Gallery: seeing triangles in black and white (Monochrome Madness)

The laws of Nature are written in the language of mathematics…the symbols are triangles, circles and other geometrical figures, without whose help it is impossible to comprehend a single word.
Galileo Galilei

I find it fun to look for shapes in my photos. Some are obvious, others less so. And each creates a different impact. Circles and curves evoke calmness and harmony. They lead the viewer’s eye naturally around the image. Squares and rectangles suggest stability, order and strength. They can act as natural frames, anchor the composition, or emphasise symmetry.

Triangles however create energy and tension. Their sharp corners don’t so much lead the viewer’s eye, as a curve might do; they direct it. We’re accustomed to looking where triangles point. Signs and arrows usually use triangles, and our eyes naturally follow them.

For this week’s Monochrome Madness I’d like you to search for triangles in your photos, whether from your archives or shot expressly for this challenge. And see if you can mix it up a bit with different orientations, as these can change the impact. For instance, an upwards pointing triangle can suggest stability, ambition, or a higher power (think of the pyramids built by the ancients, pointing towards the sky). A downwards pointing one, on the other hand, feels precarious or aggressive (think of sharp teeth!)

I’m curious to see what you come up with, as always. Pingbacks don’t usually work on my site so if you’d like to join in please leave a comment below with a link to your post so I can check it out. And to find out more about Monochrome Madness have a look at the information on Leanne’s blog.

My feature photo was taken in Cologne, Germany. It, like all those below, was converted from a colour original using Nik Silver Efex Pro. Colour versions of some of them appeared in a post I did some years ago, also about the impact of triangles in photography.