Danie Bester. Aerial View, Newtown Street Scene, Johannesburg, 2012

ISO-100, 1/20 at f/29. Canon 7D, Tripod
Lightroom edit: Applied my own Silent Concrete Preset and enhanced selected elements using Radial Gradient Masks.

I photographed this scene while leading a Fine Art Photography Excursion for students. Initially planned as an architectural study, I set up the shot but found the scene somewhat bland. I mentioned to a student nearby that it needed a person in the frame. Serendipitously, just as I said this, a man walked out from behind that haul truck and I rapidly captured a series of photos as he was walking away from us. This one, where he is crossing the road framed underneath the lamppost was the best.

It exemplifies the principle of Visual Weight – despite the man’s smaller stature compared to the heavy visual elements in the frame, the presence of a person carries more weight.

As someone once said, to make your pictures more interesting, include a person in them. This image is a classic example of that principle. The small figure – with his shadow adding extra visual appeal – carries more weight than any other element in the frame.

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