Golden Ratio
The golden ratio (approximately 1:1.618) is a mathematical proportion often considered aesthetically pleasing and used in composition and layout.
The golden ratio (φ, approximately 1.618:1) is a mathematical proportion that appears in nature (nautilus shells, sunflower spirals) and has been used in art and architecture for millennia — from the Parthenon to Renaissance paintings.
In composition, the golden ratio is often used to place focal points: dividing the image into 61.8% and 38.2% sections (rather than halves or thirds) and placing key subjects at the division points.
The golden ratio's aesthetic superiority is contested by some researchers, but its practical utility as a composition guide is well-established. If you want a subtly more interesting composition than rule-of-thirds provides, try golden-ratio placement.
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