On a photo tour between the Louvre and Palais Royale we came across this silent spectacle, as one is wont to do, albeit accompanied by haunting music and entrancing movement. I was trying to demonstrate the importance of controlling the depth of field, and this street artist illustrated it nicely.

If the columns behind had been more in focus the attention wouldn't have been as strongly centred on the performer.

In retrospect, I think maybe I should have straightened up the pillars in the background, which are slightly off-vertical, but maybe if I don't mention it you won't notice...

I LOVE the strong diagonals in this shot. You know I'm a major diagonals fan, don't you? Just look at the crossed arms and delicate fingers like a ballet dancer, countered by the opposing diagonal between the two round elements - the glass ball and the face, both glowing eerily blue.

By slamming in close (I mean by cropping close to the subject) you invite the edge of the picture to become an important compositional element, giving the hand, ball and face something to interact with.

~ October 2007 Slide Show ~