In this photo that features a staircase, Albert Renger-Patzsch might have been interested in capturing:

-The railings of the staircase

-The shape of the steps

-The shape the composition of the photo gives to the walls of the stairwell

If I were the photographer, I would name this photo Staircases, because first of all the photo is untitled so I can name it as what is in the photo and it would be different, but perhaps the name Spiral Staircases would be suitable for this photo because this indeed is a photo of the spiral staircase, but the word spiral gives the photo a sense of pattern and lines.

The use of formal elements:

• Lines

The thin, straight lines between the railing and the ground show vertical energy and movement. The railing on top of it, is a curved line that is the main focus of the photo. It guides the viewer’s eyes in the direction of whether the staircase is going up or coming down.

• Shapes

The triangular shapes of the steps of the staircase shown in the photo, as well as the walls shown, are all the photographer’s interactions with lines in this photo.

• Patterns

In addition to showing vertical energy and movement, the straight lines below the railing of the staircase are a recurring flow of patterns whether in the lower half of the photo or in the top of the photo.