Guiding the viewer

I make compositional choices to guide the viewer to the warrior first. I push the values on the dragon’s head into a darker, less-detailed range, making it a simpler shape. The darker shape of the wing behind the dragon’s head helps keep it from becoming too important. One of the lightest points in the image is directly behind the rider, which helps silhouette him. He’s in a prime compositional spot at the top of the picture.