Credit where credit is due

    178
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    Mute robby rottenest
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    Dec 26th 2013, 1:10 PM

    CREDIT. Credit got us into this shit!

    62
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    Mute patrick
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    Dec 26th 2013, 12:30 PM

    We have a corporate tax rate lass than half the European average, surely it can’t be so hard to attract foreign direct investment.

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    Mute Larry L'Oiseau
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    Dec 26th 2013, 3:29 PM

    Large commercial decisions are not made on only one criterion. We have a supportive open economy, relatively we are low on corruption and bribery, we speak English, are well-educated, and have yankee sympathies.
    That also helps…

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    Mute Brid Ryan
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    Dec 26th 2013, 6:16 PM

    Another example of an overly simplistic view of our Corporation tax System. Have a look ..,. http://www.ronanlyons.com/2011/05/17/just-say-non-the-facts-on-corporate-tax-rates-in-europe/

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    Mute Gerry Ryan deG
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    Dec 26th 2013, 12:27 PM

    to be reaaly fair, the taxpayer who funds both of them deserves a lot of credit also, most of whom derive little benefit

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    Mute O'Reilly
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    Dec 26th 2013, 1:10 PM

    Eh, jobs?

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    Mute Gerry Ryan deG
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    Dec 26th 2013, 3:35 PM

    jobs for a small number of citizens at a big cost to other taxpayers but the real scandal is the tax that the companies dont pay, its a neat trick but ask the people who have been dumped when the taxpayer funded Grants run out

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    Mute Kevin Dobson
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    Dec 26th 2013, 10:36 PM

    Gerry. You are a cretin. For every job the State saves on Social Welfare and earns income taxes etc. That doesn’t even include the plethora of indigenous companies that feed off IDA companies. The positive ratio of investment to return with the IDA has been definitively proven. Would you ever educate yourself about the subject you’re pontificating about before commenting. My eyes are sore after reading your rubbish.

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    Mute Tom Keating
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    Dec 26th 2013, 8:30 PM

    Fair play and well done IDA for a job well done. Keep up the good work!

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    Mute maurice
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    Dec 26th 2013, 9:46 PM

    I’m happy the Guardian mentioned the terrific work of the IDA – which is good PR for Ireland. But as for Jedward (2 grown up men acting like 11-year-old girls) – not so good.

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    Mute Seosamh Collier
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    Dec 26th 2013, 10:06 PM

    Ah here now, 11 year old girls aren’t as bad as those clown to be fair.

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    Mute patrick
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    Dec 26th 2013, 12:48 PM

    As Roy would say, its like praising the postman for delivering letters.!

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    Mute Barry O Mahoney
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    Dec 26th 2013, 5:09 PM

    Roy who?

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    Mute Mitch Connor
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    Dec 26th 2013, 12:35 PM

    The Grauniad rails against tax dodging corpos, yet its editorial praises same to the hilt.

    Hypocrites.

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    Mute Buckwheat MacMillan
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    Dec 26th 2013, 5:13 PM

    The Grauniad? Is that a character from lord of the rings?

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    Mute Ian Mac Eochagáin
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    Dec 27th 2013, 9:56 AM

    It’s a reference to how the newspaper used to be full of typos.

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    Mute margaret
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    Dec 26th 2013, 2:22 PM

    Tried to get a job with the IDA years ago. Having no connections at all made that impossible in the Ireland of the 80′S. I wonder have things changed. Doubt it.

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    Mute Paul Carey
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    Dec 26th 2013, 2:53 PM

    Maybe you didn’t have the necessary skills or experience????

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    Mute margaret
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    Dec 26th 2013, 3:06 PM

    Job advertised was for Assistant Executive, Trainee, a third level qualification (non specified) required. Quite general. Always wondered what the background of the people who landed those very coveted jobs back in the recession hit 80′s was.

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    Mute cooperguy
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    Dec 26th 2013, 5:14 PM

    Ha I’m sure plenty of people didn’t get the job. That’s what happens when more than one person applies for a job. No need to play the victim

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    Mute joe
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    Dec 26th 2013, 12:27 PM

    When i went to school it was the industrial development authority. Why the name change?

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    Mute Larry L'Oiseau
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    Dec 26th 2013, 3:30 PM

    Things change Joe….

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    Mute Stephen McMahon
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    Dec 26th 2013, 9:30 PM

    I feel your pain Joe, its just not fair….

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    Mute Dermot Mc Loughlin
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    Dec 26th 2013, 4:34 PM

    Thanks IDA for not providing one job or offering one penny of investment in Cavan in 40 years.

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    Mute David Burke
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    Dec 26th 2013, 7:11 PM

    Can’t blame the IDA that multi-nationals don’t want to go to Cavan. Is there anything that Cavan is better for than any other county?

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    Mute Reg
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    Dec 26th 2013, 8:07 PM

    But you had the financial wizzardry of Sean Quinn……just been watching Harry Potter!

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    Mute David Giles
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    Dec 27th 2013, 8:36 AM

    This article is highly complimentary to the IDA. The Guardian, being a left-wing newspaper, likes the opportunity to praise the work of a successful government agency like the IDA. The IDA competes successfully against similar British agencies who are trying to attract exactly the same sort of jobs from many of the same investors. Ireland’s low corporation tax system and more effective educational system gives the IDA an edge over the British agencies. The IDA has done a good job over the years but faces stiff competition from many other countries, particularly countries outside the EU where wages, energy costs and income tax and social security contributions are lower. But Ireland has the advantage of being an English speaking country within the EU, the world’s most important single Market. Much has been achieved but much more remains to be done.

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