If 35mm is so dominant, why don't we see paper readily available in the same 1:1.5 proportions?
frank theriault wrote: > > Hi, Keith, > > I agree with both you and Dr. Williams. > > But, (it must be that I'm a Libra - hey aren't the zodiac signs Greek?) let me > play devil's advocate here. > > The Golden Ratio, or whatever one chooses to call it, is indeed some arbitrary > mathematical ratio that the human mind imposes over certain objects, and then > says, "well, isn't that pleasing". > > But isn't that the point? It isn't, I suppose, that it's "found in nature", but > that the human mind will impose ~it's~ structures (for lack of a better term) on > what it finds in the world, and judge certain things to be more satisfying than > others.. > > If that's the way some people want to look at and interpret the world, so be it. > > Personally, I think it's poppycock. And I still think that the prevalence of > rectangular photographic paper is due to the overwhelming dominance of 35mm in the > marketplace over the last 50 years or so. > > But, what do I know? <g> As I said before, it's fun to ponder... > > -frank > > Keith Whaley wrote: > > > Regardless of who said it, or who believes it, I propose the so-called > > Golden Rectangle is more an observational circumstance, hardly any > > formal "rule" promulgated by anyone. > > Absent proof of it being someone's "rule" for the wonderfulness of any > > given composition, that will remain my belief. > > Yes, I've seen all the books and articles that draw lines over the > > master's painings and sketches, thereby "proving" the work was > > purposefully laid down with the Golden Rectangle in mind. > > I contend it's something that if you're really obscessed with, you can > > find that pattern almost anywhere in a good composition... > > Quote any old-time artist's writings that set forth such a plan with > > respect to the generation of his or her composition, and I'll consider > > changing my mind. Until then, I'll simply believe it's an observation, > > overlaid on a pleasing scene. > > > > -- > "The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears > it is true." -J. Robert > Oppenheimer
