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Having recently gone triptych mad, it is becoming more apparent that there is more to achieving a pleasant triptych that slapping a few images together, obviously there is the actual content of the images, this is important, however what I interested in is the particular order of teh images and how they can be arranged to compliment the frame.

here are two recent ones, any suggestions for a different order and why?

To be honest, when looking at these, I am not immediately seeing the connection in the 2 triplets.

I can't tell in the second, but does the middle image have the lighthouse that is apparent in the other two?

My opinion, of a Triptych, is that (not necessarily inclusively):

1. The three images are connected
2. The outer images may be supportive of the centre image, and sized accordingly;
3. The three images show a sequence
4. The three images show a common theme

There needs to be a reason for the three images to appear together, and I don't see it in these.

Patrick's comments summarise perfectly my view as well.

Basically, a triptych is like any other tool: use it when there's a purpose behind its use, rather than just because you can.

Let it tell a story for you: three stages of construction of something, or perhaps the same scene at three different times of day. An apple, at three stages of being eaten?

In each of these sets, what's the connection between the three individual images? And if we have to ask for that important factor, then the set is probably not working.

Patrick is 100% correct. The three images have to a flow, a story and not just 3 random pics placed side-by-side

Reschsmooth wrote:To be honest, when looking at these, I am not immediately seeing the connection in the 2 triplets.

gstark wrote:In each of these sets, what's the connection between the three individual images? And if we have to ask for that important factor, then the set is probably not working.

sirhc55 wrote:Patrick is 100% correct. The three images have to a flow, a story and not just 3 random pics placed side-by-side

fair point (s), I guess without a title, ie location (each which is 3 images from a single location) then it may be apparent that they are somewhat unrelated. I see them as related and not random, all seascapes and they all have rocks

gstark wrote:Basically, a triptych is like any other tool: use it when there's a purpose behind its use, rather than just because you can.

and the only way to learn how to use it is by doing so, cheers for teh feedback guys.

sirhc55 wrote:Patrick is 100% correct.

How tiresome it is to hear that!

Reschsmooth wrote:

sirhc55 wrote:Patrick is 100% correct.

How tiresome it is to hear that!

Next time I will fecking give you 5%

sirhc55 wrote:

Reschsmooth wrote:

sirhc55 wrote:Patrick is 100% correct.

How tiresome it is to hear that!

Next time I will fecking give you 5%

Not sure I can be 105% correct, Chris, but thanks.

I would agree that there needs to be some sort of flow or connection between the images.
It is not overly obvious in these sets to me. I did notice that one set was from the same general locale though.
I think these would work much better if you had a left point a centre point and a right point, if that makes sense.
For instance both of these have two left elements and one right element.
Unless it was a bay for instance and then it would be the opposite statement.
I just think that would be better on the eye .and easier to look at.
Very nice images as always too.

These really are great shots.

colin_12 wrote:I think these would work much better if you had a left point a centre point and a right point, if that makes sense.
For instance both of these have two left elements and one right element.

That was what I was thinking of when I saw these. I kept trying to find a way for my eye to flow across them.

Here's what I had in my head:

(usual stuff applies. All your work, if you want this removed just say...)

Of course this meant flipping one shot, so it doesn't really count.

Daniel, sorry to butcher your great shots...

Colin and Daniel, that shit is awesome!

now that you have laid it out like that and flipped the image it really looks heaps better. Thanks for taking the time to edit and post, i owe ya a beer next time i see ya.

That's cool Gerry.
Nice to be able to help you for a change.

Thanks for putting it into pics Daniel.

Wow that reorder + flip is awesome...now who owns the IP for that? Gerry the photographer or Daniel who complied the Triptych?

*start discussion*

Absolute F$%^ing classic Daniel!!

I had a preview of these images (before they were posted here) and had a think but had written off the middle image as being too weak....

DanielA wrote:These really are great shots.

colin_12 wrote:I think these would work much better if you had a left point a centre point and a right point, if that makes sense.
For instance both of these have two left elements and one right element.

That was what I was thinking of when I saw these. I kept trying to find a way for my eye to flow across them.
Here's what I had in my head:

Freaking A! - I know who's laying out my next Triptych

And so, to summarise, yes.

biggerry wrote:Thanks for taking the time to edit and post,

You're welcome. A picture is worth a thousand keypresses.

colin_12 wrote:Thanks for putting it into pics Daniel.

No problem. You wrote exactly what I was thinking.

Thanks everyone for the comments. The images were just right for this to work. Beautiful shots and the edges happened to fit together really well.

Daniel

DanielA wrote:

biggerry wrote:Thanks for taking the time to edit and post,

You're welcome. A picture is worth a thousand keypresses.

colin_12 wrote:Thanks for putting it into pics Daniel.

No problem. You wrote exactly what I was thinking.

Thanks everyone for the comments. The images were just right for this to work. Beautiful shots and the edges happened to fit together really well.

Daniel

again, Daniel, thanks, its been along time since I have had one of those, 'holy shit thats it' kinda moments and this was certainly one of them.

I have reworked the image and used a different RHS image, i have done it to avoid any addition of sky etc, rather just pure croppage to get the positions correct, the LHS still feels a bit too high, so I think I will further refine that in teh next round.

gstark wrote:And so, to summarise, yes.

lol, well yes, buts its the actually getting to the 'more bit' that was revolutionary for me.

Gerry, you need to align the bottom of the hill across all the images. See Daniel's example.

And so to add 5c in... on the whole I don't think that these examples are strong candidates for a Triptych but in the spirit of the intended discussion it is certainly true that the reshuffle and flip makes a considerable contribution.
I guess along with Gary what I'm saying is 'yes'.

There's never any reason not to play around like this as see what results and I've no doubt you'll be looking out for some stronger opportunities now you've done so.

Mj wrote:And so to add 5c in... on the whole I don't think that these examples are strong candidates for a Triptych but in the spirit of the intended discussion it is certainly true that the reshuffle and flip makes a considerable contribution.
I guess along with Gary what I'm saying is 'yes'.

There's never any reason not to play around like this as see what results and I've no doubt you'll be looking out for some stronger opportunities now you've done so.

surenj wrote:Gerry, you need to align the bottom of the hill across all the images. See Daniel's example.

v4, i can't spend any more time on it..well over my 5mins...

To just add a little bit more to this thread, with Gerry's examples, and especially as reworked, we have one very good example of one way in which a triptych can work.

But to further address Gerry's original question (to which I've already answered "yes") the style can often be used to illustrate a story. I have on my living room wall a fine art triptych (signed, numbered print) that I acquired on one of my trips to New Orleans, many years ago. Probably 1995.

I was attracted to this piece of work because of the story it told me.

Y'all know that I love music, that I'm an active musician (let's not define "active" though) and that I love New Orleans; to me the concepts of music and New Orleans are synonymous, (yes, this year's trip for jazzfest is booked) and this triptych sums up, in just three panels, New Orleans.

To start with, there are two smaller images surrounding one larger, central image. The underlying scene is a street corner, early evening, one musician arriving and beginning to set up for a busking session. The second (and primary) image shows the street band in full swing (pun intended). The final image is that of the street corner, early morning, a damp road surface, as the last of the musos struggles to depart.

The strength is in the story, and the story is very well told in just those three simple panels.

Look for stories that you can, our photos can be about people as well as landscapes, and I encourage you all to go out and tell stories with your cameras.

Gary, can you post us a iphone shot perhaps of this masterpiece you talk of?