Golden Spiral
A logarithmic spiral constructed from golden-ratio rectangles, sometimes overlaid on a frame as a compositional guide.
Formula / rule
r = ae^(bθ)
In depth
The spiral suggests a path the eye might follow, tightening toward a focal point at its centre. It is best used in review rather than in the viewfinder — most photographs that fit it do so because they already have good flow, not because the spiral was consulted. Overlays can be flipped and rotated until almost any picture fits, which is a fair warning about its rigour.
Examples in practice
A curving shoreline that narrows toward a distant lighthouse naturally follows the spiral's converging path.