Untitled

[Tom Barry]

I was staying out of the rain and cold at the Blanton Museum of Art on the UT-Austin campus this morning. I had an Olympus E-P2 with an old Zeiss T*50mm f/1.4 Planar in case I saw anything of interest. This very low sofa was, and I was looking through the viewfinder when this passerby's legs hove into view and I pressed the shutter. I rather like the results but can't actually articulate why:
At the Blanton Museum of Art by tombarry975, on Flickr

[Donald]

I rather like the results but can't actually articulate why

I agree.

I think the person gives it context, meaning and depth. That's about the best that I can come up with.

I think that without the person in there it would be a fine, but totally different, image. It would be an abstract image concentrating on lines and shapes. The person gives it more meaning and mystery.

[Tom Barry]

Thanks for the well-articulated answer, Donald.

[FootLoose]

Line, shape, colour - what more do you want? Curves contrasting with the straight lines of the tiles. The V shape of the legs contrasting with the S curve of the lounge. It may have been serendipitous but it gives you something to consider in future and build on. It's a good image, Tom.

A step or two closer might have extended the diagonal of the lounge to the edge of frame rather than curtailing the red with the lighter shade of the tiles.

[Tom Barry]

Thanks for the kind words and thoughtful suggestion, Greg. Sometimes I shoot something without quite consciously knowing why it interests me. I think perhaps because I've been an enthusiastic photographer for more than 65 years, though I made my living as a journalist, composition and the factors leading to it become intuitive, almost automatic.