While exploring Zurich’s old town, I was immediately drawn to the Münsterbrücke, a bridge over the Limmat featuring two historic churches on either side. The first church I documented was the Fraumünster, seen here.
The Fraumünster has existed for a thousand years, and while the various structures have been expanded and upgraded over time, the last significant change happened in 1898.
I snapped the first picture as I walked along the river, and then, as you can tell, I snapped a couple more as I continued toward the structure. Shifts in location have a noticeable impact on the composition.
All three pictures had focal lengths ranging from 33mm to 37mm, equivalents. I perspective-corrected each image to minimize the leaning-back effect you get when you tilt the camera upward.
In the first photo, the bridge is clearly visible but seems tangential. In this second picture, the Münsterbrücke becomes an integral part of the image, and the bridge draws the viewer to the church.
In this third picture, the bridge disappears, appearing like a road that acts as a leading line to the Fraumünster.
I didn’t take these three pictures for a lesson on framing, but it shows how I approach a subject. I often shoot from different angles that can significantly alter a mood. There isn’t one correct composition; it depends on the story you want to tell.
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