From a distance

From a distance – wasn’t there this song by Bette Middler? It’s the core theme of these days, with countries slowly returning to the “new normal” and people trying to find the right balance between staying safe and the necessity of somehow have to carry on with their daily lives.

This photograph of a mother and her child was also taken from a distance. I was standing on the balustrade above the “Liebesinsel” (Island of Love), a small island in the River Pegnitz in Nuremberg’s Old Town.

I carried the Leica M with the 35mm Summicron, which automatically resulted in getting lots of negative space into the composition as I was pretty far away and the bannister prohibited me from getting any closer. Visually I also like the yellow and blue colors in the garments of the child and mother, repeated by the willow above them. The whole photograph has this warm tone. The vertical and diagonal lines are also strong compositional elements, as well as the little triangle the mother and child are forming.

And then there is the inevitable question of the story that happened down there between the two, what is the gesture about, the mom leaning down to her child, the arm outstretched. Every observer can build his or her own little story. The fun in street photography

If you are looking for more tips and inspirations around composition, check out my free Learning Center.

Have a great Thursday!

Marcus

Related Posts:

Street Photography Quick Tip 8 – Capturing Gesture

Street Photography Quick Tip 16 – Capture what captures attention

Instant Inspiration (4) – Juxtaposition

Instant Inspiration (11) – Change of Perspective