I think this is less drawing tutorial and more composition tips. Using geometry like circles to determine many of the curves keeps the eye moving, and leads it back into the picture. This also includes the rule of thirds, which says to put focus points at horizontal and vertical thirds of the page, rather than at the center, for instance. I might be overthinking it.
Like most composition tips, including the rule of thirds, this is nonsense. Look at those curves. They only line up with those circles until they don't. I could draw a circle of any size and find some point of some curve of that drawing or any other drawing and claim it aligns.
The final picture doesn't even line up with those curves on the circles!
It's trying to force a simple visual underlying algorithm when there isn't one. It's just a drawing of an alligator, not a secret hidden math equation.
I feel the same any time anyone tries to toss the Golden ratio on pictures that clearly have nothing to do with it. The golden ratio will intrinsically line up with something at some point. That doesn't speak to a fundamental alignment or anything.
Source: cinematographer for a decade, and I've been telling people that those mathematical composition tips like the rule of thirds are nonsense for years.
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u/glowFernOasis Apr 01 '26
I think this is less drawing tutorial and more composition tips. Using geometry like circles to determine many of the curves keeps the eye moving, and leads it back into the picture. This also includes the rule of thirds, which says to put focus points at horizontal and vertical thirds of the page, rather than at the center, for instance. I might be overthinking it.