Rhythm of Lake Garden

1. The man and the Stonehenge look-alike.

2. Rhythm of the sprouting shrubs.

3. The pillars.

4. The bench.

In this post I'm going to explore the concept of rhythm in visual composition. Just like music, rhythm puts uniformity into an image, and creates balance. It also adds tranquillity when the elements are similar and repetitive.

For the first image, the rhythm is set by the vertical stones in its pattern. It sets an underlying tone to the image, the bold, rectangular elements give a feeling of heft & strength. In the image, the elements are arranged in a slightly haphazard fashion, there's no clear order or progression to be seen. The single person stretching his arms to touch his feet in the middle of the image creates contrast and punctuation- the small, organic element punctuating against large, heavy, grey-coloured rocks. The attention is naturally drawn to the person, also helped by the centre placement and the leading line from the bottom right of the image.

The second image is a little different from the first. Primarily, the rhythm in this image is clearly seen- it's the orderly lines of the growing scrubs that shows uniformity, repetition, and symmetry. This pattern is also somewhat strengthened by the vertical lines of the fence behind the plants. So, how does this image feels? It feels tranquil, for one. It feels calm, and balanced. However, it is lacking in strength- possibly due to the nature of the elements that make up the rhythm: the sprouting scrubs are thin, curvy, and short. That does not exude a feeling of strength nor solidity. This image does, however, give a feeling of life and growth.

The third image, as you can see, is similar to the second in terms of its repetitive pattern and balanced rhythm. However, the elements of this rhythm are strong, thick tree trunks which extend beyond the image, and this image suggests strength, solidity, and unity. You might also notice the slanted ground, which upsets the balance a little, however that did not stop the trees from being vertical- which might suggest even more strength in the trees for doing that. Hence, "The pillars."

The forth image looks chaotic, with few uniform lines and multiple criss-crossing lines at the background. I feel that the rhythm is mostly set by the harmonious, lush green colour, contrasted by the main subject which is the brown coloured bench. As you can see, rhythm can also be set by the colour of a photograph.

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In continuation of the previous post about square composition, the images in this post clearly shows that many scenes are more suited for rectangular format rather than square. Take photo no. 2, for example. The additional space at bottom and top are not contributing much to the image, thus possibly weakening it. Shooting in landscape format could have improved it. "The pillars" too, is more suited for rectangular image, in this case in portrait orientation, due to the dominant vertical lines of the image.

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Before I end, many thanks to Ted Forbes from The Art of Photography podcast, whom I learned about the concept of rhythm in composition, in addition to many other important photography theories. I strongly recommend people to watch his podcasts, they're all very insightful and he is really an excellent teacher.





Thanks for reading.



Film | Rhythm of Lake Garden
Yashica Mat-124G, Fujifilm Pro 160NS

Square. 2

Quill 6 building.

Kuala Lumpur, 2013.

After repairing my Yashica TLR, I am finally able to enjoy & explore taking photos in square format without worrying about the flaring issues. I've always have a soft spot for square format, I feel that it is the most balanced, equal of all. Although I feel that the best aspect ratio is either 4:3 or 5:4, square format holds a unique position. It's definitely not the easiest or best to print, however it is so visually pleasing. Throughout the 5 weeks at Queenstown, Tasmania, I have shot exclusively with this camera and burned through rolls of film with it. Composing with square format can be challenging and I've noticed that many scenes are more suited to rectangular format than square. However, when done right, a square image has that impact & balance that is different from others.

This "Square" series is an ongoing study and experimentation on square format composition.





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Film | Square. 2
Yashica Mat-124G, Fujifilm Pro 160NS

Isthmus. 4

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The waves certainly look and feel larger and more powerful up close, all the jumping over waves and wetting our trousers are real fun out there, especially in a place as beautiful as Adventure Bay.

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The film that I used here is Kodak Tri-X, with a red filter. As you can see, it has gone a little out of control, the contrast was a little too high. I suspect it is due to the scanning, and I should really scan it again to do these negatives justice.

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On a side note, I have just finished 5 weeks of placement at Queenstown, at the west coast of Tasmania. The great wilderness out there is so very beautiful, I could see the way the landscapes were formed and how the glacier carved through the mountains, leaving behind large, open ravines and many glacial rocks. Thanks to the geography and weather (it is always, almost constantly wet there), there are many lakes and streams to explore and take photos. When luck is on my side, the sun shines between the clouds and adds colour and splendour to the already majestic landscape. The temperate rainforest there is also unique to Tasmania, it feels... Scottish to me. I always wind down my window and just breath the fresh, invigorating air of the beautiful forest. Now I can't wait to get the films developed!





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Film | Isthmus. 4
Bronica ETRS, Kodak Tri-X

Isthmus. 3

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Enjoying the day at Adventure bay.





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Film | Isthmus. 3
Bronica ETRS, Ilford HP5

Isthmus. 2

1. The hill and the lookout platform.

2. The isthmus. One can see the interesting geography clearly from this vantage point.

3. Adventure Bay and Tasman Sea.

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6. The vegetation-stabilised sandy slopes where little penguins dig their burrows.

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9. Waves.

Adventure bay. A smooth, long stretch of sand that forms one side of the isthmus. Sitting quietly on the beach and forgetting all the stress in life, while resting my mind and enjoying the environment... This is one of the best form of relaxation a person can get, a rare opportunity to dissociate myself from rest of the worries of the world.

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The photos here are bright and clean, just like the feeling that I want to convey. The sand is bright as snow, the water tranquil and gentle. I want to feel the place's peacefulness and calmness through the photographs, and that's done by making the photographs brighter and less contrasty.

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A note on shooting with the Bronica: I noticed that it's not the best camera to shoot as you go, mainly due to the hassle of changing film. This is not helped by the fact that I was at this vast stretch of sandy bay with nowhere to put my equipment/ film without getting sand particles in my tools. The gentle breeze also sometimes bring sand with them, so film-changing was made even more challenging. Well, time to splash out on another film back...





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Film | Isthmus. 2
Bronica ETRS, Ilford HP5

Isthmus. 1

Bruny Island, Tasmania. 2013.

Isthmus (n): A narrow strip of land with sea on either side, forming a link between two larger areas of land.


The sandy isthmus of Bruny island, connecting the South and North islands, is a narrow stretch of land with 2 bodies of water on either side: the d'Entrecasteaux channel on one, and, faced by the Adventure bay, the Tasman sea on the other. The neck itself is an important breeding ground for small fairy penguins, which could be seen at dusk during breeding season.

Adventure bay in particular is incredibly beautiful, I feel that it is as pretty as the famous Wineglass bay on the East coast of Tasmania. The sand is fine and powdery, the beach is wide and vast, the wind is cool, the waves are gentle. It is an amazing place to be at.

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The above photo is taken from Adventure bay. It is the sandy dune that every tourist climbs to experience the breathtaking view of the isthmus with seawater on either side. Taken with red filter, though, the hill is rendered solid and dark. The striking triangular shape of the hill stands out as almost artificial, almost too mathematical. The shape is contrasted by the organic form of humans and clouds in the photo, which takes a more fluid and free form. A darker mood is felt in this photo as a result of the fast-moving and low-lying clouds that pressure the scene, and also the darkness of the hill.





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Film | Isthmus. 1
Bronica ETRS, Kodak Tri-X

Life Scenes (XIX): Table Cape Farmlands

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Wynyard, Tasmania. 

2013.

当我对牛微笑时，它们在想什么呢？





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Film | Life Scenes (XIX): Table Cape Farmlands
Yashica Mat-124G, Fujifilm Pro 400H