Exercise: Real and Implied Triangles

For this exercise, you were asked to produce two sets of triangular compositions in photographs, one using ‘real’ triangles, the other using/making ‘implied’ triangles.

Real Triangles:

• Find a subject which itself is triangular.

First Photograph:

  I saw this sign whilst on the beach and realised it was just perfect for showing a ‘real’ triangle. Second Photograph:

  The pointed railing top forms a triangular shape.

• Make a triangle by perspective, converging towards the top of the frame.

First Photograph:  

 I stood at the bottom of my garden steps. I positioned myself at an angle and knelt down. I wanted the steps to be wider at the bottom of the frame, and smaller towards the top, giving it the triangular shape by perspective.

Implied Triangles:

• Make a still-life arrangement of 5 or 6 objects to produce a triangle with the apex at the top.

First Photograph:

 I arranged these three china cupcakes into a triangular shape with the apex at the top.

• Make a still-life arrangement. Make sure the triangle is inverted with the apex at the bottom.

First Photograph:

  I saw my airplane model and realised I would be able to use it for the inverted triangle. I positioned it so the wings produced the long, bottom line of a triangle. By doing this, the rest of the plane gradually tapered in, making the rest of the triangle. The apex, which is the nose of the plane, is pointed towards the bottom of the frame.

Overall Opinion:

I enjoyed this exercise. Finding objects for the ‘Real triangle’ section, I found quite easy. I realised that triangular shapes are everywhere. The one I did have problems with was the photograph which asked you to find a triangular shape by perspective. It took me a while to figure out what I could photograph for this as its quite difficult. In the end, it was practically staring me in the face. Steps…. My garden steps worked perfectly for this, as I was able to kneel quite low down in order to make the triangle by perspective, especially as I could make the steps taper in smaller towards the top, just by kneeling down at the bottom of them. This worked really well. Finding objects for the still-life section was also quite easy.

Triangles

Graphically, triangles occur more frequently than any other shape as they are very usable in design. Because triangles have at least two diagonals, they tend to create a sensation of activity and dynamism.

The first reason that a triangle is easy to find is simply because they are made up of three sides and three corners. Even two sides will give the impression of a triangle, especially when they penetrate far enough into the picture.

When photographing a tall building, the upward tilt of the camera, with a wide-angle lens, cause the buildings vertical lines to converge dramatically into a triangle.

The second reason is a very important one in photography. It’s the effect of perspective. If the camera is level, the apex of the triangle will be pointing more or less horizontally, as when a road recedes into the distance across a flat landscape. However, if the camera were pointing upwards at a building for example, or a group of trees, the apex would be at the top of the picture, and the base would be at the bottom, which is the most stable configuration of a triangle. The reverse is also true. When the camera is pointing downwards, you will find is extremely common and easily to enhance , triangular shapes within the frame.

At this point, you need to distinguish between ‘real triangles, meaning those with clearly visible edges, and ‘Implied’ triangles. Points encourage the eye to imagine lines connecting them, allowing you to see a triangle, even if the lines don’t join.