As I See It - A Triangle of Heroes
Photo by Kate Wehr Johnson. Used with permission.
So, I got some bad news this week. My digital screen time on my iPad is up 25%. One of my favorite expressions since I have retired is that, “I don’t know what I do all day, but I do a lot of it.” Now I know.
Some of that time, maybe a lot of that time, is spent looking at street photography images. I would estimate that I look at about 200 posts per day, on average, and comment on about 50. My comments are roughly divided into two categories. I either mention something about the composition that I find interesting or I comment about the thoughts that come to my mind as I look at the photo. Since I most often comment on the composition, it did not take me very long to realize that there are certain compositional elements that I am drawn to every single time I encounter them.
The most fascinating compositional element ever for me is what I call a “triangle of heroes.” The amazing thing is how many street photos I see that include such an implied triangle. Here is an example of a photo that I just posted that has two sets of heroes and two implied triangles.
I have had some practice finding triangles of heroes, but that does not totally explain why it is that I alert so much when I find one. I got to thinking about that phenomenon and researching it in order to find a cognitive explanation, but my efforts were to absolutely no avail. The breakthrough came when I realized that if you look straight on at a human, you will often have a “ triangle of a hero”. So here is my new theory.
Long ago and far away, before cell phones and digital face recognition, it was incumbent on our prehistoric ancestors to be able to differentiate quickly between animals and humans. I can imagine the rule was, if you see a triangular shape, it is a human. Over time it seems possible that recognizing triangles became our human super power. Now, even the tiniest babies apparently can recognize a human face. Or is it that they recognize a triangle and at the most basic level understand that it signifies that it is a human?
Of course, it is just amusing speculation that we are programmed by our DNA to see triangles. Notwithstanding, I do believe that we notice and respond to triangles in composition, even when they are just implied. That gives the photographer a concrete tool to draw the viewer into their work.
I have also come to understand that composition alone can elevate a street photo into being good. I think that is great news, because, by golly, we can all learn good composition and put it to use. I am finding that what we might idiomatically refer to in the US as “armchair quarterbacking” is step one for me. Every day I get better at seeing triangles in compositions, for example, just by looking at other people’s work. Since I spend maybe 15-20 hours a week doing that, vs 3-4 hours a week actually out shooting, I am glad that is furthering my personal skill. Moving my perception skills from the 2D world of a digital image to the 3D world of life out in the street is not automatic, but at least I know one thing I should be consciously looking for: compositional triangles.
Exercise
Look through some of your images. Can you find triangles either real or implied in the composition? Just this week, as you look at posts, try to spot triangles.