When breaking all the rules works

We recently bought a couple of photographic prints by Cambridge professional photographer Richard Heeps. We thought they were striking, dramatic and subtley beautiful. Full of atmosphere and drama.

One of them is below, called Towards Rock Hill, Salton Sea, California 2003.

This one breaks many rules, yet works.

• The horizon is in the middle of the picture
• Shooting into the sun
• Massive blown-out sun reflection on the water
• Tree in near central position
• Underexposed

Any more you can think of? Point is, it works. It works really well (the actual print is stunning; much better than this low-res jpeg). Why? Does it work for you?

I think it is very simple, and the central placing of the sea and tree and sun just draws the eye to the amazing sun and tree silhouette, and the sun reflection does also. The underexposure mimicks what your eyes do when you stare into the sun, and there's just enough distant interest to hold your eye.

Brilliant stuff.

Ivan