Street Photography Composition - Symmetry and Silhouettes by johannvdwalt

photomag · @johannvdwalt · Sep 21 '18

$7.13

Street Photography Composition - Symmetry and Silhouettes

This weeks post is a continuation of my series on, what I call, _The Art of Street Photography_.

I believe that street photography requires actually more knowledge of composition and mood than any of the other photography genres because you need to assess the scene very quickly to decide what photography techniques will help you to draw and keep the viewer's attention at your photo and hopefully even afterwards in their minds.
<center>
[![_JOH9566_XGA.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUanvTE7HvVfyQd1FDRCZVAjGsd2Q4GnCMDQ8ggDyLUo7/_JOH9566_XGA.jpg)](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeTxcE7ew4uPoNu6JYjjPN9RbFBQMJwAguW6QfZLyjmJm/_JOH9566_HD.jpg)
We have a situation</center>
Although street photography is about capturing unposed scenes, it does not mean that you do not have to pay attention to good photography practices such as composition. If you don't, you will most likely just create a mess, and, unless the scene in front of you is really spectacular, nobody will give it a second thought.

In this photo, which I took through the train window as we left the station, I used two composition elements, namely; Silhouette and Symmetry.

These two techniques work very well together as both emphasise the graphical elements of the scene.

I took two photos, the first as I noticed the scene playing off on the opposite platform, and then, quickly changed my settings to underexpose the scene and wait until we were facing the two pillars straight on before taking the second photo. The first photo was a waste of my shutter count! (unlike other people, I am actually very proud of having a very low shutter count!)

Creating a silhouette of people is a great way to add drama and intrigue to a scene as you remove expressions while emphasising gestures.

Symmetry is a technique where you split a scene in half with the two halves being (almost) mirror images of each other. By using symmetry in photography you draw the attention to the middle of the scene, and in this case is the middle the place where this little drama is playing off.

The fact that the figures are silhouettes add that extra intrigue as we do not exactly know what happened to the man's foot.

This is my weekly #streetphotography contribution.

Hope you like it.

👍 hendrikdegrote, gavvet, kiligirl, ace108, dragonslayer109, curie, wackou, tombstone, vact, mandela, ngos, therneau, kevinwong, awgbibb, dhimmel, hope777, sme, africaunited, springbokkie, joanstewart, ranzwocket, liberosist, artizm, fourfourfun, rynow, anwenbaumeister, tim-beck, osm0sis, jacor, tuck-fheman, jacor-witness, timsaid, massivevibration, drmake, jefpatat, brightideas, locikll, photomag, randomwanderings, markangeltrueman, cryptocurator, asgarth, didic, call-me-howie, bmj, photocontests, ratticus, smawkward, predict-crypto, benleemusic, gibic, aboutyourbiz, cryptokrieg, raymondspeaks, meerkat, warmcracklesound, misslasvegas, stahlberg, anikekirsten, moksamol, peaceandwar, lk666, neumannsalva, positiveninja, and 144 others

`post_id`	62,944,697
`author`	johannvdwalt
`permlink`	street-photography-composition-symmetry-and-silhouettes
`category`	photomag
`json_metadata`	{"format":"markdown","tags":["photomag","streetphotography","teamsouthafrica","travel","photofriend"],"app":"steemit\/0.1","image":["https:\/\/cdn.steemitimages.com\/DQmUanvTE7HvVfyQd1FDRCZVAjGsd2Q4GnCMDQ8ggDyLUo7\/_JOH9566_XGA.jpg"],"links":["https:\/\/cdn.steemitimages.com\/DQmeTxcE7ew4uPoNu6JYjjPN9RbFBQMJwAguW6QfZLyjmJm\/_JOH9566_HD.jpg"]}
`created`	2018-09-21 09:02:15
`last_update`	2018-09-21 09:02:15
`depth`	0
`children`	7
`net_rshares`	5,668,400,487,530
`last_payout`	2018-09-28 09:02:15
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	5.737 SBD
`curator_payout_value`	1.388 SBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`promoted`	0.000 SBD
`body_length`	2,261
`author_reputation`	14,866,961,686,809
`root_title`	"Street Photography Composition - Symmetry and Silhouettes"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 SBD
`percent_steem_dollars`	10,000
`author_curate_reward`	""

properties (23)vote details (208)

