"Santa Trinità" by Masaccio, Basilica di Santa Maria Novella, Florence

Photograph Copyright ©2013 Loo Yen Yeo. All Rights Reserved.

Concept: Quadrilaterals (rectangle)

Description: Masaccio's 'Trinity' began the Renaissance, the first time that realism was expressed since classical antiquity. It was composed as a Trompe-l'œil: an illusionary chapel to be viewed specifically from this point - the original entrance to the lower church in Basilica di Santa Maria Novella. The constraining rectangular form with its restricted formal viewing point is essential to the success of Masaccio's use of perspective.

Title: Worshipper's view

Photograph Copyright ©2013 Loo Yen Yeo. All Rights Reserved.

Concept: Quadrilaterals (rectangle); Filling the frame (filling for presence); Frames within frames (enhancing perspective)

Description: (Close-up from the same position using the optical zoom function) Filling the frame to remove Trinity's grey surround increases its impact and enhances Masaccio's intended feeling of believable space.in which the humanity of the Father, Christ, the Virgin Mary and Saint John is portrayed.

Title: Volume

The Flavian Amphitheatre (Colosseum), Rome

Photograph Copyright ©2011 Loo Yen Yeo. All Rights Reserved.

Concepts: Filling the frame (filling for presence)

Description: The shape of the Flavian Amphitheatre is unmistakable, and taking its form all the way to the edges emphasises its monumentality. The angled perspective accentuates the curvature of the Colosseum's top edge, leading the eye strongly to the right.

Title: Arc of Triumph

Photograph Copyright ©2012 Loo Yen Yeo. All Rights Reserved.

Concepts: Filling the frame (filling with setting)

Description: A fairly typical context shot of the Colosseum on the Piazza del Colosseo showing its scale, relative to the human form, and its position next to the Arch of Constantine.

Title: Passed to present glory

Photograph Copyright ©2012 Loo Yen Yeo. All Rights Reserved.

Concepts: Filling the frame (filling with setting)

Description: A different kind of context shot where the Colosseum's lower tiers holding the most visual interest are framed by two pine trees. The amphitheatre's position nestled at the foot of Palatine hill and its impressive height, its upper tier being at the same level as this vantage point at the summit of Palatino, is attractively presented.

Title: Palatine Pines

Photograph Copyright ©2011 Loo Yen Yeo. All Rights Reserved.

Concepts: Filling the frame (over-filling for detail)

Description: Over-filling the frame takes us into the architectural detail of the structure: how the blocks of stone were cut to form the arches, the proportions and rhythms of the archways, the holes where the pins holding the marble façade in place were, and the materials used in its construction.

Title: Defaced

01.03 Filling the frame

Even if there is just one subject to be placed, there is one fundamental choice to be made, "how much of it do we want to see?" This depends on three considerations:

Content of the subject
Is it unusual enough, detailed enough, that we want to see more of it? Think of rare animals or fine works of art.

Relationship with environment
Is the setting of the subject important? Think about the context of the activity taking place and its scale.

Intended impact on the viewer
What do you want the viewer to feel? Strong presences like explosiveness and awe? Or subtler feelings of calmness and curiosity?