Brunelleschi's Lantern, Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence

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

Concepts: Frame dynamics (alignment); Single point (moderately off-centre)

Description: There are actually two alignments: lines of the Temple of the Apocalypse in Vasari's 'Last Judgement' with the top and right edges of the frame; and the lower-most putti [cherubs] seem to jump off the bottom of the frame. The single point is the brightly-lit negative space of the lantern's interior (although  bigger than what one would expect).

Title: Putti-powered flight

01.01 Frame Dynamics

The most fundamental difference between images as seen by the naked eye and those through a camera, is the presence of a distinct frame in the latter. This is first felt by the dark surround of the viewfinder - which draws the eye to its corners and edges - thus exerting a pressure on the composition of the image.

The photographer faces a choice: compose the image in a manner where the elements interact strongly or weakly with the frame. Three methods of strong frame dynamics are:

1. Alignment - where lines of an element are aligned with a side of the frame
2. Diagonal tension - creating diagonal lines which pull against the sides of the frame
3. Abstraction via intersection - allowing the sides of the frame to cut through the planes of the element, creating out-of-context shapes

Loo Yeo