fourpointedstar

What can you do with Lines?

If you attend more than one photography presentation, you’re bound to hear “use leading lines” in some fashion. But how do you use lines in a photograph?

Are they boundaries meant to hold you in the image?
Are they pathways meant to draw you into the image?
Or perhaps they highlight a certain part of the image?

As I work more and more to define the why of how I shoot the way I shoot, I find myself wondering how I am using various items in my photograph. Most of us compose subconsciously with our subconscious forming an image out of the abstract world that we live in. The issue is – our subconscious isn’t that great at drawing rectangles; it’s not that great at noticing the distractions that are in that rectangle; and since our eyes see so much better than our cameras, our subconscious isn’t able to balance light and dark.

So back to lines, I’ve found that if I intentionally look for lines – leading lines, boxes, or highlights – I create better images that are easier to edit. After all, the creative process doesn’t end with pressing the shutter button; but that’s a topic for another day.

As I waited for the sun to rise, a few photographers arrived with the same idea – Chicago Henge under the Bean.  As we waited, we all came to the same realization, that this photo was not going to materialize.  There were quite a few tourists wandering around by 7am, so when I saw these three younger girls come by, I asked them if they would pose for us for a few photos; they happily obliged.

They were all 3 college students from France who were spending a month in New York for school and took a trip to Chicago for the weekend.

Back in late December, I ran across this composite photo by Sven Bergmeier on Facebook – the yellow leapt off the screen, just like the serenity of the dancer leapt into my memory. As is normal for me – I started imagining ways that I could create similar images.

original image here

This image rattled around in my brain for a couple of weeks until Side Street Studio Arts, here in Elgin, announced the call for art for their 13th anniversary. One of my goals is to enter more of my photography into exhibits, but not the simple images, but the creative pieces.

I asked my oldest daughter if she would like to help create an image for the Side Street exhibit; she’s danced in a private studio, and then in her high school’s Orchesis program as well. I showed her the idea and then some ideas for a pose when she jumps; and then, on a 25 degree morning, we went out along Lake Michigan and captured quite a few photos.

I love how this images shows her joy and enthusiasm, the orange pops against the blues and concrete, and the variations in her jump add to the image rather than detract. Hopefully other photographers will see this creation, and be inspired to create images too.

.
.

.
.

.
.

.
.

.
.

.
.

.
.

.
.

.
.

.
.

.
.

The first few weeks that my daughter had classes at Elgin Community College, I wandered all over the campus taking photos. ECC has some very interesting and varied architecture, but it’s easy to photograph beautiful designs.

What about the boring stuff? What about mirrors, bathrooms, or chairs? Could I make interesting photos of the regular items?

I do like these photos, but … (see previous post)

I don’t click the shutter button nearly as often as I used to; it’s not that I don’t take my camera out as much, it’s that I take fewer photos overall but have a higher percentage of photos that I like. Most often, I know before I click if the photo will be worthwhile, and I’m much more willing to wait for the right shot, scene, or composition. In short, I’m much less “spray and pray” with the shutter button that I used to be.

But barns? I found it very difficult to find inspiration and compositions with the barns and other abandoned structures on our trip. It’s not that the buildings weren’t interesting; it’s that I haven’t developed the mind’s eye for it. Once I brought the images into Lightroom, I couldn’t “see” why I took the photo to begin with – or worse – I could see and now I thought it was weak or absent.

Perhaps I need more practice (I do), but as I mentioned before; there’s only so much time to take pictures, and maybe I’d rather spend it with the subjects and scenes that I already love.

At some point in life, most of us realize that we don’t have time for everything that we’re interested in – we’re forced to drop a hobby because we don’t have time.

Photography reached that point for me a few years back; I used to photograph anything, but I discovered that I wouldn’t edit certain photoshoots or would be annoyed at editing certain shoots. I enjoy certain subject matter and certain photo topics and would like to spend more time with those.

Old, abandoned buildings is one of those topics; it’s not that I don’t like the photos that I come up with, it’s that I’d rather be photographing something else. This was true on our trip to Southern Illinois with Keith French; on two days, we visited abandoned churches and barns, and I found myself wanting to wander through the woods instead.

