Assignment #10 – Intentional Tangents

In photography parlance, a tangency is when two objects or compositional elements come so close they almost touch, do touch, or barely overlap. The juncture of the two elements is the tangency. Tangencies draw the viewer’s eye, so the key is to place them where drawing the eye to one object (or distracting it from another) is the desired effect. The classic compositional rules tell us this sort of tangent is to be avoided, but rules are made to be broken, and there are times when tangencies can be used intentionally.

How can you create an intentional tangency to draw the reader’s eye? There are no one-size-fits-all guidelines. Here are some times that a tangency is useful for drawing the eye:

The blue light from the Eiffel tower intersects a building in the distance, drawing the eye to the repetitions in form.

The trees positioned over the ends of the Milky Way underscore the full extent of the arc.

The intersection of the giraffe and the sunset lead the viewer’s eye to the most important subjects. 

Get creative with some intentional tangencies this week! Comments on the ways in which you think your tangency strengthens or influences your image are appreciated. Our pros will be waiting on our Muench University Facebook Page with helpful comments and critiques. 

More like this…

Assignment #4 – Pattern and Repetition

Repetition of forms in an image is pleasing to the eye in much the same way that rhythm is pleasing to the ear in music. The eye tends to follow repetition, giving a sense of movement in the image. our assignment is to find patterns and repetition around you in your home. Use them in your images to create compelling compositions (just like music!)

Assignment #24 – Emotions

Learning the technical side of portrait photography can be quick and relatively easy. But part of making a great portrait is able to get your subject(s) to show true emotion. Capturing genuine emotion in portrait photography could arguably be one of the more difficult tasks of a photographer.

Assignment #14 – Urban Photography

From the hustle of humanity to the architectural aesthetic, urban areas provide plenty of photographic subject matter. To best capture the feel, big or small, consider the following elements.

Cyber Monday Sale!

$750 Off Any Workshop

Sign up for any workshop before midnight, November 28, 2023, and we’ll apply your $750 discount to your final balance payment.

Cyber Monday Sale!

$750 Off Any Workshop

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Sign up for any workshop before midnight, November 28, 2023, and we’ll apply your $750 discount to your final balance payment.