Design in Compostion "The Triangle"

Very easy to spot the triangles in this one, Canon 5D Markii, 24-105 at 80mm, f10, 1/60sec, ISO 200

One way to improve composition is to look and search for shape in your composition, it takes some practice, when I started looking for shape as element of design I used to set my camera to black and white, and still do it once and while, it just take the color distraction out of the scene, to let you see all the shape and lines.

Shapes are very powerful part of design and composition, and the triangle is probably on the top of the list, triangles are everywhere, "mountain top, roofs, architecture, trees...

When you start looking for it, you'll find out that triangles are all over and can even be created by the framing your image.

On this one, low point of view was the key to spot the triangle,Canon 5D Markiii, 24-105 at 24 f9, 1/60sec. ISO200

Rule where created following design not the opposite way, means you can create your own rules following what's works for you.

A great exercise is to sit in front of a scene, a scene that you like, that you are familiar with, that you photographed many times, look for the shape, look for triangles, shoot it again putting the accent on the triangles.

   

By doing this exercise you will see  many other shapes, but for a while focus on triangles, till you spot  them with no effort, after what you can choose to work on another shape, adding shapes to your repertoire till you see them all.

Using shapes as element of your design and composition will improve it.

 Low point of view, seeing the triangles form by the canoes and the mountain, Moraine Lake Banff National Park, Alberta,

Many triangles, from the sails to the bridge at the back of the image, BA, Argentina, Canon Rebel XSi, Canon 24-105, at 70mm, f10, 1/100sec. ISO200

Many triangles from sails to the reflection, Canon 5D Markii, 24-105 at 24mm, f8, 1/800sec. ISO200, added texture, White Rock British Columbia

Architecture triangles, Cordoba Argentina, Canon Rebel XSi, 24-105, superposition work in Photoshop, added texture

Modern triangles, Canon 5D Markiii, 24-105 at 24mm, f16, 1/2sec. ISO200

Low point of view adding shapes and triangles, Canon 5D Markiii, Canon 24-105 at 28mm f22, 1/20sec ISO100, HDR

Trees are a great source of shapes and triangles, Canon 5D Markii, Canon fisheye at 15mm, f4.5, 1/25, ISO200

Low point of view, lined up the rock with the reverse triangle created by the mountain, Canon 5D Markii, 24-105 at 24mm, f16, 1/25, ISO250

A bit more complex design, many line and shapes, black and white help to spot elements of designs no color distraction 

Canon 5D Markii, 16-35 at 35mm, f16, 1.6sec. ISO100

A bit more complex design, many line and shapes, black and white help to spot elements of designs no color distraction  

Canon 5D Markii, 24-105 at at 27mm, f7, 1/40sec. ISO200

The most beautiful triangles,!!!

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Element of design "Lines"

Lines are top element of design, so important, without lines nothing exist, even us are all defined by lines, very powerful  not only to lead the viewer in a frame but to define shape and tension, it can make your image serene using symmetric horizontal or vertical lines or a dynamic looks and feel using angle diagonal lines.

5D Markiii, f16, 1/2sec, 24mm, ISO 200, HDR, look at all the line the X, his legs, pyjama, all elements of design.

 Lines are very powerful elements  that  add dynamic impact to a photograph , depending where they are located in the frame, at the edge, splitting the frame in half in diagonal, zigzagging, curving, when you think about lines don't only think about straight line,  straight lines are in fact very important, but a good exercise is to look at all lines in your image. One way to see them better is too turn you camera to black and white, if you shoot raw and JPEG you'll get both images, color and B&W,  it's a great way to see the lines, to practice placing them into your frame. Look for patterns that can add to your image.

 Lensbaby soft optic f4, 1/1250sec, ISO 200, diagonal lines

Even you frame itself is created by lines, it's a rectangle, and depending if you shot landscape of portrait that will change the impact of the shot, always try to shoot a scene both ways, and look at the lines, how they impact the result of the image, by example if you shoot the sea and landscape most of the time the horizontal framing will work best and will convey a message of stability, doesn't mean that you have to always shoot landscape horizontally, and you should try to always shoot both ways. Portrait/vertical framing will work very well for trees, building, people, with this framing all the vertical lines can be accentuate and bring strength and power.

 5D Markiii, f9, 1/60sec, ISO 200, 24mm, strong vertical line, triangle, vanishing point, all strong elements of design

Don't forget to brake the rules, try something different cut the frame in half, with horizontal, vertical or diagonal lines, practice different points of view, lead your viewer in and out of the frame, have fun,  if you are using digital you can afford it, the only suggestion if you split the frame or put a line at the edge of the frame, is to put your line as straight as the frame itself.

 5D Markii, f4, 1/160sec, ISO 200, 85mm, vertical lines in horizontal frame

Many studies have been done into how people read the frame, from left to right, it's not only a reading method but a way that movies were and are still done, watch a program on tv, and the camera move from left to right, that's why most people view image from left to right, so a diagonal line starting at the bottom left and moving to the top right of an image can be quite useful and natural, but that doesn't mean that you have to stop there,  try bottom right to top left, go corner to corner, in different directions and intersections.

Have a look at my images, all of them are in black and white, easier to see the lines.