Exercise - Multiple Points

20.06.12.MultiplePoints (1)
f/5.6  1/5  ISO-3200

20.06.12.MultiplePoints (2)
f/5.6  1/50  ISO-3200

20.06.12.MultiplePoints (3)
f/5.6  1/50  ISO-3200

20.06.12.MultiplePoints (4)
f/5.6  1/50  ISO-3200

20.06.12.MultiplePoints (5)
f/5.6  1/50  ISO-3200

20.06.12.MultiplePoints (6)
f/5.6  1/50  ISO-3200

20.06.12.MultiplePoints (7)
f/5.6  1/50  ISO-3200

20.06.12.MultiplePoints-Shapes etc
f/5.6  1/50  ISO-3200

This exercise was harder, and took longer, than I had expected.  By the time I had placed five stones in the frame, it was looking crowded.  As you can see, each piece was moved to make room for the sixth.  I felt it looked a bit flat and disjointed at this stage.  It may appear like a few subtle changes to get to image (7), but I assure you there was much deliberation and moving stones around before settling on this arrangement.  

Hopefully, the drawings on the last picture here adequately show the shapes that I saw and which determined the positions for the final image.  I think the basis of this last arrangement was the inferred curve and line drawn in red, vaguely resembling an arrow through a bow.  There are numerous triangle relationships between the different points, and you can see a couple of rough square shapes too.  

Exercise - Positioning a Point - Image 3

17.06.12.SinglePoint(3)
f/14  1/125  ISO-160

OK, another duck picture but this is quite different to the last one.  The duck was slowly moving away and I made a quick decision to position it in the bottom left quarter of the frame.  Tension is created from the back stream of water created by the ducks movement opposing the direction of the ripples of the surface water movement.  Placing the point towards the edge, yet not right next to it, was important for achieving the sense of movement.  Closer to the edge and I think it would have seemed unnatural.

Exercise - Positioning a Point - Image 2

17.06.12.SinglePoint(2)
f/15  1/125  ISO-200

In this image, the duck is placed about half way between the centre and the left edge horizontally, and slightly below centre vertically.   The placement of this point was judged partly in anticipation and partly through reaction.  I had been watching the duck dive under the surface a couple of times, popping up with something in its mouth each time.  I wanted to tightly  frame the ripples caused by the duck's movement, as close to the edge as possible, and catch it just after it resurfaced.  On the whole, I would say this was a fairly instinctive shot.

Exercise - Positioning a Point - Image 1

17.06.12.SinglePoint(1)
f/12 1/125 ISO-250

For the above "single point image", the shelter was placed just very slightly right of centre.  I placed the point where the passage of water, the edge of the land on the left, and the hanging willow on the right, would all lead to it.