Tips from Bee photographer Bart Ah You

When taking photographs of your family and friends this holiday season, experiment with the Rule of Thirds principle.

Most people center their subject in the middle of the frame, take their picture and consider the image a done deal.

Yeah, you've done your job and you might be satisfied, but could it have been better?

Look through the viewfinder. Now image your frame divided into thirds, like seeing tic-tac-toe lines over the area you see.

There are two equally placed horizontal and two equally placed vertical lines. There are nine equal squares. Place your subject at one of the intersecting lines instead of in the center, and there you go, a different and more exciting way to look at things.

Some say it gives your final product for tension or movement.

I say placing your subject off center is more esthetically appealing.

I use this principle everyday. I hope it will allow you to see things differently too.

This story was originally published November 25, 2008 at 7:28 PM with the headline "Tips from Bee photographer Bart Ah You."