An interesting topic and I was wondering, too ...
Originally posted by Class A Traditional aesthetics suggest that objects be placed in a frame according to the "
golden ratio".
[...]
(roughly) 8 : 5.
[...]
In a soulless technical diversion, I checked where the positions of the AF points of the K100D are, and alas, they correspond to the "rule of thirds".
Originally posted by Class A I'd apply your comments backwards and say, the image format should not be 3:2 but 8:5 which would give us a "golden ratio" frame.
I agree that the golden rule is the goal and the rule of thirds a dumb approximation only. And of course, just as a guidelines. Ultimately, the brain will decide what looks best -- w/o any reasoning
Now, we got:
- 2.35:1 (cinema (scope))
- 1.78:1 (16:9 HD video)
- 1.62:1 (golden rule -- removal of a square maintains the format)
- 1.60:1 (8:5 approximation, also used by many widescreen computer displays (like mine )
- 1.50:1 (3:2 and rule of thirds)
- 1.41:1 (DIN Ax paper sizes -- removal of half maintains the format)
- 1.33:1 (4:3)
- 1.00:1 (square)
So, the golden rule not only happens to be a more pleasing image format. It happens to be an ideal compromise between 3:2 (still) and 16:9 (video) as well. It would be an ideal sensor format for cameras serving both the still photographer and videographer. It is a good compromise between cinema and square, too
And I don't agree that the rule of thirds is applicable because the image format is 3:2 rather than 8:5. IMHO, 8:5 looks better for many subjects than 3:2 -- even with a 3:2 or square image format.
Originally posted by Class A The question is: What is the ideal position for the AF points?
This is the entire point!
The AF points are positioned where they are because they must cover the entire middle area for auto AF point selection to work. This AF sensitive middle area is just a tad larger than the middle third. About the inner 45% (rather than 33%). This number is an engineering decision to make auto AF work. It has nothing to do with helping composition (like 51 AF points are not meant to yield even greater composition with Nikon
)...
The Pentax screen has no composition aids. The best are the outer braces with a height useful to align horizons.
I am much more puzzled that Katzeye offers focus screens with rule of thirds rules, but not golden ratio rules. Very disappointing actually.
So, I was delighted to see that the live view screen on K20D and K-7 features 16 rather than 9 (rule of thirds) rectangles. Just use the center of any of the four inner rectangles to apply a 8:5 composition
Originally posted by kittykat46 The rule of 3rds is pretty much taught everywhere in Photography 101. Its simple to remember and apply, though its really just a rough guide.
As the rule of golden ratio is pretty much taught everywhere in Architecture (I know, I grew up in an architect's family -- the golden rule must have been the first thing I learned after walking
). I guess, a building with bad proportions would just be a price too high to pay for oversimplifying lectures. As buildings are so hard to crop