The Missing Triangle That Will Transform Your Photos

[@thebeautifuleyephoto]

Thank you! This idea of inspiration, especially intention, light, lines really resonates. Inspires me. Thank you!

[@PaulHeagen]

Transformational. So much deeper and considered than technique.

[@markgoostree6334]

Mostly, when I'm out and see a scene/object/ view I'd like to photograph, I am either trying to get somewhere on time, or I am in an area where I cannot safely stop, or I just do not have a camera in hand. Yet, when I'm out to find photo locations... I cannot find a thing to stop for. I do not know what is wrong with me.

[@charlesclarke3538]

Urban landscape is the best term I have come across. Since it's not a still life, you could argue for a portrait, but we don't generally use portraits for nonliving things. Urban moments? Maybe.

[@jonaskrainbring487]

I really like urban still life since a lot of there pictures are - as you said - rather moments than real landscapes (or cityscapes). So, at least to me those details are more akin to a still life than a landscape. But, of course, that all depends on the photo. And terms don‘t impact the art in the end.

[@andymorrow55]

Really enjoyed this video. I often find I am out without any strategy and end up without any interesting photographs. Looking forward to giving it a whirl. Cheers.

[@emr5081]

4:27 My Inspiration Triangle has been pointed toward Nick Carver and my photography has been geared toward what I’m calling, “Architectural Portraiture”. Thanks for such a wonderful message. Beautiful examples to explain your theory. I really like the idea. I think you could further this thought by employing a set of Brian Eno(ish) Oblique Strategies - when one’s Inspiration Triangle needs some adjusting or some challenging or some encouragement…. “Breathe.” “Try more light.” “Capture Motion.” “Close your eyes and try again.” Etc.

[@johnlangston4108]

“Enjoying the solitude of being in a crowd”. I love the way you phrased this as that’s how I feel doing street photography.

[@neilgrant1927]

Yes, that resonated with ne. I love strolling through Melbourne with my camera....

[@tomgagner7366]

Interesting as always Alex. The triangle of creativity as a framework for analyzing the photographic process and a way to understand and discuss your way of working. Thank you 🙂

[@jravell]

4:27 Cityscapes!

[@washingtonradio]

Interesting idea, intent-light-composition as a triangle to look at a scene is deceptively simple but at the same time I think it might very enlightening. As it combines the key aspects in three fairly simple questions: what is my intent?, what is the light?, what is my composition? The answers to these questions determines how I should set up my camera for the shot.

[@LloydSpencer]

Excellent, thoughtful and thought-provoking

[@msmith2016]

Well, because I believe the universe runs consistently from a unified set of laws, let me offer another abstraction for your inspiration triangle. In the project management domain, there is the "quality" triangle - scope, time, and budget. The insight that comes from that is that the project manager can only own or control two of those things at any time and the third is a function of the other two. They cannot control all three. I think this may be able to be extended to both the exposure triangle and perhaps the inspiration triangle (and maybe all triangle metaphors in the universe). What does it mean? Who knows! I'll let you think about that as I have some turkey to eat today. A thoughtful topic to be sure. Cheers!

[@DarinSimmons]

I like the idea of 1) Light: What you have (or can introduce) 2) Composition: All the things you can put in or take out either with feet, eye, or camera tech and 3) Intent: Story or focus that drew you to that. I have a suggestion. The phrase "Do you have one of these?" is inclusive/exclusive and the answer is often not immediately apparent and therefor a no. I would suggest a phrase more like, "Did one of these catch your eye? Interest you? Start poking around there and explore. Then, see what comes of the other two."

[@ph.amadeu]

Everybody has different things that they resonate with or that they get inspired by, for sure. But this “inspiration triangle” really resonated with me and, for me, it’s name is just right! Thank you for sharing!

[@wheelsmsl]

Just a clarification… a theory is accepted as proven…..until proven an idea is a hypothesis. Just a pet peeve of mine on how these terms are used. The concept of an inspiration triangle is quite brilliant IMHO. Thx

[@simonpayne7994]

Half-baked or not, I rather like your triangle. "Intent"- very good. What do you want to express, who do you want to show to and to what purpose. "Composition" - basically how to stage the scene and capture the interest of the viewer. The artistic part of the translation process - reality to a photographic representation. "Light" - leaves me pondering a little. I suppose it could encompass lighting and all technical aspects of the photographic process including the presentation of the result. Somehow "Light" does not quite fit in. As described in the video it is actually part of "Composition". On the other hand, it is a major player and definitely something to think about before pressing the shutter. Light is something physical. Intent and composition are abstract. Maybe something along the lines of "Mood" would be better.

[@simonpayne7994]

Or simply "Lighting" or "Illumination".

[@RasTuft]

Great video Alex! Thank you so much for this. I love the light/intent/composition triangle as a tool to guide my photography. This is exactly what I need at the moment. Thanks 👍

[@garycope5332]

Thank you very much for sharing this idea. I found it thought provoking and I will definitely keep it in mind next time I am struggling with an idea.

