Pranay Parab

Photography Week 1: Practicing the Rule of Thirds

I signed up for a photography challenge run by Hiro, whose Hiro Report newsletter has fast become a must-read for me. I used to take great photos all the time when I was younger, but as time went by, I lost touch with my inner photographer. When I saw Hiro’s call for the Photography Composition Challenge, I immediately jumped on the opportunity to practice a few good photography skills, starting with the rule of thirds.

The rule of thirds is the first thing I learned when I began taking photos around 18 years ago. It’s fairly easy to follow: just divide any photo into two equally spaced vertical lines and two horizontal lines. When composing a photo, place the subject along any of the four points of intersection or along those lines. This makes the photo look a lot more dramatic and impactful than placing the subject in the center of the photo. Of course, this “rule” is only a guideline that helps beginner photographers get better at the art. Once you’re good enough, you’re going to find ways to break the rule to create an even better photo.

For week 1, I walked around the city I live in—Mumbai, India—and looked for interesting subjects to capture. Most of these photos revolve around nature, which speaks to me like nothing else, and one photo is from one of Mumbai’s suburban local trains. Although I didn’t start the challenge with any theme in mind, it’s ended up as a portrait of the things I love the most about Mumbai—sunsets (we’re on the west coast), birds, animals, trees, and public transport. The camera is an iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Mumbai's skyscrapers in the foreground, a spectacular sunset in the background. A plane is seen in the orange sky.
Mumbai’s skyscrapers in the foreground, a spectacular sunset in the background. The eagle-eyed will spot the plane in the sky too. I could see the sea from my vantage point, but my camera couldn’t capture those details very well, partly due to air pollution.
A black kite captured in flight, with its wings fully expanded, against a blue sky.
Kites are a common sighting in Mumbai. This one was a part of a group of four circling overhead. I managed to catch it when it flew away from the other three for a brief moment. The bird has a large wingspan and looks majestic when it’s in flight.
The inside of a compartment in Mumbai's suburban local trains. The focus is on the handles that people grab on to for support. There are a few people in the compartment and some seats are empty.
My attempt at taking you into the infinite void through the handles in Mumbai’s infamous suburban local trains. I’ve always enjoyed seeing the symmetry in these handles, but they’re hard to capture well. The train sways quite a bit, and the handles are rarely still, making this the most difficult photo I captured this week.
A wide-angle photo of a tree next to a road in a suburban locality. There are two-storey buildings either side of the road and the sun is peeking out from the right side.
A wide-angle photo of a tree in Mumbai’s suburbs. I love seeing greenery in cities and in this case, the sun showed itself just as I was composing this shot.
A gray cat with a blue collar in the entryway to a gated community. A shuttered door and two parked cars can be seen in the background.
Mumbai is full of stray cats, and the people of the city have formed an incredibly loving bond with them. This one is a stray that’s been adopted by the locals, as evidenced by the blue collar. Right before I clicked this picture, this cat was drinking water from a bowl placed specifically for thirsty birds and animals. I love the way its tail is up and how this photo captures its alertness.