photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Nine: Composition -- putting it together > View from Kolob Terrace Road, Zion National Park, Utah, 2006
previous | next
07-FEB-2006

View from Kolob Terrace Road, Zion National Park, Utah, 2006

Whatever success this image may have as expression is due to its composition. I anchored the photograph around the double line on the road. It functions as a “leading line” – drawing the eye deeply into the image, and then suddenly vanishing as the road drops away down a steep hill. We are pulled over the hill and led to the majestic red sandstone cliff at its base. That leading line gives this image a three dimensional effect by stressing implied depth perception. The deep brown road (yes, the roads in Zion are reddish brown), flanked by green bushes, fills almost half the image, while the huge cliff at is base reflects the pinkish glow of the setting sun remaining in the sky. The faint pink clouds in the sky are laced with horizontal lines that echo the horizontal grooves on the face of the cliff. Even the distant background adds context by including a group of purple mountains flowing to the right hand edge of the image. Everything in this image is working together to stress to idea: the glory of Zion National Park.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30
1/100s f/4.0 at 28.3mm iso80 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
share
Phil Douglis04-Jul-2008 20:07
Thanks, Ashley, for coming to this image. I am glad you like it, and I hope it will be useful to you.
Ashley Hockenberry04-Jul-2008 01:28
Superb!
Phil Douglis10-Nov-2006 19:32
Thanks, Adrian - it is all about looking for relationships. We saw the effect of the setting sun on the red cliff and pulled off the road to get the shot. As soon as I got out, I realized that the road was important as the cliff, and devoted half of the image to it. It is not the first or the last time I use the painted lines on a road to make a point. See:http://www.pbase.com/pnd1/image/69222667 andhttp://www.pbase.com/pnd1/image/69217053
Guest 10-Nov-2006 19:23
The way the lines lead the eye to the mountain is just wonderful
Phil Douglis29-May-2006 20:41
The power of this composition comes from the way I've related my subjects spatially -- foreground, middleground, and background layers work together to pull the viewer into and through the image. Thanks, Roberto, for commenting.
Rob Rosetti29-May-2006 20:19
Amazing, strong and poweful composition. Roberto
Phil Douglis21-Feb-2006 16:01
It was just as amazing in life as it is in this photo, Jen. "Out of this world" is a good metaphor for Zion. And the man made trail leading to the work of nature offers an incongruous and appropriate juxtaposition as well. Thanks for sharing this image with me, Jen.
Jennifer Zhou21-Feb-2006 15:25
Wow, this is one of the most unforgettable photographs I have ever seen! The rich color of the land, so are the mountains and the sky. I was almost convinced that this was a place out of our world, even I was led by a man maked trail~
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment