Point, Line, Plane Photo Essay
- carolinetilger
- Sep 22, 2020
- 8 min read
This photo was taken on the railroad track that runs from Pullman to Moscow. I thought this would be a unique photo opportunity because this track runs parallel and adjacent to the highway, but is oftentimes forgotten about unless a train is traveling upon it. The design principle that is represented in this image is line. There are multiple sets of lines in this image, the most obvious being the two lines running vertical and parallel of each other that make up the rails of the track, but we can also see lines running horizontally across the image, which make up the railroad ties. There is even another set of lines that also run vertically through the image, but they are framed by either side of the track and where the gravel and grass meet. The right amount of framing was an important factor to consider while taking this photo because if it was cropped too much, there could be principles of design missing from the image that would result in less of an impact, while if the photo was taken from too much of a distance, then it would be hard to distinguish or focus on specific design principles. There are varying textures in this image, ranging from the smooth, sleekness of the iron rails, to the worn and weathered nature of the wood ties, as well as the rough gravel and soft grass.
This photo was taken at an industrial site off the highway between Pullman and Moscow. I thought this image was unusual because I have never really considered this ladder cage in terms of aesthetics, nor have I ever seen one up close like this. The design principle that can be seen in this image is line. The lines in this photo range from curved to straight lines and vary in size. Framing was important while taking this photo in particular because I wanted to focus mostly on the cage itself, rather than the building that is was attached to. By doing so, the lines in this image are more impactful and can be seen more clearly. There are really only two textures I can point out in this image, the first being the smoothness, yet potentially rustiness, of the ladder rungs and cage members, while the second can be identified by the rigidness of the metal siding on the building.
This image was taken at a couple of silos that are just off the highway between Pullman and Moscow. These silos proved to be a prime opportunity for a photo because of their close proximity and relationship to one another. Line is the design principle that is implemented in this image in two different ways: the parallel lines running vertically through the image that are created by the edges of the silos and the lines that make up the metal siding on the silos themselves. I intentionally framed this image to be close enough to the subjects so the two silos act as solids, taking up most of the image, while the space between them acts as a void, which really helps clearly distinguish where the element of line is present in this photo. The main point of texture in this image is seen in the rigidness of the metal siding of the silos.
This image of painted asphalt was taken on the pedestrian trail that is just off the highway between Pullman and Moscow. This subject became an unusual opportunity for a photo because oftentimes sidewalk and road paint are overlooked and are just recognized for their informational purposes. The principle of design shown in this image is plane, which can be interpreted by the close-up shot of this white stop bar. Framing was important while taking this picture because if I had taken it too far away, the white paint would translate as a line, but since I adjusted my frame to really focus on the paint, it now reads as a plane against the asphalt. Texture can be seen in the roughness of the asphalt, particularly in the painted portion. I also like the subtle texture of the white paint bleeding into the black asphalt.
This image of a metal grate was taken at the same industrial site between Pullman and Moscow that I had previously mentioned. I thought this was an interesting subject to photograph because of its intricate pattern. The design principle, plane, is represented in this image because all of the intersecting lines that make up this grate form a close-knit pattern that can be construed as one single surface. Framing became an important concept that I considered while taking this photograph because I wanted to show the detail of the pattern while still conveying this subject's planar properties. Texture can be seen in the physical metal that was used to construct this grate, but the grate as a whole inhabits a texture that is defined by the pattern that the grate forms.
This photo of a cement cinder block was taken at the same site that the silos were located at in between Moscow and Pullman. I found this subject to be unique because of the intricate detail it possessed. Plane is the design principle that is represented in this image because of all the small particles that make up the cement have been bonded together to create a flat surface. I wanted to make sure I only captured a single side of the cement block in order to convey the principle of plane, so framing this photo was something I was very aware of while photographing this subject. Because of the camera's close proximity to the subject, the viewer is able to fully understand the impact the rough texture of the cement cinder block has on the image as a whole.
