Exercise: Positioning a point (TAoP)

There are essentially three classes of position for placing a point in the frame: in the middle, a little off-centre and close to the edge. Take three photographs where there is a single point placed in a different part of the frame.

This exercise reminded me of one in the introductory phase – ‘fitting frame to subject’ the theory behind both exercises is very similar.
‘The Photographer’s Eye’ (2007), Freeman describes a point as being the most fundamental element of design in a photograph. A point has to be small in the frame and must contrast with its surroundings in some way in order to be significant.

I’ve spent quite a while looking over my archived photos and have noticed that I vary rarely place a point directly in the centre. I think this gives it a clinical, static feel to it. The majority of my shots tend to be close to the edge as I personally feel this is more effective. This can also be done using cropping.

It is mentioned that for ‘Elements Of Design’ the pictures can be in black and white – something i’m very happy about!

I haven’t done any editing for these pics as I don’t think that it is necessary.

The first shot is with the point in the middle.

The second is slightly off centre (to the left)

The next is off centre to the right

And finally, at the edge of the image

My preferred image is the last – i think the positioning makes a rather boring picture just a little bit more interesting.
I used a wide aperture which I think emphasizes the’point’ as pretty much anything that is not intended to be in focus isn’t – making the viewers eye go directly to the subject in focus (wherever it may be in regards to framing)

I will re do this exercise using a larger f number to see whether there is a difference once the whole frame is in sharp focus.