Golden Ratio: Improve your photos composition

Mathematics plays an important role in every field of applications. It is the most fundamental way of how our universe works, then whether it is physics, chemistry or more of applied sciences and even in the field of aesthetics, architecture etc.

Photography is no different from it. There are many calculations involved in just a click. Professional photographers know their numbers and formulas to get picture right, though it seems more like a good location, props, actors, themes, equipment, lighting, backgrounds etc. makes good image, but everything boils down to numbers in the end. And today we are going to talk about one such number which is the base of, most popular images right from the famous Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, 'Vitruvian Man’, Last Supper to today's photos. This number is also used in defining the relation between seemingly abstract term like beauty and mathematics.

The number is 1.6180339887498948420... or more popularly known as the golden ratio or perfect number. But, before discussing on why it is most used number in compositions, lets discuss on how it is derived.

What is golden ratio

Simply put, it the ratio between the two consecutive terms of Fibonacci series. Leonardo Fibonacci who was the discoverer of this series, found out that there is a common ratio, that occurs in natural pattern from minutest DNA to Mega Milky Way, from sea shells to sun flowers etc. Around 1200 AD he noticed that this naturally occurring pattern is aesthetically appealing, thus defined as Phi (coined by Mark Barr in the 1900s) or Divine Proportion. 

The Calculation

The Fibonacci Series is the one in which the next number in the series is derived from the sum of two numbers just before it. The series goes on like 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, ....

 Or, (0+1=1, 1+1=2, 1+2=3, 2+3=5, 3+5=8, 5+8=13, 8+13=21, 13+21=34, 21+34=55, 34+55=89, 55+89=144...)

Golden Ratio gets more accurate with higher digits in the series...

For Example - Golden Ratio = 8/5 = 1.6 Or, 13/8 = 1.625 Or, 21/13 = 1.61538462 etc.

Why is it beautiful?

Photography's building block is composition and golden ratio is ratio of natural composition. The natural occurrences of this ratio again and again as we human beings are observing this ratio from age old. It may be possible that we got so accustomed to this ratio that we like to align everything according to this ratio and when things get aligned with this ratio we find it pleasing. It is thought that our brain process known things much faster like golden ratio, which makes the image aesthetically pleasing.

You will be amazed by how many places you can find the golden ratio

Sunflower seeds

Nautilus shells 

Spiral galaxies

Hurricanes 

DNA Molecules measures 34 angstroms by 21 angstroms at each full cycle of the double helix spiral which are two consecutive numbers of Fibonacci series

You will find Fibonacci spiral very useful in photography specially during wide shots or shooting landscape photos. You can also flip or turn the spiral. Just make sure, you don’t skew the spiral shape.

Tips & Tricks

If numbers are confusing for you than just remember, Golden Ratio creates a natural spiral which can be used as a guiding line where you should put your subject and objects in best possible way, so that they align with the spiral. So, imagine the spiral it creates on your view finder or screen and place objects accordingly.

 

Align your subject at one of the intersections of Phi Grid, which is like the rule of thirds. since Phi Grid based on the golden ratio, center sections are smaller than the outer sections.

In the field of photography, the two of the most common compositions are the Phi Grid and the Fibonacci Spiral, which are used for guidance.

 

Adobe Lightroom has a range of crop overlays available including an overlay called the Golden Spiral that is based on the Fibonacci Spiral.

I have mentioned reference articles in the references section, if you are interested in exploring more on this. It’s all about practice, perfection and your imagination.

Footnotes

Blog List : https://azblogs4u.blogspot.in/p/blog-page_7.html

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChlqyi2M5ywy85FSHI0i-tg

Credits

-------------------------------------

References -

                http://www.shawacademy.com/blog/golden-ratio-photography-how-to-balance-your-composition-simply-with-the-fibonacci-sequence/

                https://www.creativebloq.com/design/designers-guide-golden-ratio-12121546

                Golden Ratio : -  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio

                Why The Golden Ratio Is Better Than The Rule Of Thirds: -  https://petapixel.com/2016/10/24/golden-ratio-better-rule-thirds/             

                How To Use the Golden Ratio To Improve Your Photography -        http://www.apogeephoto.com/how-to-use-the-golden-ratio-to-improve-your-photography/

               Divine Composition With Fibonacci’s Ratio (The Rule of Thirds on Steroids) - https://digital-photography-school.com/divine-composition-with-fibonaccis-ratio-the-rule-of-thirds-on-steroids/

               CREATIVE Using the Golden Ratio in Photography for Better Composition -                https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/golden-ratio-photography/

               Golden Ratio Photography: How To Balance Your Composition Simply With The Fibonacci Sequenc e- http://www.shawacademy.com/blog/golden-ratio-photography-how-to-balance-your-composition-simply-with-the-fibonacci-sequence/

               Golden Ratio Uses -          https://www.creativebloq.com/design/designers-guide-golden-ratio-12121546

               Golden Ratio Examples -  https://www.livescience.com/37704-phi-golden-ratio.html

               The Golden Ratio In Photography - https://photographyicon.com/goldenratio/

Images - Pixabay