Understanding the Golden Spiral in Photography
In a recent photo quest with the online photography community Shutterobi, I explored one of the most important topics in photography: composition. Last week I talked about leading lines, but this week I wanted to continue the conversation by diving into framing techniques like the Rule of Thirds, the Golden Ratio, and the Golden Spiral.
Now, I have to admit something. Even though I studied photography back in 1979, I had never heard of the Golden Ratio or Golden Spiral until recently. Back then, photography was very different, and many of these concepts simply weren’t discussed the way they are today. But learning about them has completely changed the way I look at composition.
Learning the Rules So You Can Break Them
I don’t believe photography “rules” are meant to trap your creativity. Rather, you need to understand the rules so you can break them with purpose. I regularly create intentional camera movement and multiple exposure photography, which often results in blurry images. Some photographers might say photos should always be sharp, but artistic photography is about intention and emotion, not perfection.
I also believe post-processing is part of the creative process. There’s nothing wrong with adjusting composition in Lightroom or Photoshop after the photo is taken. Sometimes a small crop or adjustment can completely improve the impact of an image.
Using Lightroom to Improve Composition
In this video, I demonstrate how these composition techniques can improve a landscape photo I captured at Pigeon Point Lighthouse along the California coast. Using Lightroom Classic, I show how easy it is to crop and refine an image using the Rule of Thirds overlay, then cycle through different crop guides by simply pressing the “O” key on the keyboard.
The Golden Ratio creates a more natural balance, while the Golden Spiral helps guide the viewer’s eye through the image in a flowing and pleasing way.
Why Composition Matters
Photography is both technical and creative. Understanding composition tools like these can help you strengthen your images while still developing your own artistic style. Whether you follow the rules closely or intentionally break them, the goal is always the same: creating images that connect emotionally with the viewer.
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