voter	rshares	pct
wackou	115,681,063,133	1.5%
tombstone	111,378,447,991	0.14%
tuck-fheman	5,370,348,131	2.5%
gavvet	987,526,143,363	10%
lola-carola	474,463,184	2.5%
kevinwong	40,795,815,255	0.37%
dragonslayer109	217,413,480,613	10%
tim-beck	10,210,390,513	10%
anwenbaumeister	11,236,554,166	5%
kiligirl	362,143,346,584	100%
jacor	6,021,571,400	10%
raymondspeaks	988,702,217	2.5%
jesse5th	51,697,662	50%
liberosist	16,379,562,793	5%
arconite	302,614,527	0.18%
joshglen	82,784,740	5%
ace108	351,531,359,454	25%
timsaid	3,660,604,197	10%
awgbibb	33,716,938,449	3%
charlie777pt	611,287,257	0.5%
joanstewart	19,717,848,249	75%
lk666	721,451,978	2.5%
rynow	11,341,072,361	2%
meerkat	982,961,535	5%
curie	205,566,403,488	5%
hendrikdegrote	2,611,862,296,551	5%
vact	102,524,121,354	5%
dashfit	581,143,111	2.5%
sethroot	233,165,072	0.5%
gangstayid	171,268,544	2.5%
aware007	101,454,365	3.5%
resteemer	83,779,324	2%
gmedley	580,398,223	2.5%
mandela	76,628,360,283	10%
pacokam8	358,051,463	2%
toniesteem	70,404,187	2.5%
michelios	290,844,445	0.75%
dhimmel	32,390,334,598	4%
moksamol	848,620,960	2.5%
getrichordie	224,746,566	2.5%
thatsweeneyguy	167,422,416	2.5%
szokerobert	276,096,413	1%
foways	139,972,455	2.5%
cryptocurator	1,630,013,470	1%
iansart	375,673,578	2.5%
hope777	28,220,742,545	100%
dbzfan4awhile	261,136,593	2.5%
mrstaf	94,250,210	2.5%
markangeltrueman	1,736,763,407	50%
misslasvegas	960,101,168	2.5%
christianolu	69,703,920	2.5%
locikll	2,162,093,059	10%
aboutyourbiz	1,078,178,703	5%
bmj	1,355,001,790	5%
pablocordero	62,080,426	2.5%
therneau	52,334,008,836	100%
howtostartablog	156,233,444	0.5%
jayna	383,410,765	0.75%
orcheva	131,646,351	2.5%
cryptokrieg	1,022,977,394	5%
rival	573,355,027	1%
slickhustler007	253,039,230	2.5%
makrotheblack	159,776,459	2.5%
coloringiship	378,069,919	1%
sportspodium	378,677,603	10%
ratticus	1,297,579,618	2.5%
neumannsalva	703,589,252	2.5%
fates	122,516,409	3%
phogyan	165,954,869	2.5%
g0nr0gue	211,503,214	2.5%
onethousandwords	93,547,762	2.5%
sanderdieryck	72,910,877	2.5%
africaunited	23,614,054,334	10%
ngos	54,645,017,288	10%
felixrodriguez	199,613,139	2.5%
gabox	212,902,155	0.25%
honeysara	337,462,859	1.25%
massivevibration	3,531,189,898	5%
jefpatat	3,007,081,309	5%
cooknbake	113,029,297	1%
anna-mi	137,486,068	2.5%
clweeks	314,382,001	3%
sme	24,999,596,762	10%
click3rs	137,511,210	2.5%
torico	315,333,174	0.4%
osm0sis	8,606,663,057	20%
paddygsound	70,241,804	2.5%
marialefleitas	77,005,602	2.5%
damzxyno	92,586,029	1.5%
derekvonzarovich	76,280,742	2.5%
gotgame	253,079,951	2.5%
poodai	256,244,024	2.5%
adahmiracle	127,322,793	100%
peaceandwar	813,820,684	2.5%
enzor	171,174,996	5%
joendegz	99,452,131	2.5%
digitalpnut	76,776,453	2.5%
kimchi-king	72,220,350	2.5%
daydreaming	434,343,007	100%
janine-ariane	353,051,285	5%
drmake	3,211,511,983	2.5%
xanderslee	288,697,550	5%
awolesigideon	60,861,792	5%
thescubageek	301,432,823	2.5%
