RULE OF THIRDS!
The picture will take care of the other 997…
Rikk Flohr © 2013
Compose
Additional Crop Thoughts: Using the Golden Spiral
In the previous Fibonacci (or Golden Spiral) example, I used a landscape format example of a portrait that shows how the Lightroom Spiral overlay can be used to aid in a powerful composition in post production. Today, I thought it might be fun to show a recent image from my studio work in Portrait orientation with the same spiral overlay.
REVIEW: Crop overlays in Lightroom are accessed by invoking the Crop Tool [R] and then cycling through the overlays with the [O] key. When you arrive at the Golden Spiral (Fibonacci Sequence) overlay, the [Shift] [O] key combination will let you further cycle through the 8 variations of this spiral overlay: 4 clockwise and 4 counter clockwise originating from each corner.
This overlay is particularly useful in this image as the spiral mimics the overall shape of the posed figure. It was tempting to place the eye at the terminus of the spiral but I found that I liked the bounding curve cradling the jawline and the face slightly better. The Eye, the Nose, the Lips, the Jaw, the Ear and the hidden backside curve of the head all fall along the spiral’s curve .
The end result is a compelling image based upon this ancient compositional guide.
Rikk Flohr © 2013
Crop Thoughts: Using the Golden Spiral
Using the Fibonacci Sequence overlay in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom™ can be a challenge. Most people opt for a simpler Rule of Thirds overlay or a Golden Ratio overlay. Cycling through the Lightroom overlays using the [O] key brings you to the Fibonacci sequence. and its eight variations [Shift][O]. When do/can you use it?
I find this overlay particularly handy for placing a figure near the edge of a frame or, in this case, the eyes (or the sun or any other focal point) near two edges of the frame. It isn’t right for every image but it does work well for some. Look for ways to sweep the motion of an image along the path arriving at a pleasing destination. Also look for the spiral to contain and bound the important part of your subject.
If Rule of Thirds, Golden Ratio, Intersecting Diagonals and the like just aren’t cutting it for you. Spiral toward the edge and see where the path takes you.
Rikk Flohr © 2013
