

This is almost exactly how the Fibonacci Sequence works! It’s easy to see how the two rules can work together. When viewing a scene, your eye automatically gravitates to certain parts of that scene. What this rule does is make the balance of the scenic elements more pleasant to view. The Rule of Thirds is probably the most cited of all of the rules of photographic composition.

Let’s talk about those and a couple more, for good measure. A few compositional elements that fit seamlessly with the Golden Ratio include the Rule of Thirds, S curves, leading lines, and negative space. The Golden Ratio or Fibonacci Sequence can be added to other rules of composition we already know. There are compositional rules that can be used for a wide variety of subjects and situations. The rules that work for photography also transfer well for cinematography and videography, though you may have to tweak them a bit for the wider aspect ratios that are common in filmmaking. Understanding these rules and the reasons why they work in many situations gives us insight into what really matters: composing a good image.

However, it is a very good idea for any photographer to know what the rules (or guidelines) are in the first place. For every great photograph you see that follows a rule, you can find another arresting image that breaks it. Largely unenforceable, but helpful for reference. That’s right, “rules” of composition such as the Golden Ratio are a lot like the Pirate’s Code. You can take this natural tendency and tweak it to enhance the spiral by adjusting their head and shoulder positions within the frame. Just a little direction from you as the photographer is all that is needed to fine tune for a pleasing arrangement.Īs you look through your viewfinder, take note of how everyone is naturally adjusting themselves into smaller groups within the larger group. When groups are comfortable with each other and comfortable with the photographer, they tend to naturally gravitate towards this golden ratio as they gather for the portrait.

Unless you’re simply lining people up or grouping by short to tall, you are likely already employing Golden Ratio in your group shots. Group portraits lend themselves to it almost naturally. This compositional technique can also be used in portraits. Once you have this concept down, you can start putting it to work purposefully. This exercise will firmly cement in your mind’s eye what the Golden Ratio is and how it works. You could also draw the spiral right on the print, connecting the curves from small to large. Take the prints of your pictures and overlay the graph on the print. I find the visual of the sunflower exemplifies the concept of the Golden Ratio and Fibonacci Sequence. If you are near any sunflowers, take a close look at one. The petals of a growing flower, a pinecone, the shell of a sea snail, a spider’s web, and leaves on a shrub or tree all follow this sequence. You can find this sequence all over in nature. So it is a very normal reaction to look for and create patterns in the world around us. From galaxy clusters to subatomic particles, almost everything around us fits into a pattern. Why are the Golden Ratio and Fibonacci Sequence so important in photography? It really comes down to balance and patterns versus chaos. Using Golden Ratio and Fibonacci Sequence in Photography It is a sequence of numbers wherein the next number is found by adding up the two numbers before it. This concept is also known as the Fibonacci spiral, which is extremely simple to describe both mathematically and visually. This ratio can be seen in architecture both classic and modern, as well as in natural structures. Makes me irrational, let me tell you! But compositionally, it has a very pleasing effect.
