Those of you familiar with the book or the movie "The Da Vinci Code" may be familiar with the Fibonacci Spiral. The Fibonacci Spiral is a geometric spiral that is sometimes referred to as the golden spiral. It is based on a mathematical formula, and its physical manifestation is very pleasing to the eye. Artists historically have studied it and tried to use it as a guide in their art. It is often found in nature, and one of its more well-known representations is seen in the nautilus shell.
Sometimes you'll find the mathematical principal of this golden spiral in unusual places – sometimes when you're not even looking for it. The photograph below of the women grieving after hearing the news of the Rev. Jerry Falwell's death is a powerful, emotional image because of the moment that it captures and the event that it documents.
Our eyes are drawn to the two women immediately. It is a beautifully composed image with a soft light spread across it, and the lines of the pillars lead you to the embracing women. If you look carefully enough, you'll see the principal of the Fibonacci Spiral as its compositional foundation. The combination of the powerful, raw emotion the photographer witnessed and the moment she captured coupled with the artistic elements of this geometric spiral forming the basis of the composition combines to make this photograph a memorable image. The graphic overlay of the Fibonacci Spiral applied to the photo below should help you understand the principal.
Is photojournalism art? Sometimes it is. Sometimes unintentionally, sometimes not. Whether photographer Kim Raff of the Lynchburg (Va.) News & Advance was consciously applying this Fibonacci Spiral principal as she composed the photograph or whether she composed it instinctively, she obviously possesses a gifted eye.
Please take a moment to take a look at all of the Pictures of the Week, and please be sure to vote for the image that you feel is the most compelling.
-Lee Van Grack
2 comments:
Pretty deep. Send your supposition to the photographer and see what she says. I would like to know.
DE
This picture has depth both foreground and background has a firm foundation for an interesting shot. kudo's!
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