Gates and Gateways

I found this photograph highly intriguing. The contrast of light-, dark- and mid-tones is perfectly balanced. The formal one-point perspective view is countered by the sharp diagonal lines of shadows and that odd arrow graphic.

Then, bang in the middle of frame is our subject... the gate. The overlap of the structure itself with its angled shadow has created a juxtaposition of lines that baffles comprehension at first glance.

Finally, the nature of the gate is poignant: tucked away in a nondescript urban corner is a small, simple gate, that ordinarily would go completely unnoticed. The manner that our photographer has discovered it and created this thoughtful, quirky composition has brought it strikingly to attention. Excellent.

When photographing structural elements that have unambiguous geometry using a one-point perspective viewpoint, to my mind, the composition needs to be as perfect as the structure itself. Our photographer in this instance, has done that perfectly. The edge-of-frame lines are exactly parallel to the frame. This tells me that the foreground structure, the gate is important (and of course it is – it's our subject). The fact that we can see through it to a group of people passing in each direction provides curiosity. So too, the situational information beyond. The sign attached to the gate provides two points in this regard: it tells us the nature of the environment, a "Live Racing Circuit", but also tells us that the people must be "Authorised" - otherwise they shouldn't be there!

Whilst I presume that it is a motor racing circuit, I'm not absolutely certain of that. Thus, we are left with a note of intrigue. In so doing, the photographer is challenging us to look and think harder as to the full meaning of their photograph.

The photographer's caption says it all: "I had noticed this cute little gate... when evening came I went back there for some photos."

This is what thoughtful, dedicated photographers do: they explore, discover and capture aspects of their world. This photograph is an excellent example of such application.

The solid shape of the building to right of frame holds that part of the composition (whilst including wonderful detail information), and in turn leads to the open space centre and to left of frame. The gate (our principle subject in this instance) is central and neatly stands out, but does not dominant our gaze. The wonderful tones and hues of the sky provide a beautiful note to end our visual wanderings of the photograph.

This is a striking photograph. The mix of angles, movement, and odd and moody colours makes for a slightly surreal scene.

That bright light grabs our attention. It could be argued that it is too visually arresting. However, what it does is set the mood for how we examine the rest of the image. The light streaks it emits act as the template for the steaked image of the passing train, which in turn blends neatly with the horizontal lines of the building, the gate and road. That pin light source is repeated atop the gate by the bright red warning lights that dot its length.

This was a novel example of a gate/gateway – expertly composed and timed to perfection. I love it.

There have been many wonderful landscape photographs featuring gates and gateways in this contest. This photograph I thought worked very well on several levels.

Firstly, the balance of foreground, mid-ground and background is very good: the band of neutral sand counterposed by the busier band of grassy dunes, sea and hills, and topped by the brooding cloudfilled sky. It is a lovely landscape scene.

Once again, our subject, the gate, is central and striking. Its darker, harder lines makes it stand out from the softer tones and hues of its surrounds.

The manner of its half-open state, its rudimentary attachment to the post by the bleached rope ties, and the fact that it, and the fence is being overwhelmed by the rising sandunes, is particulalry poignaint. A great subject/scene wonderfully captured.