Mastering the golden ratio

Some people remember it from school and many are familiar with pictures of flowers or animals over which a grid has been placed, making it clear that their division and arrangement also corresponds exactly to the golden ratio. The idea of the golden ratio is based on the number Phi (1.618...), which expresses the relationship of the different parts to each other in this particular length ratio. Since the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans, this mathematical principle, which was developed from detailed observation of natural compositions that were considered particularly aesthetic and harmonious, has been used in art and architecture. For example, famous buildings such as the Parthenon or the pyramids of Giza reflect the proportions of the golden ratio. As in the art world as a whole, the golden ratio also plays a major role in the field of architecture and this is the subject of the following section.

What is the golden ratio?

The golden ratio is used to express a relationship between distances, surfaces or volumes that can be determined mathematically and can be found in natural patterns and relationships in nature. Complex mathematical formulas are required to determine it precisely, but in simple terms, the golden ratio divides a distance in such a way that the ratio of the smaller part to the larger part corresponds to the ratio of the larger part to the entire distance. If this is too complicated for you, you can simply remember the rule of thirds as a rule of thumb or simplification of the golden ratio.

Too much math for the golden ratio? Then use the rule of thirds!

Roughly speaking, the ratio of the golden ratio can be expressed in a simplified form using the rule of thirds, which is useful for all those who have avoided the subject of mathematics since school. To apply the rule of thirds, a picture is divided into nine equal parts, i.e. divided into thirds both horizontally and vertically by two lines. In order to achieve an image composition in the golden ratio, the main focus of the image is then chosen at one of the intersections of the resulting lines.
In contrast to the actual golden ratio, which represents a precise mathematical relationship, the rule of thirds offers a clear simplification and can therefore also be used in everyday photography without too much work. The effect that can be achieved by applying the rule of thirds is to make a pleasant impression on the viewer through a balanced arrangement of the elements and to draw their attention quite involuntarily to the most important areas of the photo.

The golden ratio in practice

Of course, no one wants to have to fiddle with a ruler and tape measure to take a successful landscape photo. That's why there is a whole range of practical tools that support and simplify the implementation of the golden ratio in everyday photography. Some of the most popular aids for balanced images in the golden ratio include so-called overlay tools, which are either integrated into the camera's own options or can be placed over the images afterwards using image editing programs.
A very special representation of the golden ratio is the Fibonacci spiral, which is reminiscent of the shell of a snail or even more of a sea shell. It can also serve as a guide for the placement of elements when taking photographs and can either be integrated into the camera's programs or used afterwards when cropping and editing the images.

Areas of application for the golden ratio

In order to create more balanced and appealing images, it is worth incorporating knowledge of the golden ratio into your own image composition in almost all photo genres. For example, when taking portraits, it can be helpful to position the eyes not in the middle but along one of the horizontal lines determined according to the golden ratio. The same applies to the horizon line or other important lines in the genre of landscape photography. The placement of a product in product photography can also be best chosen along one of the lines of the golden ratio.
At the same time, however, you should always keep in mind that the golden ratio can be a source of inspiration and a guideline, but it should not dominate your photographic work as a rigid rule. It is best to play around with it and find out through your own experiments where and how the use of the mathematical principle helps you.

Other composition techniques

In addition to the golden ratio and the rule of thirds, there are numerous other composition techniques that can contribute to the creation of harmonious images and that you can deliberately play with to create certain effects. While symmetrical compositions such as those achieved with the golden ratio often have a calming and balanced effect, you can also deliberately choose the opposite approach and use asymmetrical compositions to create tension and dynamism in your pictures.
When it comes to drawing the eye to a specific point in a picture, you can either position it along one of the lines of the golden ratio, as mentioned above, or work with leading lines that direct the viewer's gaze to a specific point and thus enhance the depth effect and dynamism of a picture. The choice of colors can also be used to highlight certain aspects or areas of the image.

Conclusion

If you would like to make your pictures more harmonious and balanced, you can use the golden ratio, which is perceived as particularly beautiful. As this can be quite complicated for practical use in everyday life, both cameras and image editing programs that can be used retrospectively offer overlay tools and other aids that can be used to create a more balanced image composition. If you don't have these tools at your disposal, you can also simply follow the rule of thirds, which is much easier to implement but is very similar to the harmonious ratio of the golden ratio. Whichever way you decide to go, thinking about the composition of your images and the role of the golden ratio will always take your photography to a new level.

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