sohailahmed	342,248,467	2.5%
crescendoofpeace	123,937,806	1.25%
photocontests	1,343,394,491	4%
fourfourfun	12,075,174,907	50%
steemsearch	288,032,340	50%
akumar	74,712,433	2.5%
venalbe	182,872,907	2.5%
anikekirsten	864,017,812	5%
artizm	13,058,486,214	100%
rasamuel	81,307,950	2.5%
stahlberg	913,097,251	2.5%
gabrielatravels	125,185,278	1.25%
zlatkamrs	180,269,379	4.75%
speaklife	64,404,114	5%
laritheghost	220,607,793	2.5%
m1alsan	81,441,826	2.5%
mrxplicit	70,740,353	5%
adamzi	228,852,613	2.5%
giddyupngo	437,386,317	2.5%
mrday	373,520,842	2.5%
debbietiyan	138,124,795	2.5%
emirfirlar	75,895,113	2.5%
mininthecity	239,398,426	4%
randomwanderings	1,927,005,010	50%
didic	1,534,863,879	2.5%
niko3d	133,697,888	2.5%
operahoser	299,262,188	0.42%
wdoutjah	130,485,988	2.5%
asonintrigue	79,080,114	2.5%
warmcracklesound	970,044,885	50%
caitycat	107,489,098	2.5%
oghie	496,828,253	50%
ameliabartlett	216,593,984	0.75%
adalhelm	64,688,061	2%
asgarth	1,612,526,018	50%
benleemusic	1,190,357,878	0.5%
jbrrd	102,078,727	11%
smawkward	1,297,157,212	25%
ivan-g	597,944,066	2.5%
chimtivers96	311,961,325	5%
joelagbo	166,396,023	2.5%
idkpdx	165,861,153	2.5%
positiveninja	662,933,241	2.5%
kookyan	79,300,940	2.5%
wanasoloben	437,666,781	2.5%
phaazer1	83,376,157	2.5%
chillingotter	88,364,260	2.5%
brightideas	2,780,162,603	10%
cjunros	117,197,273	2.5%
laurentiu.negrea	64,134,753	2.5%
springbokkie	20,086,180,230	52%
bavi	136,214,179	2.5%
jacor-witness	4,015,046,679	10%
captainquenta	488,108,328	50%
outtheshellvlog	129,362,814	2.5%
eyonlapar	70,679,455	2.5%
kendallron	105,546,957	5%
apteacher	126,971,961	1%
diabonua	359,430,498	5%
abbasi1986	76,149,228	2.5%
justasperm	92,092,463	2.5%
qberryfarms	121,844,415	2.5%
vigna	149,312,948	0.25%
onethousandpics	80,638,871	2.5%
marcuz	116,307,957	2.5%
niouton	261,174,019	1%
saarah	60,634,345	20%
disruptivas	92,289,499	2.37%
hardaeborla	182,453,558	2.5%
atheology	65,884,850	2.5%
boliwar	581,075,015	100%
eroticabian	67,342,108	1%
kafupraise	206,703,213	34%
gibic	1,097,429,069	25%
mahmudulhassan	135,588,441	2.5%
esteliopadilla	140,388,715	2.5%
juanmolina	63,002,757	5%
kind-sir	64,947,508	2%
call-me-howie	1,362,707,914	2.5%
hansmast	421,386,047	2.5%
deividluchi	103,260,576	2.5%
masaitv	86,150,359	1%
gatis-photo	109,657,615	2%
danlipert	160,099,242	2.5%
ektorcaba	122,398,673	25%
sharinglife	52,450,824	100%
clement.poiret	382,759,064	5%
shepherd-stories	543,560,396	50%
annaabi	260,988,910	2.5%
mrunderstood	104,469,412	2.5%
dikkie	74,483,688	2.5%
raghao	93,170,174	2.5%
predict-crypto	1,277,285,672	0.1%
chickenmeat	157,781,427	2.5%
ranzwocket	18,641,592,930	100%
nithin7237	80,698,486	2.5%
photomag	2,055,166,250	100%
semtroneum	215,395,574	1.5%
alom8	267,346,104	2.5%
nothingismagick	134,364,690	2.5%
leysonrye0724	51,817,076	50%
deadcountry	134,496,766	2.5%
steemitbuzz	90,706,261	50%
andiblok	51,570,117	25%

