When you think about the Golden Ratio in photography, the famous spiral comes to mind. The Fibonacci spiral, also known as the Golden spiral – run a search online if you want to delve into the mathematical aspect of that – is one of the ways photographers compose incredible visuals. There’s a lot of aesthetic to be found with photography that has applied the Golden Ratio than those without.
Image by Sergey Kandakov, 123RF.
Fibonacci Spiral
Using the Fibonacci spiral for this gorgeous German Shepherd silhouette shot – it centers on the setting sun above the horizon.
Image by Viacheslav Nemyrivskyi, 123RF.
Image by annaav, 123RF.
The best part about using the Fibonacci spiral in photo compositions is that you can flip it both vertically and horizontally. That little center of the spiral can usually be used as a base for where the eye would automatically land on. It’s kind of the focal point of the image. Check out this ocean shot with a perfect sunrise in the midst of the spiral center right below.
Image by belchonock, 123RF.
Phi Grid
The Phi Grid bears a striking resemblance to the Rule of Thirds, but has a much closer pair of intersecting lines in the middle. Check out this example of a photo composition using the Phi Grid for this sweet golden retriever submerging herself in a pool.
Image by dmosreg, 123RF.
And this handsome American Bully posing in the middle of a field.
Image by Viorel Sima, 123RF.
These are the two most commonly used Golden Ratio principles applied in photography. They’re a lot more aesthetically pleasing because they offer a more balanced composition when it comes to shots other than landscapes. You’d want to look more toward the Rule of Thirds for that.
Explore more stuff about photography, like this secret to perfect ice cream shots, or take a short break to a city you’ll love.