Real and implied triangles

Part 2 Elements of Design
Project: Shapes
Exercise 1
Aim: Take 6 pictures showing both real and implied triangles.
         Create triangles in different ways for example by using perspective.

1. Triangular subject- real

2. Triangle by perspective- real

I used a wide angle lens and positioned close to the window to create a triangle by perspective that converged towards the top of the frame. Similarly, if I stood above the window looking down, the triangle would converge at the bottom of the frame.

3. Triangle by perspective- real

It was, as the course materials suggested, slightly harder to find a triangle that converged towards the bottom of the frame. By taking the picture from above this table, the corner created the apex of an inverted triangle.

4. Still life with apex at top- implied

I decided to use safety pins for the still life shots. The open pin forms the apex which is a the top of the frame.

5. Still life with apex at bottom- implied

Again, I used safety pins, this time with the apex at the bottom of the frame.

6. Triangle from people- implied

The triangle is formed by the faces of the three people. It could be improved by having the two lower people the same height with the person at the top, slightly taller. The same for an inverted triangle with two people positioned behind the shorter one in front to form the apex. Also, the triangle could have been made by changing the perspective or angle.

In conclusion, this exercise showed me the effect triangles have of a picture and how important they can be to the overall composition. They give a sense of stability while still keeping the effect dynamic and interesting. That's not to say they are more important than the subject (or vice versa) but should defiantly be considered when composing a shot. After completing this exercise, I looked back through my pictures and it was surprising to find how many triangles (mostly implied) I had subconsciously included in them.