The Golden Mean?

[oldwolf]

Saw this link in another forum and thought it might help people out. This is not the rule of thirds.

The Golden Mean Photographers Composition Guide.

Not sure I agree with the swirly thing being part of the Golden Mean theory but the different option on the bottom do give you suggestions on how to place elements in a picture to draw the eye in and keep the viewer's attention.

[wulf]

The "swirly thing" does fit. What I like about the site is the easy way you can overlay different guides and also upload your own images for testing.

Wulf

[oldwolf]

Originally Posted by wulf

The "swirly thing" does fit. What I like about the site is the easy way you can overlay different guides and also upload your own images for testing.

Wulf

Ok, cool. I guess I need to read up on the Golden Mean some more then hehe.

[dcclark]

Hm, I've rarely heard the term "golden mean", rather, the "golden ratio" is the standard phrase for that idea. But it's the same idea. The spiral is one of the classical examples of the occurrence of this. You can see it in greek architecture and statues, in the spirals of a sunflower, even in the human face. It's a very good thing to know about if you're looking to find a pleasing composition, since it seems to be somehow embedded in the human subconscious.