A radiating composition is built on lines that spread outwards from a single point, like the spokes of a wheel or the rays of a star. The eye is drawn to the point where the lines meet, which makes it a strong place for the subject. The lines also give the frame a sense of energy and expansion. The lines can be real, such as beams of light, roads or architectural ribs, or implied by the shape of the subject itself.

Double Splashdown

by Andrew Collins

All the lines meet at one point where the pelican touches the water. The upstretched wings form one pair of diagonals, and their reflection continues those diagonals below the waterline. The vertical line runs from the head down through its reflected head, and the waterline forms the horizontal. The bird and its reflection create the whole star shape, so the eye is always drawn back to the moment of landing at its centre.