Architecture presents the photographer with an opportunity to practice "seeing" the elements of graphic design: line, shape, form, texture, and pattern. These elements are present throughout nature, too, if you look for them. They are among the most important components of composition, most often supporting the subject, as in this cityscape, though they occasionally serve as primary subjects, in which case the work is considered abstract.

On a trip with National Geographic to circumnavigate the Baltic Sea, we spent some time in Latvia, my favorite of the nine countries we visited. Gazing down this alley in Riga, the quaint capital city, I was impressed by the variety of geometric shapes (count them-there are 10). I had composed the scene and was about to trip the shutter when these two girls walked around the corner. Voila! Such are the ingredients from which photographic magic is made.