R.G. wrote:
I would say the rule of thirds points to one possibility that usually works. I've never used it while shooting but I have used it in PP when I just couldn't decide how to compose.
I think you're right in suggesting that the more complicated composition possibilities very often have questionable value and such grids can be made to look relevant in all sorts of situations. But as possibilities they often have something of merit, and if we're aware of those possibilities we are more likely to be looking out for them and notice them as a result.
For that to be true about the more complicated relationships we need the grids to guide us to those possibilities. My guess is that most of us aren't going to be able to spot complex compositional relationships without the assistance of a grid.
I would say the rule of thirds points to one possi... (
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If we look into the work of artists, painting drawing and design, there is a lot of use of grids or armatures. Even two columns of text on a page side by side we expect the lines to line up across the 2 columns.
I have a great little program called affinity designer and it constantly looks for alignment if i have two photos say on a page affinity designer will highlight possible relationships e.g aligning the top bottom or centre of the one i'm moving with the existing photo if the first photo is 50 pixels from the left of the page dragging the second image to around 50px of the first images right edge will prompt an alignment mark to place the 2nd photos left edge 50px from the first. It constantly looks for relationships between objects on the page, I really like this program.
https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-mediums/oil-painting/pech-harmonic-armature/I will quote from this page:
The Greek mathematician Pythagoras (ca 570–ca 490 BC) discovered a relationship between numbers (specifically, proportions) and sensory perceptions that are pleasing to our ears and our eyes. In a word, we respond positively to intervals of one third, one quarter, one half, two thirds and three quarters. The harmonic armature is one of several compositional devices based on mathematic or geometric principles, such as the golden mean and root rectangles. and here is the same painting with the harmonic grid.
In this case we can be sure that this use of the grid was deliberate as it's the artist who created the page.
here is another
and the grid imposed
I think if we had photographed either of these paintings we would classify them as keepers.
Here lies the problem for photographers, it is pretty difficult to get the world to cooperate with our vision. We probably could arrange a still life to fit an armature. It's not going to be possible to move mountains to conform, although maybe with photoshop we can adjust and place elements.
https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-techniques/fibonacci-sequence/?lid=atvbspLeonardo of Pisa, known as Fibonacci, was a 13th-century scholar who created the series of numbers given his name. The ratio created by any number in Fibonacci Sequence to the next larger number approximates a proportion also known as the divine proportion or the golden section. The divine proportion is a ratio approximately 1:1.6. As a rectangle, it would be the ratio of height to length.
Fibonacci found that a sequence of numbers, if carried on indefinitely, would approach this same ratio and that it would become more exact the further one carried the sequence. As the sequence progresses, each new number is the sum of the previous two numbers. Thus, the sequence is 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, etc.
Applying this sequence to geometry and the area of a rectangle, start with a square of any size and call it #1. Using a grid based upon this unit, start building. Add an equal square next to #1 (1+1). This square is "1" unit, too.
Now combine these two squares to create the sides and size of the next square. The next square’s side is equal to 1+1 or "2." Adding the length of "2" with the previous square "1." The next square’s side equals 3.
As this sequence increases in size, the proportion of the rectangle becomes closer or more refined to equal the ratio of "golden section." In nature, the growth of plants and animals is very similar. Think of seeds on a pine cone, sunflower or the familiar and exotic nautilus shell.
This is useful life has a pattern for growth! I can imagine how amazing it must have felt to see this design in living things, this isn't random, no wonder we created gods. Nature has an order, and we can seek it out.
It's kind of hard to see order as we tend to be surrounded by chaos but if we take music as an example, there is an order and we are very aware of a bum note. I think we also tend to be aware of the bum note visually when we try to organise what we see.
So it's not so much rules but rhythm feelings and order. I think we could have fun with that.