Deutsch
Design principle: Golden ratio
Since ancient times, there has been a special design rule that can also be found in photography today: The golden ratio. It describes the ratio of two sizes – a larger one called Major and a smaller one called Minor – within the photo. Exactly, Major should be 61.8% and Minor 38.2%. In photography in the nature of Madagascar, it is not possible to measure out so precisely. And photographers do not usually use calipers. Therefore one uses a rule of thumb. The main subject is placed on an imaginary line. This line is one of three lines that would divide the photo into three parts. For the golden ratio, you move the main subject out of the center of the image. This gives the viewer of the photo an impression of balanced image composition. The photo looks more harmonious.
Nikon D750, Nikkor 42-70 mm, Vollformat,
f/8.1, 1/200 sec, ISO 100, manueller Modus, freihändig
The photos illustrate the golden ratio. For landscape photos, it’s easiest: The baobab in the top photo has been moved to the left. It thus lies on an imaginary line that would delimit the left third of the photo from the other two thirds. In the photo of the two indris below, the lines are also drawn in to make the principle even clearer. Here, the golden ratio is found twice. Once, the main subject – the indri mum with her young – lies on an imaginary line in the right third of the photo. The second golden section concerns the heads of the two lemurs, they lie in the upper third of the photo.
This means that the golden ratio can be applied as a design rule in the horizontal, vertical, and diagonal. It doesn’t matter whether the subject is a landscape, animals, people or objects. You can use the golden ratio almost always. How often you apply the golden ratio in a single photo depends entirely on the subject.
Infos zum fotografierten Tier
Indris are the largest lemurs of Madagascar and grow up to 10 kg. They are threatened by extinction and can only be found on the east coast of Madagascar. Indris live in the rainforest. They are famous for their magical songs, which can still be heard for several kilometers through the rainforest.
Would you like to try out the golden ratio? We are happy to help you with our photo support during our photo tours to make such shots yourself.
