Rule of thirds Vs. Golden Ratio?

Question

In the crop tool of Photoshop CS6, which grid is the best to follow composition wise, between Rule of Thirds and Golden Ratio?

Answer 1

The rule of thirds is just a simplified version of the Golden Ratio to make it easier to use.



It makes little difference.

Answer 2

If your only approach to using the golden ratio in design is a simple two lined grid then it's true that the results will be similar to the rule of thirds. This, however, is just one of many possible applications of the golden ratio. It can be applied in spirals, circles, triangles, diagonals and a variety of other approaches that give a natural balance in design. Be creative, and think outside the simple grid. As pro photographer Tom Ang notes, "This (the Golden Ratio) is a far cry from the simplistic Rule of Thirds. I always say that if you want your pictures to look the same as everyone else’s, follow the same rules as they do." See the PhiMatrix app site links below for examples of how to apply the golden ratio to design and composition. Even if you just use the two lined grid though, the golden ratio provides proportions that appear in nature and are thus more interesting and aesthetically pleasing than the simplified rule of thirds.

Answer 3

I was reading up on this a while ago. For most images, the only people who are going to be able to tell the difference are art nerds. Both will give you nice images if you use them correctly.



The rule of thirds is easier to remember while you're actually out shooting. The golden ratio is somewhat more complicated and not the simplest thing to bring to mind while composing a shot.



I'd stick with the thirds. It will be close enough and will give a nice balance to your shots.

Answer 4

I think it depends on what it is you are doing.



I follow the golden ratio for things like website design but most the time try to follow rule of thirds for image manipulation and photography

Answer 5

The above two posters are wrong. 'Web Design' does deal directly with the actual design and layout of the website and NOT coding or programming. 'Web Development' would be all aspects. You don't even need to know HTML to be a web designer. If you can make a layout in Photoshop, crop it, and export it to an HTML file then you can start selling designs. I would still tell you to go graphic design though. Graphic design will give you a lot more freedom to be creative while web design will limit you (although you can still do some cool stuff).

Answer 6

Entirely depends on the nature of the image you are working on. Very few photographers consciously compose images to follow rules exactly.

Answer 7

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