The image here is what compelled me to start thinking about writing about rail images. Alex showed this shot (captioned version here) in a forum years ago and I was struck by its excellence. What makes it so good? A combination of compositional elements leading to a complex yet accessible image.
First, there are lots of interesting dimensions of lines and forms. The structures form repeating patterns of verticals and angles, the gray building echoing the red in front of it, as does the tan building to the left. The upper half of the image is dense with various angles and lines, but the lower half has the graceful arcs of the trackage to go along with the smaller boxes of the engine and cars.
Second, note the variation in light. Above, much of the structures but for the roofs are in shadow, yet part of the red is well lit and has a bit of glow to complement its beautiful color. Near the bottom the opposite holds, much of the very bottom is lit and highlights the presence of the engine and cars. The colors themselves are rich, not only the red (also appearing as just a trace on the engine handrails), but the yellows, repeated three times: building posts and two switchstands. The remaining browns add to the warm feel, and the engine then stands out in bright blue.
The engine also stands out by its position. Most of the elements of the scene face to the left, the structures, the slopes in the dirt, the gondola cars (but one). The engine, by contrast, faces to the right. At the same time, the large structures put the engine in context, reducing its size and, perhaps, indicating that the lowly switch engine exists to serve mighty industry.
Finally, look at the overall balance. In the middle (offset a bit to the right) is the large red structure, and arranged around it are the gray building above and left, the tan building, and below the tracks and equipment. There is a swath of shadow going from center left to upper right, but the bright snow on the red building balances the bright snow at the bottom. The steam behind the gray building adds another touch of light, as well as a softer texture in contrast to the dominant hardness of the various steel elements.
An all-time favorite of mine!
[PS: As introduction, this will be one type of post that I will do, evaluating a shot (or contrasting a pair) according to its design elements.]
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2 comments:
Best of luck on your blogging endeavour, Janusz. I'm flattered by your choice of this image as the initial entry.
You should know that US Steel has repainted all of those buildings a fairly boring white color over the last several months.
Yes, I've seen shots of the new color. "Flags" are not the only thing that fall, so do scenes. :(
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