Compositions Using the Golden Mean

Master still-life photographer Eberhard Schuy is here with a new series addressing photographic elements. Elements of form, lines of composition, bright and dark, sharp and un-sharp. Here, the first in the series is a look at the Golden Mean. We get to examine the historic significance as the earliest mathematicians addressed this aesthetic principle as a geometric proof.

Eberhard Schuy then encourages us to trust our innate sense of composition. This "good feeling" will almost always result in the practical application of this compositional guideline used in both art as well as architecture. Not to be satisfied with one demonstration, Mr Schuy takes it one step further and also explains how the Golden Mean is the basis for another compositional guideline: the Golden Triangle.

Finally, a hands-on tip for Lightroom users. The user is directed to an on-board function that lets you overlay
adjustable masks that apply both, the Golden Mean and the Golden Triangle to your photos for evaluation purposes. Be sure to see the other related films in this series. You'll certainly learn a lot.