Direction

Strong images take the viewer on a journey. By directing the viewer’s eye into and through the frame, photographers can strengthen their composition. Strong angles, movement, and flow can direct the viewer’s eye to where the photographer wants it to go.

While photographing flamingos in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, I saw the pandemonium associated with takeoffs as a lesson in fast action. The giant birds lean into their flight pathway as they run across the surface of the water. I wanted to lead the birds to give more space ahead of their trajectory. So as I photographed, I built the composition from the lower right corner, driving the interest to the upper left of the frame, which can be seen here.

The raging El Salto Grande in Chile ...

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