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Technology January 2015

Fritz on Photography

Interacting Figures

By Fritz Penning

When the occasion is right for combinations a little bit of planning can make great photos. This is much better than ordinary photos, and the cost is the same, so be aware and look.

Using two figures in one image can really enhance its impact. One of the criteria for judging the suitability of a photo with multiple subjects is to decide whether it is one picture or is it really two pictures of unrelated subjects shown together. The combination of two subjects, when well-done, will have a synergistic effect where the total effect is greater than the sum of the two effects taken independently.

In our illustration we are using a dancer and a musician. Any number of subjects can be used to make combinations but for consistency we have chosen three somewhat related photos. A dancer usually dances to music and when shown alone can make a very nice picture. And a picture just of a musician can be very nice. But when the source of music is part of a dance picture we can have synergism. However a poorly composed photo with all the elements will be a poorly composed photo and may not show well as we shall discuss.

Three different venues are shown to demonstrate dancer and musician as combination. The moody on-stage photo with stage lighting shows a dancer interacting with the clarinetist who is part of a combo. Indoor stage lighting sets the mood and their poses are superb although both are actively performing.

At an outdoor festival the photo was taken in daylight capturing the mood of ethnic dancing. Either of the figures makes a dramatic presentation but when combined there emerges a resonance such that you can hear the drum beat and see the dancer move.

For a studio photo the mid-eastern dancer is responding to the drummer and each is inspiring the other. Studio strobes freeze the action of the swirling dancer and the hands of the drummer. Elegant simplicity and in combination it is very effective.

What-not-to-do is shown where the dancer and player are deliberately placed for bad composition. They are separated and placed at the edges with a large void between them. Their body position is such that they are facing away from each other with no interaction. The choice of the kind of dance does not fit with the source of music.

When the occasion is right for combinations a little bit of planning can make great photos. This is much better than ordinary photos, and the cost is the same, so be aware and look.

 

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