Casselton, ND

The ground crewman by the glider is assisting the glider pilot in readying the glider for launch. Another crew member approaches to help.

I specifically kept the items mentioned in the challenge in mind as I framed the photo in my mind. After several attempts during multiple glider flights, I selected this photo as the best of the group in applying the object points of the challenge.

From the challenge:

• Observe a scene first before lifting your camera to your eye.
• Ask yourself: What is the subject? What will you (not) include in the frame?
• Look for natural lines or frames in the shot to guide the viewer’s eye.
• Try different angles: Get low on the pavement. Look down from above.

Instead of finding myself parallel or in front of the glider, I lined up slightly behind both aircraft to direct the viewer’s eyes into the photo from the left.

The crewman walking toward the glider urges me to look in the direction he is looking, toward the glider.

The crewman by the glider is signaling the tow pilot to move forward. He is looking toward the tow plane, causing me to follow to see what he is looking at.

The low angle of the shot emphasizes the lines cut in the turf at the airport. Those lines draw the viewer to look toward the tow plane and the direction of the impending flight.

The low angle and rule of thirds help to give emphasis to the sky, where the two aircraft will soon find themselves.

John Steiner