This photo was also taken at the industrial site that is just off the highway between Pullman and Moscow. This subject interested me because typically, I associate these metal bolts with function and utility rather than design elements. The design principle, point, is shown in this image through each of the bolt fasteners that surround the metal grate. I wanted to hone-in on the fasteners, but still wanted to make sure I included enough of them in one image to convey the repetition that these fasteners collectively create. These are multiple points of texture in this image, such as in the smoothness of the metal bolts that contrast against the hammered, rough, rusty sheet metal that the bolts are fastened into.
This is a photograph of the bolts that fasten the metal siding to the framing members of one of the silos that I had mentioned earlier. Like the previous image, I oftentimes overlook fasteners for their aesthetic qualities and thought this was a good opportunity to look at them through a different lens. The principle of design that is implemented in this photo is point. Each fastener is both interdependent and independent of one another, meaning they are far enough away from each other to make an impact on their own, but close enough to show how they work together. This silo is massive, so I really wanted to zoom in on the intricate details of the structure to experience the impact these points have up-close. Any farther away and the points could blend together into a line and each individual bolt could not longer be identified. Texture can be seen in the waviness of the corrugated metal siding, as well as the texture that the bolts make while in a row, kind of like braille in a way.
In addition to many other photos, this image of gravel was also taken at the same industrial site off of the Pullman-Moscow highway. This subject proved to be an interesting chance for a photo-op because from a distance, someone wouldn't necessarily think twice about some gravel, but up close, we can have the ability to examine one piece of gravel individually. Because of this, the principle of design working in this photo is point. Naturally, the viewer's eye is first drawn towards the larger of the pebbles, but I believe each piece of gravel individually in this image has the power to grab the viewer's attention. Framing this photo to be close enough to distinguish each pebble from the next was important because as I previously mentioned, from far enough away, one wouldn't be able to experience this level of detail in the gravel and couldn't see each one as an individual point. The combination of the hard-edged pebbles with the softer-edged pebbles work together in this image to create a texture that is so familiar, the viewer has the ability to "feel" the image just by simply looking at it.
This image of another cement cinder block was also captured at the same site the silos and the other cinder block were located at. I found this subject to be unique for, again, its purpose rather than its aesthetic quality. The design principle represented in this image is volume because the viewer has the ability to interpret this object's dimensionality solely from this image. Framing was a key factor in the success of this photograph because in order to portray depth and volume in this image, I needed to be close enough to the subject to fully capture the illusion the hole in the block creates as it recedes down to meet the earth. If I was too far away, I wouldn't be able to capture the same illusion as impactfully. Texture is mostly represented in the roughness of the cement, which can be interpreted a little differently depending on which part of the cement is considered. The part that is photographed straight-on appears smoother than the cement that frames the hole, mostly due to the shadows in this part of the image highlighting each bump and crack.
This image was also photographed at the same industrial site along the highway that connects Pullman and Moscow. I found this subject interesting because being an Interior Design major, I'm naturally fascinated by the built environment. The principle of design working in this image is volume, not only because this grain hopper physically has volume to it, but because the way the photograph is angled, we are able to experience the depth of the structure. Because of the angle the image was photographed, the viewer is able to understand this structure is three-dimensional. If the image was taken of a single side, the design principle, volume, couldn't be seen. Texture is present in this image and can be seen primarily in the structure's siding. It's important to note that the portion of siding that is missing contributes to a texture that is different from a texture that would be present in this photo if none of the panels were missing.
Again, this photo was taken at the industrial site off the highway between Moscow and Pullman. I liked the opportunity this subject presented for an interesting photo because of the reflective properties this puddle exudes. The principle of design represented in this image is volume, particularly because of what the subject is. This small body of water has collected in one of the divots that has been naturally worn into the gravel-covered earth. Framing wasn't as important in this photo because it is nearly impossible to angle the camera in such a way to show the physical volume of the puddle, but I did want to strategically angle the camera to capture the reflection of the water, which that aspect itself implies the puddle has some sort of depth. The rough texture of the gravel is a nice contrast against the smooth, glass-like texture that the puddle possesses.
Comments