[@billbromer]

Thanks, you have been busy this week. Working my way through Authentic Vision Framework and thinking about intent helps with my why photograph.

[@thescouser8629]

TO me this aspect of photography is the most important and the least understood. Some people seem to intuitively photograph this way: many struggle and it is hard to teach. Thanks for exploring and producing videos that explore the esoteric aspects of photography.

[@heshamaskar67]

Really nice video, thank you for sharing it.

[@alfiep7930]

Your ability to convey an idea in a very clear and engaging manner is extremely helpful in gently driving the message home and inspiring the listener / viewer to venture out and give it a g Thank you...... “The whole point of taking pictures is so that you don’t have to explain things with words.” - Elliott Erwitt 😎

[@ShawnXu]

Intent❤composition ❤light❤ very helpful 🎉

[@TDtog2112]

4:27 Urban Structure is what I call it. Some good ideas from the Inspiration Triangle. Sometimes we just need something to get us thinking.

[@b991228]

I need to take a picture of a bride and groom on a background. If I expose to middle grey, highlight and lowlight the result is a masterpiece,

[@kennethnielsen3864]

Thanks for sharing.

[@tedbrown7908]

Good Idea. What I find with a great number of photographers and photographs is that the Intent is never written down or cataloged in some way so that the viewer gets the intent of the photograph and the photographers mindset. Many years ago, people used to write the event date and names of the people who may be in the picture. Of the photo's that I have printed, I have a booklet catalog of them. Each photo has a name and a catalog number assigned to it.

[@brucesaille8081]

Alex, I like your Inspirational triangle idea and the statement that if you have at least one of the three elements you have a place to start. I stated in a email to you that I photograph more from a curiosity of observing my world closely and sharing that in my images. I'm seldom driven by intent, but I do always have one of the three working for me and that is how I compose my frame. Light is always a vairiable sometimes you have great light and there are times when you just work with the light you have. Unless of course you are using speedlights then you have a myriad of options.

[@christophholzner1612]

Hey, Alex! Your contemplation about different spheres of finding inspiration really nails it (again). Somehow, it´s all about getting the juices flowing, right? So what about a suitable name for this: The Mojo Triangle! Greets and thanks for your ideas!

[@billbromer]

@@christophholzner1612 I vote for Mojo Triangle😉

[@ScottVanManen]

Great stuff? Thanks so much!

[@kevinbull6597]

Points to ponder...good stuff Alex

[@flightographist]

Motivation triangle, it's a thing. When composing, think about aspect ratio. For example, 1:1 is impactful for dynamic lines, as is evident in your example photos.

[@Consciousphotography]

I often use the term cityscapes for my photos as it describes for me very well a picture taken in an urban environment bur that is neither architecture nor street photography

[@ivanosrin2126]

Urban photography

[@SimonWillig]

Interesting thoughts - as ever I should say. The elements in this triangle are not influencing each other like in the other one, but still there are three. So what about inspiration trinity?

[@michaelplathphotography8537]

Intent, light, composition = why, what , how. Camera = method

[@imjustherefortheks]

there's a very used therm already: cityscape

[@curiousabout1]

I just use the very broad "urban photography" lol. I do use urban landscape for wider environmental scenes, but details like pipes on the side of a building or something are something else. I just shoot what I see in the city, sometimes it's big, sometimes it's tiny, but it's always the city.

[@The11061984]

In this triangle light and composition serve (or point towards) the intent. So a pyramid may be a more appropriate description. The Photographer's Pyramid?

[@charlesk323]

Artsey --fartsy....perfect! I'm trying to master that part. :). Actually, this is quite thoughtful. Thanks.

[@frankc3834]

How about The decision triangle?

[@ItzAGr8Day-p4m]

Din’t realise I was this early today 😂 Intent, light and composition. Makes sense.

[@philliphickox4023]

The image has to have feeling.

[@SteamfanScott]

I think your inspiration triangle is a poignant way of thinking about photography, and maybe those exact same elements can even be expanded on a broader scale of things to consider about life itself.

[@ArturBad]

Trinspiration! This is a new word!

[@charlessands3458]

I like the image of those horses? Does anyone know where this is for the name so I can look this up?

[@nicklewis-q3p]

The Kelpies are a pair of monumental steel horse-heads between the Scottish towns of Falkirk and Grangemouth. Search Wikipedia, or similar for more information. On my list of things to visit oneday.

[@davidskinner274]

To me, they are architectural photos

[@rhodriwilliams2891]

🤔 maybe architectural abstractionism… or environmental abstractionism ? 🤷

[@neilgrant1927]

To me its Urban.

[@simonkerry5203]

I rather like Urbanscape

[@henrybobb]

Very nice! You perfectly summarized what very often push me to take my photos. I’ll for sure think more on the field to the Inspiration Triangle.

[@RoderickvanderVeen]

You sound a bit drunk.... More people should do that!

[@saalikreynolds3064]

How about ‘urban scapes’?

[@seaeagles6025]

Hi Alex, I like the sound of that, The Inspiration Triangle 📐. Nice way to get the creative juices flowing. Thanks Alex. 😊