An bird’s eye view of a meandering river illustrates how great design works without words.
Susan says, “This photo illustrates the way story can be contained within a wordless bird’s eye view of a river. If your brain works like mine, your eye naturally follow the river downward until it divides and divides again into many byways, ponds and backwaters. Here is a simple, but mind-bending example of the working ways of water. The actual geological process happened so slowly that we could not have watched it occur, but here it is laid out for us to understand. We see the broad grassy valley created by the river when there was more water coursing through it. And now the single faster flowing river has stagnated and filled in a broader marsh where the water moves very slowly. What is the design message here. No need to clutter up a perfect image with text and explanation: just connect to the mind of the viewer and there is no need for an explanation.”
Lucia says, “When looking at this scene, I wasn’t sure if it would make an appealing photo. But as I sat and watched from my perch high up in the Columbia Gorge I was filled with a feeling of tranquility. Susan called it a “wordless bird’s eye view”, which described precisely why I attempted to capture the scene. I love the design created by the meandering waterway as it cuts through the trees. I agree with Susan, the photo speaks for itself.”
Do you let your designs speak for themselves? Its pretty incredible how much can be understood without the intercession of words.
