Principles of Composition - Scale

[RATPhoto]

Personally, I find the scale there highly ambiguous since I don't know if the green stuff next to the rocks is scrub or trees.

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[RATPhoto]

Personally, I find the shacks and the containers on the ship more of a clue but either way, it is obvious the ship is huge.

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[pbleic]

Hi Daniella,

I think your example of scale (not the photo) is not that good
since with a building everyone generally knows the height of each
floor. Scale to me is most important when trying to show how vast
something is AND when that something is fractal -- meaning that the
aspect ratio of its parts doesn't change as it gets bigger so it
could be larger or smaller depending on the lens or angle. So in
your example the building could be used to give scale to the trees,
but the trees aren't going to give a sense of scale to the building.

Scale to me is something more along these lines or for the opening
pic in this discussion where the landscape could be quite vast or
very modest and without an object of known size you really don't
have any idea.



DSC

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[pbleic]

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[Daniella68313]

good points.

Hi Daniella,

I think your example of scale (not the photo) is not that good
since with a building everyone generally knows the height of each
floor. Scale to me is most important when trying to show how vast
something is AND when that something is fractal -- meaning that the
aspect ratio of its parts doesn't change as it gets bigger so it
could be larger or smaller depending on the lens or angle. So in
your example the building could be used to give scale to the trees,
but the trees aren't going to give a sense of scale to the building.

Scale to me is something more along these lines or for the opening
pic in this discussion where the landscape could be quite vast or
very modest and without an object of known size you really don't
have any idea.



DSC

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Minë Corma hostië të ilyë ar mordossë nutië të
Mornórëo Nóressë yassë i Fuini caitar.
Un thoron arart’a s’un hith mal’kemen ioke.
Saurulmaiel

 

[joereich3]

This is a shot that came to mind that I took a while back out of an adjacent building while at work in NY.

 

[sweetchops]

http://www.pbase.com/craigsyd

 

[eddiepope]

I have a few pics where the item that gives scale is so small that at first is not even noticed. So when people see them they say "hmm, nice photo..." then after a few seconds they spot the scale cue and then it's "Wowzer! Check out the size!"

Here are two pics with guaranteed 'surprise factor'. They really need to be seen large. You may not spot the cues too easily because I reduced them for the web, so I'll give clues.

Rainbow Bridge (figure at lower left)



Lake Powell (large houseboat at shoreline, lower centre)



And here's one that's more straightforward, but needs the figures to give scale...

Arches National Park



Eddie

 

[Bob50]

Not a great photo, but I think it demonstrates the concept of scale. From Redwood National Park near Crescent City, CA

 

[pbleic]

Not a great photo, but I think it demonstrates the concept of
scale. From Redwood National Park near Crescent City, CA

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[pbleic]

Good examples of Scale:









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[pbleic]

Good examples of Scale:

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Photographs at: http://www.pbase.com/pbleic
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All rights reserved.

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Paul

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[Jose Gil]

I'm pretty sure I took that. Here's a pretty early shot I have. Not really a good composition, but reminiscent to me of our recent Los Angeles wild fire crisis.

 

[Dave Lewis]

It depends on what your objectives are. You can do this with a
car, or with a person, with a house or a tree. Just something that
you can gauge. I am showing this as a demonstration of the use of
scale, not of a perfect photo.

Yes and that is a good example. I just thought the car lights detracted from the whole. Your point is well taken. I hope I'm forgiven. (G)
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Dave Lewis