This is my submission for Brenda’s A Photo Study: Tempo.
I knew it! Tempo follows rhythm — it’s logical, but I was hoping it wouldn’t happen this way. 😉
This time, I couldn’t even get helps from google. The word “Tempo” is often used to describe “Rhythm”. For example, in Elements of Art, Rhythm is describes as “A principle of design that indicates movement, created by the careful placement of repeated elements in a work of art to cause a visual tempo or beat.” Doesn’t it sound like if a photo has rhythm, it has tempo, too?
And, in Ted Forbes’ Tempo in Visual Composition and Photography video, he does use several photos he showed in his Rhythm video as tempo examples.
These rhythm and tempo exercises remind me of my golf lesson. After listening to my instructor for a while and watching him demonstrating how to hit a ball several times, I was still not able to hit the ball correctly. Both of us were frustrated. I finally said, “Numbers! Can’t you give me some numbers?”
“What numbers?” he said.
“How much do I bend my upper body? 25 degrees? 30? How far do I turn my body? 45 degrees? Numbers like that! I need numbers!”
Well, after he managed to come up with some numbers, I was doing much better. 😉
Hmm… maybe there are numbers that go with rhythm and tempo, too… Before figuring it out what numbers I need, I guess I just have to wing it. (By the way, I enjoy Brenda’s photos a lot. I think she knows this subject well.)
Thanks for visiting my blog.
HHC Blog 
As I read the list in Elements of Art, it seems that movement and harmony may also be a part of tempo and rhythm. I think this is like learning and speaking a native language…we learn to speak informally through our intereactions with others without breaking everything down into pieces of grammar, spelling, or sentence structure. Me, I just go with the flow of speech in everyday communications…if it sounds right, it must be right. 🧐 I am sure those who study language have refined even more elements of speech composition. 🤓
Interesting and unique use of trees…the second is my favorite. The slow movement of the tree branches adds to the repeating patterns of branches…isolated…highlighted with the golden glow of promised spring in the barren horizon of snow. I think there is a perfect piece of music to accompany this moment in time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brenda, what you said makes a lot of sense to me. I think it is a little too much break down for me, but I believe the information will be useful some day, even though at this moment I am not totally getting it. 😉
Thanks again. Have a great day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was very interesting to read that you needed numbers to help you get the swing and hang of golf. It reminds me of my piano lessons when I was younger. The teacher kept stressing to count to the beat, even count out loud so I could get the rhythm right. That actually didn’t work for me and I didn’t get very far with playing piano – and found that without much direction but naturally observing and getting into it, I felt so much more comfortable. I suppose you have a more methodological approach to what you do. As much as I am very much a planner, I also like to feel my way around when doing something.
Beautiful shots as usual. Very creative 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Mabel. Numbers sometime help a lot. There are just too many parts to pay attention to in a golf swing (for me): the head, the body, the arm, legs… And it goes so fast that I have a hard time to see any clearly 😉 We tried slow motion… everything I could think of. Toward the end, it seemed like I had only one option left 😉
And I do count beats out loud when I play piano (I just bought an adult beginner book 😉
Have a great day.
LikeLike
Sounds like analytical does work well for you, and glad you worked it out 🙂 Hope you learn new tricks for both golf and piano. On the way to becoming a pro 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such cool pictures Helen. Great job.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Rupali. Too little time… ;-(
Have a great day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have a good Sunday Helen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re a numbers gal, are you? 🙂 I think I use many words as replacement words, so they all seem the same to me. You did great, Helen. I especially love the first photo. I can feel the steady beat of the rain hitting those branches.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Lois. Descriptions cane be subjective, can’t they? I remember a story goes like this… a hunter goes to a wooded area to hunt. he met an animal (I forgot what) and they had a talk. The animal made the hunter promised that he wouldn’t killed his baby. The hunter asked “how do I know which one is your kid?’ The animal said, “Oh, that’s easy. he is the cutest! Bla bla bla…” You probably have heard this story… anyway, the hunter promised and he saw a not-so-cute animal and killed it. Yes, that was described to be the cutest one.
See, if the mother described her baby as “eyes are one inch apart and 3 inches wide… nose is 4 inches long…” The hunter would have a better idea. I rest my case. Numbers are useful!
Have a great day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This one is way too challenging for me. I admire your effort and the results, beautifully done, Helen.
i love the first two especially.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Amy. This one is not easy for me. I thought about skipping it 😉 but since I don’t have other project going on, I decided to try my best.
Tress attract me a lot. 😉
Have a great day.
LikeLike
Lovely interpretation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sally. Wish I could be as focus as you are. I am still working on that. 😉
Have a great day.
LikeLike
It’s an ongoing effort with rewards along the journey.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great pictures Helen!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Paulo. One week is a little short for me. It seems like I need one week to understand the topic and another week to shoot 😉
Have a great day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
nice shots but it looks cold.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jim. Today is 40+ 😉 Yeah! Just in time for Saint Patrick’s Day. Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! Warm days are coming! I hope.
LikeLike
Beautiful photos! I love the tree and the effect.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for visiting and commenting. I love trees. Almost every tree I see, I want to take a photo of it 😉
Have a great day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When you asked for “numbers” from your golf instructor, I laughed. I could almost see the facial expression from your instructor. ^^
it is so intreasting that people have different ideas about numbers! It will be difficult to a musician to describle a number… but it works, I have to say!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lady Oscar. The more I think about this… maybe it is a huge jump from music to photo for me; if I add “dance” in between, from music to dance to photo, it seems easier for me 😉
Have a great day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
that makes perfect sense. music – dance/action – photo! Then, both rhythm and tempo are included. What a great idea. ^^
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very creative and beautiful pictures!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for stopping by and comment. Have a wonderful day.
LikeLiked by 1 person