What is the golden ratio of photography?

Golden section composition method and nine-square grid composition method

(1) The golden section is a mathematical proportional relationship. Applying this proportional relationship to photographic composition has great reference value in the arrangement of subject position. The golden section theory points out that the ratio of the length of the two sides of the main body in a painting should be 1: 0.6 18, and the picture formed by this ratio is the most perfect. In practice, we don't need to obey the golden section law accurately, but should use this aesthetic idea to complete our own photography creation.

(2) The way to complete the golden section is to draw a diagonal line from one corner to the other corner of the picture frame, and then draw a diagonal line perpendicular to the diagonal line from the remaining one or two corners. By doing so, the horizontal and vertical scales of the image can be determined.

When using the nine-grid rule to compose a picture, the picture is divided into nine independent areas by four lines, like small squares. In this grid, the intersection of any two straight lines can be regarded as a dynamic visual interest point, which is an ideal shooting method to place the subject at the visual interest point.

When composing a composition, you don't have to put the main body at the intersection of two lines, but you can also put it anywhere on the separation line. In the head-shoulder photo (that is, the close-up of the head), the eyes are the center of interest of the picture, that is, the visual center. Therefore, the best way is to put the position of the eyes on one of the dividing lines or the intersection of the two lines. In 3/4 portraits and full-length portraits, the face is the center of interest. So the face should fall on the intersection or dividing line.

In general, the head or eyes will be at the height of 2/3 of the picture, and the eyes or face are usually at the top of the picture13. Unless the subjects are sitting or lying half-down, they will be placed in the penultimate 1/3.