| Author | Thread |
|
|
01/16/2005 04:18:27 PM · #1 |
Hello, this is another of my Favorite Photographer Profiled posts. I used to do a lot of these back in my free-wheeling days when I had lots of time! A forums search pulled up a bunch of them. I'm not sure how many I've done, but this is probably over 30.
Light and Line
I've recently been reviewing and tutoring myself in the effective use of line, and I've found looking at Willem's photos has been very instructive as to this basic yet sometimes difficult to use tool.
Willem seems to really focus on making lines evident and effective in his photos. One obvious example is this one:
Here, it is easy to see how leading lines create an energy that is impossible to ignore. It looks all the same, yet we really want to go beyond that bend to see what is there. In a way, these lines invite us as viewers to join in the story. The simplicity of the photo makes it very easy for us to enjoy the energies found within. It is all line and very effective.
In these next two photos, I would not call these leading lines, but Willem still uses line to draw our attention to where it is needed:
 . . . . . 
In the first, the illumined lines again help tell a story of sorts, and I always like that (being a storyteller). Lines here capture a transitory moment when scent is being seen and detected. Though not leading lines, they still direct the eye right to the important points of the photo, namely the bottle and name. In product photograpy, this seems really important!
In the second, the lines of the branches and twigs make a stark contrast. Rather than tell a story, they simply break up the colors and contrast them nicely, bringing focus to both color and line more effectively.
In this image...
...we see lots of vertical lines, and also a lot of random lines that add texture. All important is the contrast of the one strong diagonal line, which again shows the viewer where to look in an artistic and interesting way.
In this image...
...the circular line contrasts nicely with the background to take our attention right to the flowered decoration.
There are lots of lines in this photo:
...but the one that gets our attention is the road and bridge because they are different from the other lines.
In all of the photos above, and in many other photos of his, you'll find that he uses light combined with line to make his communications more effective. Light either illumines a line or set of lines, or it contrasts and isolates the lines. And he uses line in so many different ways: as leading lines, as pointing lines, as graphically significant lines, and more.
Willem is good a lots of different elements and skills when it comes to his photography; I've only mentioned line. I'd love to know of your favorite photos of his and how he uses any other skill or technique you'd care to mention. He's a great photographer and we all wonder why he isn't shooting magazine ads!
Message edited by author 2005-01-16 16:22:35.
|
|
|
|
01/16/2005 04:20:31 PM · #2 |
Yay! They are back!
I really enjoyed all the previous Photog. Profiled threads and this one was also enjoyable.
THANKS!
|
|
|
|
01/16/2005 04:27:00 PM · #3 |
Some of his shots were actually featured in a book I think...
|
|
|
|
01/16/2005 04:34:40 PM · #4 |
| Thanks David, it's people like you and those you profile that move the rest of us forward. Some of us slower than others.....:) |
|
|
|
01/16/2005 04:39:34 PM · #5 |
Good one, David, thank you! I particularily like this one:
 |
|
|
|
01/16/2005 04:41:18 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by ursula:
Good one, David, thank you! I particularily like this one:
|
Doh! I almost used that one. I'm glad you pointed it out!
|
|
|
|
01/16/2005 04:43:29 PM · #7 |
Excellent review David! Glad to see these are (even if infrequently) back!
M
|
|
|
|
01/16/2005 06:35:14 PM · #8 |
I really like:
|
|
|
|
01/16/2005 09:07:18 PM · #9 |
willem really is fantastic. i recently purchased this piece by him...
and it is even more beautiful in print than it seems online. |
|
|
|
01/16/2005 09:52:16 PM · #10 |
willem's work rocks !
he repeatedly impresses me with his eye |
|
|
|
01/17/2005 04:23:36 PM · #11 |
Thanks David for picking me as an example and making this profile. I am honored. I missed the thread because I moved back to Holland last week, from Denmark, and am still unpacking boxes etc. I only got my ADSL up and running yesterday.
Thanks to the others for the kind work and especially thanks to Alecia for buying one of my prints, I am glad it turned out well.
Gilles is right, some (3) of my shots are now featured in two different books, one of them is the first example used, the metro tunnel (I prefer the title "at the speed of light").
And as to your last statement David "we all wonder why he isn't shooting magazine ads" I can say, I wish I was, I really enjoy still life and product shots, being in full control of setup and lighting. But my day job pays so much better still....
Thanks,
Willem |
|
|
|
01/17/2005 04:37:11 PM · #12 |
| And he's a NIKON GUY!!! :) |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Prints! -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/24/2024 02:53:21 AM EDT.