@photocontests3 · Sep 21 '18

<b>World of Photography</b><br><a href="http://worldofphotography.org">>Visit the website<</a><br><br>You have earned <b>6.50 XP</b> for sharing your photo! <br><table><tr><td><b>Daily Stats</b><br>Daily photos: 1/2 <br> Daily comments: 0/5<br>Multiplier: 1.30<br><sub>Block time: 2018-09-21T09:02:18</sub></td><td><b>Account Level: 4</b><br>Total XP: 885.22/1600.00<br>Total Photos: 57<br>Total comments: 5<br> Total contest wins: 11</td></tr></table>And have also received a <b>4.00</b> percent upvote.<br><br> <b>Follow:</b> @photocontests<br><b>Join the Discord channel:</b> <a href="https://discord.gg/2pmd5Dr">click!</a><br><b>Play and win SBD: </b>@fairlotto<br><b>Daily Steem Statistics: </b>@dailysteemreport<br><b>Learn how to program Steem-Python applications: </b>@steempytutorials<br><b>Developed and sponsored by:</b> @juliank

properties (22)

`post_id`	62,944,740
`author`	photocontests3
`permlink`	re-street-photography-composition-symmetry-and-silhouettes-20180921t090307
`category`	photomag
`json_metadata`	{}
`created`	2018-09-21 09:03:09
`last_update`	2018-09-21 09:03:09
`depth`	1
`children`	0
`net_rshares`	0
`last_payout`	2018-09-28 09:03:09
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`curator_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`promoted`	0.000 SBD
`body_length`	840
`author_reputation`	391,040,934,615
`root_title`	"Street Photography Composition - Symmetry and Silhouettes"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 SBD
`percent_steem_dollars`	10,000

@artizm · Sep 21 '18

great black and white tones and an excellent shot. congratulations my friend!

properties (22)

`post_id`	62,951,028
`author`	artizm
`permlink`	re-johannvdwalt-street-photography-composition-symmetry-and-silhouettes-20180921t110032985z
`category`	photomag
`json_metadata`	{"tags":["photomag"],"app":"steemit\/0.1"}
`created`	2018-09-21 10:59:00
`last_update`	2018-09-21 10:59:00
`depth`	1
`children`	0
`net_rshares`	0
`last_payout`	2018-09-28 10:59:00
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`curator_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`promoted`	0.000 SBD
`body_length`	77
`author_reputation`	9,872,893,322,408
`root_title`	"Street Photography Composition - Symmetry and Silhouettes"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 SBD
`percent_steem_dollars`	10,000

@photofriend · Sep 22 '18

**Hello, just a friendly reminder. The #photofriend tag is meant to be used by the members of @photofriend.**

**Come to join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/qtbFfkp**
 
*@photofriend - A community of photographers supporting original photography on the Steem blockchain and fight against plagiarism. To improve the overall Steeming experience and help fellow photographers is our shared mission.*

👍 photofriend

`post_id`	63,049,210
`author`	photofriend
`permlink`	re-johannvdwalt-street-photography-composition-symmetry-and-silhouettes-20180922t150019451z
`category`	photomag
`json_metadata`	{"app":"steemit\/0.1","links":["https:\/\/discord.gg\/qtbFfkp"],"users":["photofriend"],"tags":["photomag","photofriend"]}
`created`	2018-09-22 15:00:21
`last_update`	2018-09-22 15:00:21
`depth`	1
`children`	0
`net_rshares`	2,085,774,236
`last_payout`	2018-09-29 15:00:21
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`curator_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`promoted`	0.000 SBD
`body_length`	399
`author_reputation`	3,940,538,323,363
`root_title`	"Street Photography Composition - Symmetry and Silhouettes"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 SBD
`percent_steem_dollars`	10,000
`author_curate_reward`	""

properties (23)vote details (1)

voter	weight	wgt%	rshares	pct	time
photofriend	0 B		2,085,774,236	1%

@photomag · Sep 23 '18

<div class="pull-left">

![logoAsset 5@2x copy.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRkRLLHzUffPSTUdTnm9LCZq4F6PqSo8Sw6PMqQu22td2/logoAsset%205@2x%20copy.png)

</div>

This post has been upvoted by @photomag and it's manual curation trail with a curie direct follow vote. To get involved in the future of @photomag please check the [@photomag blog](https://steemit.com/@photomag). Vote for @markangeltrueman witness [here](https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/account-witness-vote?witness=markangeltrueman&approve=1)

