Although these photos look very different, they are of the same place. By moving forward and to her left, Lucia managed to create two very different effects in two photographs of the same place. Each illustrates a different principle of design.
Susan says, “The first photo Lucia took is on the left. She was standing in front of the last arch and straight down the middle of the arches to the focal point blue window at the far end. It is a fine demonstration of balance, but it is not perfectly or mechanically balanced which would be boring. The foreground leaves and the slightly leaning mid-ground tree soften the balance without throwing it off. The second photo emphasizes the upward sweep of the sunlight on the arches and brings the repetition of the arch shape into greater prominence. What is lost from the first photo is gained in the second and vice versa. If you are taking photos or are working with a photographer to find images for a presentation, take full advantage of your locations to find every interesting way to see the world around you.”
Lucia says, “When I’m taking photographs, I make it a habit to check various points of view to find different angles and get new perspectives on things. I think Susan pretty much covered my thinking in making these photos. In the first one, I was looking for balance with the added elements of leading lines, and repetition. I liked the way they all came together to create a strong image. But while I was working, I noticed how the late afternoon sunlight was falling on the edges of the arches. I moved in to focus on them. The result was a different kind of balance. The big arch in the foreground balances the distant window at the end of the ‘tunnel’. “
