The Golden Ratio vs. The Rule of Thirds

When it comes to photography, there is a debate whether or not the Golden Ratio is better than the Rule of Thirds. Join Tara as she discusses the importance of these.

Read More:
What is the ‘Golden Ratio’ and why is it better than the ‘Rule of Thirds?’
“Somebody recently told me that I will be able to compose more pleasing pictures if I use the Golden Ratio instead of the Rule of Thirds, and that the Rule of Thirds was an inferior way to compose photographs.”

How to Use the Golden Ratio to Improve Your Photography
“The Golden Ratio has been used as a powerful composition tool for centuries. It is a design principle based on the ratio of 1 to 1.618.”

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[darkravers]

When used in photography both have their respective strengths. Photographers mustn't forget however that they are merely guidelines used to illustrate technique to novices. Photographers will use one or another but will mostly follow their own 'eye'. Sometimes it fits in the 'rule of thirds' other times it fits in 'the golden ratio'. There is no right in any art form, regardless of what critics may say.

[moccoyen]

Did she just say "for hundreds of years the rule of thirds has been one of the most universal accepted guidelines for composing photographs"? I didn't know photography has been around that long!

[Telleryn]

My first rule of thumb is don't talk about my thumb.
The second is to make sure I've taken the lense cap off

[BuickGirl]

As a numberphile I am shocked they did not say Fibonacci once.

[_IHateHandles_]

'now it's time to thank our sponsor...'

*Close tab*

[JavierPortillo]

Remember! These are NOT rules, they are GUIDES!

[TJDrumsRHCP]

Message to everybody watching; fuck the rules, photography or film don't have any rules. Using these grids may be helpful but making use of this doesn't grant you a nice picture.

[grannysvids]

Now I know what those grids were for! 😭

[JonathanMichael]

I thought the thing that makes a photo to look good are:

1. Optics arrangement
2. Sensor size
3. Back Side Illumination
4. Image Signal Processor
5. Aperture and Exposure
6. Stability of the lens (either by digital or OIS)

[NoelKerns]

I don't mean to sound rude, but honestly, if you can't compose an aesthetically pleasing photograph without having to compare it to some grid to see if it matches, photography may not be for you.

[tterminator]

Okay, so how many of us came from Steel Ball Run?

[dampandrew]

im taking a photography class right now and all that matters is getting the subjects framed properly with without any distractions. strictly adhering to rules of alignment is too orthodox and might just obscure the potential of a shot

[MattHendrickR]

I'd never really paid any attention to either. I just took photos in a way that I thought looked visually appealing. Then, one of my friends who is a professional photographer (I'm just a hobbyist), asked if I used the Golden Ratio to compose my photos, because it looked like I was. When I told him I had no idea, he thought it might be fun to see if my photos fit in the Golden Ratio. Surprisingly, most of my photos fit in the ratio really well; not all, but most.

[ArcaneEther]

So the Golden Ratio is basically Fibonacci's Sequence?

[Eysc]

will look some porn pics to see if i can detect what method they used.

[CogniVision]

The rule I use for taking photos... I position the camera until what I see in the screen looks good.

[TaraDobbs]

It's not just for photography. For goodness sakes, it's for all forms are art - traditional drawings and paintings, digital drawings and paintings, sculpture, it can even be used in landscaping a garden.

[lailakaasik]

As a photographer, know both (and all other "rules") but when taking pictures feel free to break the rules. The rules are just some sure ways to make a picture more interesting an pleasing to the eye, but if you find any other composition that works, go for it.

[petersigma]

The Golden Section rule says that you allign a center of interest on a golden section proportion of Height or Width. Your first picture of the Blonde Girl showing the thirds grid ACTUALLY lines her eyes ( the center of interest) on the Golden Section proportion. .618 .382

[brothermaleuspraetor]

I adopted these styles by myself before I even knew about them. This is not boasting, I'm pointing out that nature will just take it's course... I naturally preferred to take pictures using those ratios, because they just looked better to me! Wow.. now I know about this, I can't stop trying too hard now and my pics never feel as natural as they did before I knew about this.