n3eg Loc: West coast USA

Is there a horizontal rule of thirds? For example, ships on a river - is it better to locate the ships in the bottom third of the frame?

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

It depends ..... it may be that the patterns in the water are worthy subjects of their own so it's not inconceivable that you might want to place your ship in the top third of the frame. The same thing goes for the fore and aft orientation ..... what is the more interesting view?

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Yes.

LarryFB Loc: Depends where our RV is parked

One thing to consider, do you want the fact that the ship is in water to be part of the impact of the photo, or do you want the emphasize the look of the sky or other elements of the background? If you want to emphasize the water, the ship should be on the upper part of the frame, if you want to emphasize the the sky or other elements of the background then the ship should be on the bottom of the photo.

In landscape photography, you place the horizon on one of the horizontal thirds depending on what you are trying to emphasize.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

The guideline that the rule of thumb about thirds provides is valid on any axis.

But keep in mind it's a guide, not the Law Of The Land! That means it is commonly true that good composition will result in objects located on the location suggested. But... not necessarily! And the "1/3rd" lines are not really a geographic set of lines drawn blindly on the frame either. Objects in an image are "attractive" in different ways to a viewer, in that some are more dominant that others. Some colors, the brightness, the size, and other characteristics all influence how dominant, or not, an object is. More dominant objects need differnt placement in relation to less dominat objects. Those 1/3rd lines relate to dominance as much as simple geography.

The correct positioning of everything within the image frame is exactly what "composition" is. The role of the photographer is to decide exactly what the photograph is going to look like. Hence the way to decide where things should be located is not related directly to lines dividing the image into 1/3rds! It's a matter of looking at the scene and deciding what placement provides the image you as the photographer want the photograph to be.

The way to know what is right is to look at the image, not at a grid of lines.

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

There are many compositional rules that will work, of which thirds is one, and it does not have to be the bottom third line, it could well be the top third line, but my general answer would be - yes, this can be a good option, but it is not the only option.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

It's generally better to NOT locate a horizontal/vertical bisecting line in the middle. ;-)
SS

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

But there are exceptions as well.
A central bisecting line can work very well for mirrored reflections and other images that work because of their symmetry.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Yes, absolutely. NO rule is either inflexible or not brittle, Generally! :lol:
SS

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

That all depends on the situation but do not let the rule of thirds be in complete control. Look at the picture as seen through the viewfinder and then make the decision. Also take multiple images and decide which one you like best. Remember the rule of thirds is only a guide for good photography but nothing is etched in stone when it come too art.

Ugly Jake Loc: Sub-Rural Vermont

What SS said - my camera has a view mode with the "recommendation of thirds" in a grid on the viewfinder - turned it off after 5 or 6 very boring shots; drove me crazy! Keep in mind the "rule", but some compositions won't work unless centered.

heyjoe Loc: cincinnati ohio

i would put the ship in lower corner,if ship is moving right to left
then put in right corner, a bird landing from right,i would put him in top right corner, I like to leave area open where my subject is heading

Scoutman Loc: Orlando, FL

It may be helpful for you to turn on the illustrated grid pattern in your camera, if it has that feature. Helps with horizon line and vertical light straightening as well.

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

At a recent class in photography the teacher said the prime spots to locate important objects in a photograph is where the horizontal and vertical lines defining the thirds INTERSECT. Since in dividing the scene into thirds there are two horizontal and two vertical lines you have 4 optimum locations. Well. I don't know if I really follow this. I just move around and adjust the zoom to get the look I want. Then in PP crop to enhance my vision of the scene. Maybe the rule of thirds is built into our brains. Not a pro but often get fine pictures.

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

The image from Scoutman above illustrates what my teacher said.