Composition

“Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.” (Dalai Lama)

Wise words from the Dalai Lama! And as there are a bunch of rules in photography, especially when it comes to composition, I'm going to have a look at the 3 most important ones,  Golden ratio, the rule of thirds and dynamic symmetry.

Golden ratio

As the Golden ratio is based on a complex mathematical theory, I think that it is difficult to explain what it exactly is, especially since me and maths haven't spoken to each other in 4 years. So, I looked online to find out and understand what the Golden ratio in photography is and why it is so important for the good composition of a photograph. I think this definition that I found on a photography website might be pretty useful : 

''It is a design principle based on the ratio of 1 to 1.618. Hailed as ‘the perfect number’, the Golden Ratio can assist in creating images that have a strong composition, which will attract viewers to your photograph. The reason for this is simple, the Golden Ratio allows for a composition that is perfectly balanced from a viewer’s perspective, creating a photograph that is most pleasing to the human eye. We naturally prefer to look at an image that is balanced and harmonized, and the Golden Ratio provides this.'' (http://www.apogeephoto.com/may2014/how-to-use-the-golden-ratio-to-improve-your-photography.shtml)

If this doesn't make it easier to understand, I bet the following pictures will, because even people who haven't heard of the Golden ratio yet, most definitely now, the famous 'Fibonacci Spiral'.

Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is the key rule when it comes to photographic composition, and it's a pretty easy rule if you ask me (especially compared to the mathematic torture that the Golden ratio involves).

So to respect the rule of thirds, you basically just have to divide your picture into thirds (using 2 horizontal and 2 vertical lines), so that you have 9 different parts. 

This leaves you with a grid and 4 main points where the lines meet. To get a good composition, you only have to position the main elements in your picture along the lines or at the points where the lines meet.

The main aim of the rule of thirds is to create a composition that is off-centered because these kinds of compositions are generally known to be more pleasing to the eye than a composition where you have all the important elements of the picture right in the middle. 

The empty area that the rule of thirds thus creates, is often referred to as 'dead' or 'negative' space. 

Dynamic symmetry

For me, this last composition rule was probably the most difficult one, because I couldn't quite make the difference between the dynamic symmetry and the rule of third at first, but once you got the concept this last rule is actually pretty easy and useful for the good composition of a picture. 

So again, the aim of this rule is, as for the rule of thirds, to find 'the center of interest'. But instead of dividing the picture into thirds again, you just draw one line from one corner of the photograph to the other. Afterwards, start from a third corner and draw a line that is perpendicular to the previous one. The point where both lines meet is the center of interest.