Elements of design - diagonals

I came across a number of subjects with diagonal lines whilst at Chichester Harbour a few weeks ago. I selected two of these pictures to include in this exercise.

Image 1: Laid up boats

Lens 18-70 mm at 18mm. Iso 250 f16 at 1/125th

The yachts were laid up on the quayside for the winter. I took this photograph from the beach below at wide angle. The repeated diagonals of the bows and masts result in a relatively static composition. I think that monotony is avoided by the upward angles of the bows and the single dark coloured hull mixed in with the light coloured ones.

In the original colour image, the red underwater parts of the hulls distract attention away from the bows and the single dark hull is far less noticeable. The undersides of the hulls are just mid-grey in the black and white version and they have lost their prominence.

I tried flipping this image horizontally so that the bows point to the right instead of the left. For some reason I prefer the right pointing version, although I am not sure if this is a general phenomena.

Image 2: Posts and shadows

Lens 18 - 70 mm at 38mm: Iso 250 f16 at 1/160th

The winter sunlight was casting long shadows in the afternoon light as well as revealing texture in the mud and water. The shadows were placed in a diagonal in the frame by choosing a viewpoint slightly to the side. I took several photos of this subject, but this one seemed the most interesting first as it included a narrow strip of seawater along the bottom of the frame and second because a seagull was standing on the right hand post. I thought about cropping out all or part of the vertical posts so that the shadows were more prominent in the frame. However, this also accentuated the dark horizontal base of the posts so I reverted to the square frame shown above.

The third photograph was taken in the gardens of Polesden Lacey, a National Trust property in Surrey.

Image 3: Cold frames

Lens 18-70mm at 60 mm: Iso 250 f8 at 1/640th

This is another photograph that I took whilst hunting for subjects for the previous exercise. The diagonal lines are not far from the horizontal. This seems to accentuate a calmness in keeping with the atmosphere of a walled garden.

I took the next photograph on a walk around Windsor Great Park.

Image 3: Statue of George III

Lens 18-70mm at 18mm: Iso 100 f8 at 1/250th

The upwards diagonal from the base of the podium reaching to the outstretched hand of the statue was accentuated by perspective. I took the photograph with the camera on the ground at wide angle, moving forward until the subject filled most of the frame. I chose a viewpoint into the sun from the shadow of the statue so that the statue is in silhouette.

The high contrast and sharp angle of the diagonal line work to make a lively strong image.

Images 4 and 5: Overhead power line

Lens 18 - 70mm at 18mm: Iso 250 f8 at 1/100th

I included these two photographs as they seem to illustrate the effect of the angle between the diagonal lines. The first image appears more lively as a result of the sharp angle between and pole and the power lines. The second image appears more placid and staid where the angle is more obtuse and the power lines stretch across the frame at a much shallower angle.

The final image I have included for this exercise was taken in the Normandy countryside.

Image 6: Old farm gate

Lens 18-70 mm at 18mm. Iso 250 f8 at 1/400th

The top of the gate structure is upwards sloping as the left hand end is damaged and the right hand end has the large counterweight. This photograph was taken from inside the field with the camera on the ground to accentuate the diagonal using horizontal perspective. The low viewpoint also excluded from the frame the tarmac road that is just through the gateway. There are overhead powerlines in the upper left side of the frame. I chose to retain these on the basis that they are consistent with the diagonal composition.