Design is everywhere when you start looking! I went ahead and searched my arsenal of photos I’ve taken over the years to find which best spoke to various design features. These are all photos I took great pride in taking, but also ones that I feel best show off core ideas of design.
Balance (Asymmetrical)
The left third carries most of the weight: piling, ladder, and rod are dense verticals. The right side is mostly water/grass—negative space—which counterbalances the left without mirroring it. The diagonals of the railings lead the eye into the frame, then the vertical rod stops it. I thought the rod ironically made a really good divider in the center of the image, in order to truly see the “balance” of the image!
Dominance (Emphasis)
A single dark shape on a light, low-contrast field immediately dominates. The abundance of white/gray space makes the pose feel relaxed, and the long stretch creates a directional line toward the face. Minimal background detail keeps attention directly on Ollie. In general, there’s no second guessing the fact that Ollie is the main subject in this image.
Color (Mood)
This shot rides a limited warm palette of oranges and ambers, which reads as calm/epic. The dark tree silhouettes act as a cool counterweight so the sky stays the story. It’s a good reminder that color alone can swing emotion without changing subject matter!
Rhythm & Proportion
Repetition makes rhythm: rows of rooftops, windows, and the roads. Seeing dozens of near-identical houses also showcases proportion; each unit is small against the overall grid.
Conclusion
This photo hunt proved that design is everywhere. Once I started looking, I could see what grabs attention, what feels balanced, and how color sets the mood. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but rather just clear choices. I’m going to keep that in mind: say what I want the viewer to notice, give it space, and pick colors on purpose.