I do like these photos, but …

Back in November 2023, Side Street Studio Arts hosted a photo walk; each participant was supposed to pick a “challenge” for the day, so I took every photo at 200mm. I’ve already posted several of my photos, so make sure to check those photos out too.

.

>other images<
.

It’s no secret that I LOVE photographing light trails. I will visit the same spot OVER (January 2022) and OVER (January 2022) and OVER (April 2022) and OVER (November 2023) to see if I can get a NEW (November 2020), FRESH (January 2023), or INTERESTING (November 2023) photo.

But consistently I wonder, how can I create an image that challenges me this time – that presents a new challenge. At its core, capturing a light trail is just understanding how the light is moving and the exposure that’s need to not under or over-expose your image. So, how can I create an interesting composition with each visit?

What do you do when the light trails are from trains, when the pattern will only repeat over and over? The backdrop, scenery, and angle can change as seen in the two contrasting images: January 2021 & November 2023

How about if the space is tight and you’re below the action? Maybe you can lean on the really strong angles (November 2023) or depend on the architectural elements and allow the light trails to be an accent instead of the star of the show (also November 2023)? As it turns out, “Laser Bridge Light” (above) is one of my favorite compositions not just from that recent trip downtown, but also of light trails along the river.

And lastly, there are the images that challenge us compositionally and technically; here the balance of a very wide flat scene combined with the oncoming lights from traffic is more than I can conquer right now. I like this image better than my last attempt (November 2020); and I’ll be honest, previously, I have would have just not attempted to capture the image; but there is a much better image in that scene – I just have to find it.

.

>alternate images<
.

Each time that I explore a new area of Chicago, new details come to life. I’ve noticed that many of the historic buildings around Chicago have these bay windows often similar in style to the “Chicago Window” on them; but as I walked between the Fisher and Monadnock Buildings and then looked down the street, I noticed that this small area had many different examples of these historic bay windows on tall, early skyscrapers.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Equally interesting are the exterior fire escapes on many of the older buildings. I know that there fire escapes will lend themselves to great photos, but I’m still searching for those images.

.
Parking garages offer unique views of Chicago, so anytime that I park in a garage, I walk down the staircase. On my way to visit a client, I saw spotted this puddle’s reflection and in my mind, I wandered off to what I could create with just a boring staircase.
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

What do you SEE as you walk around your daily life? A photographer friend of mine recently asked about taking photos of another artist’s work; but in reality, aren’t photographers normally taking photos of other artist’s work? Even nature photographers are taking photos of mother nature’s work, right?

A craftsman who creates an object out of paint, clay, wood, stone, or metal can claim originality, but most of us are taking photos of something we didn’t create; instead we are creating art by adding or interpreting the existing environment or material.

With that in mind, go around your home and create art by adding or interpreting your own personal environment.

.

.

.

.

.

.

>other images<
.

There are certain architectural elements that lend themselves to odd, abstract photographs, but in some instances, you must create the abstract image. As I walked around ECC some images just made sense – the concrete ceiling under the elevated walkway and the outdoor metal staircase. But the staircase’s metal railing and marbled look, I knew there was a photo; but as long as it was right side up, it just looked like stairs…

This image may be my favorite image that I captured on our Blue Line Photo Walk; I love the fact that you can wander around this image and see so many scenes, each one partially obscured by another scene. For me, the perfect detail is the two men chatting at the counter at the back of the repair shop.

I love these types of photos; photos where you can’t quite tell what elements are part of the foreground, background, or reflection.

I love photographic reflections because they lead the viewer to look more than once, hopefully to investigate what caused the distortion, the odd lines, or the extra shapes. This image makes me take second and third glances each time … and I took the photo!

I absolutely love that the St. Regis is reflecting the buildings across the river almost as if you were viewing a painting.

p.s. After posting this image a few places, two people chimed in: “what if you edited this to be a square and removed the trees?” and “that looks like you could give it a pop of color!”. Now we all know people who offer their opinions a bit too much, but differing opinions can add value to our lives, and in this image’s editing, I think ultimately the image benefits from their opinions.