One photograph shows two cargo-handling structures, a stretch of water and the opposite bank. In another, two pale storage tanks fill most of the frame. Both views belong to the same series on industrial sites, but they answer different questions. Where does this equipment operate, and what does it look like up close?
In the 17 mm photograph, look at the water first. There is enough space on either side of the yellow structures to see where they stand in relation to the quay. The forest and the line of the opposite bank frame the scene. When composing a similar shot, check the bottom edge: even a small section of the quay helps show where the structures rise from.
At 105 mm, the subjects are two storage tanks at the LNG terminal in Świnoujście. Their pale walls reveal the difference between the sunlit and shaded sides. Yellow structures on the roofs help distinguish the two tanks where their outlines overlap. Before releasing the shutter, look at those outlines: is one tank disappearing behind the other?
These are two different subjects. The comparison illustrates a choice of subject, rather than a lens test from a single viewpoint. With the camera in a fixed position, changing the focal length changes the angle of view. To change the way the structures overlap, move the camera as well.
In the 27 mm photograph, the line of the quay separates the water from the storage yard. Beyond it are stockpiles, machinery and buildings. It makes a good opening shot for a series: before you show one piece of equipment, the viewer can see where it operates. Check the edges of the frame. A structure cut off at the edge can distract from the layout of the terminal as a whole.
In the Gdańsk shipyard crane series, start with the skyline, then pick out a single jib. Notice how much of the quay you need in the frame to show the scale of the crane.
A tight crop can make it hard to tell what an installation does. In the fourth photograph, you can see both the structure above the yard and the cones of material piled beneath it. Together they say more about cargo handling than a single steel beam would. When choosing a close view, look for two elements that relate to each other and keep both in the frame.
Start with a wide view in which the shore, the water and the terminal are easy to identify. Then pick out one piece of equipment and something that shows what it does. Finally, look at your selection as thumbnails. If each frame shows something different even at that size, the series will also read well on a website. I took all four photographs with a Canon EOS 6D.
Industrial Sites – explore the full series on ports and cargo-handling installations.
Two other guides can help you plan your next shot: How does camera position change perspective? and How do you lead the eye through a composition?
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