<hr/>

<center>
Photomag is a new proposition by @markangeltrueman on the STEEM blockchain that aims to create a STEEM backed photo magazine website
</center>

properties (22)

`post_id`	63,124,704
`author`	photomag
`permlink`	re-johannvdwalt-street-photography-composition-symmetry-and-silhouettes-20180923t140700807z
`category`	photomag
`json_metadata`	{"community":"steempeak","tags":["photomag"],"app":"steempeak"}
`created`	2018-09-23 14:07:03
`last_update`	2018-09-23 14:07:03
`depth`	1
`children`	0
`net_rshares`	0
`last_payout`	2018-09-30 14:07:03
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`curator_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`promoted`	0.000 SBD
`body_length`	673
`author_reputation`	464,158,883,361
`root_title`	"Street Photography Composition - Symmetry and Silhouettes"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 SBD
`percent_steem_dollars`	10,000

@therneau · Sep 23 '18

Thanks for the great info and what a wonderful pic indeed. Well done!

I'll make a point of it to check out your other street photography posts as well.

Greetings from Cape Town :)

👍 johannvdwalt

`post_id`	63,135,103
`author`	therneau
`permlink`	re-johannvdwalt-street-photography-composition-symmetry-and-silhouettes-20180923t164727528z
`category`	photomag
`json_metadata`	{"tags":["photomag"],"app":"steemit\/0.1"}
`created`	2018-09-23 16:46:03
`last_update`	2018-09-23 16:46:03
`depth`	1
`children`	0
`net_rshares`	11,054,503,058
`last_payout`	2018-09-30 16:46:03
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`curator_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`promoted`	0.000 SBD
`body_length`	181
`author_reputation`	4,725,463,842,396
`root_title`	"Street Photography Composition - Symmetry and Silhouettes"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 SBD
`percent_steem_dollars`	10,000
`author_curate_reward`	""

properties (23)vote details (1)

voter	weight	wgt%	rshares	pct	time
johannvdwalt	0 B		11,054,503,058	19%

@steemitboard · Sep 23 '18

Congratulations @johannvdwalt! You have completed the following achievement on the Steem blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :

[![](https://steemitimages.com/70x80/http://steemitboard.com/notifications/voted.png)](http://steemitboard.com/@johannvdwalt) Award for the number of upvotes received

<sub>_Click on the badge to view your Board of Honor._</sub>
<sub>_If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word_ `STOP`</sub>



> Support [SteemitBoard's project](https://steemit.com/@steemitboard)! **[Vote for its witness](https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/account-witness-vote?witness=steemitboard&approve=1)** and **get one more award**!

properties (22)

`post_id`	63,141,470
`author`	steemitboard
`permlink`	steemitboard-notify-johannvdwalt-20180923t182952000z
`category`	photomag
`json_metadata`	{"image":["https:\/\/steemitboard.com\/img\/notify.png"]}
`created`	2018-09-23 18:29:51
`last_update`	2018-09-23 18:29:51
`depth`	1
`children`	0
`net_rshares`	0
`last_payout`	2018-09-30 18:29:51
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`curator_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`promoted`	0.000 SBD
`body_length`	691
`author_reputation`	38,705,954,145,809
`root_title`	"Street Photography Composition - Symmetry and Silhouettes"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 SBD
`percent_steem_dollars`	10,000

@joanstewart · Sep 24 '18

Nice photography and explanation on how to create the effect thanks @johannvdwalt 

#teamsouthafrica

properties (22)

`post_id`	63,183,924
`author`	joanstewart
`permlink`	re-johannvdwalt-street-photography-composition-symmetry-and-silhouettes-20180924t081932625z
`category`	photomag
`json_metadata`	{"app":"steemit\/0.1","users":["johannvdwalt"],"tags":["photomag","teamsouthafrica"]}
`created`	2018-09-24 08:19:30
`last_update`	2018-09-24 08:19:30
`depth`	1
`children`	0
`net_rshares`	0
`last_payout`	2018-10-01 08:19:30
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`curator_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`promoted`	0.000 SBD
`body_length`	100
`author_reputation`	33,113,112,148,259
`root_title`	"Street Photography Composition - Symmetry and Silhouettes"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 SBD
`percent_steem_dollars`	10,000