Photography Composition Using the Elements and Principles of

Photography Composition Using the Elements and Principles of Design

Elements of Art The Basic Building Blocks • • • Line Shape/Form Space Value Texture Color

LINE • A mark made by a moving point. • Has greater length than width. • Directs the eye – horizontal, vertical, diagonal, curvy, zig-zag, etc. • Can be actual obvious lines or the borders or edges of shapes.

LINE

LINE

LINE

SHAPE / FORM • A contained area. • Can be GEOMETRIC (man-made) ex. Square, triangle, circle, etc. • Can be ORGANIC (natural) ex. Leaves, humans, puddles, etc. • Shapes are 2 -Dimensional and flat. (circle) • Forms are 3 -Dimensional with height, width and depth. (sphere) • Used to create a sense of space and substance.

SHAPE / FORM

SHAPE / FORM

SPACE • The area used or unused in a composition. • Positive space (occupied space) – the area the objects/subject takes up. • Negative space (unoccupied space) – the area around, under, through and between. • Gives the photo a 3 -dimensional feeling - Depth of Field • Foreground (closest) bottom • Middle ground – middle • Background (farthest) – top • Can be open, crowded, near, far, etc.

SPACE

SPACE

SPACE • Atmospheric Perspective – Objects close = detailed, bright, sharp – Objects far = blurred, dull/gray • One point perspective – One vanishing point • 2 point perspective – 2 vanishing points

SPACE

SPACE

VALUE • Black and White and all the Grays in between • Dark to Light • Can add drama and impact to composition. • Can give a sense of timelessness • Train your eye to read color as Black and White!

VALUE

VALUE

TEXTURE • The surface quality. • How an object feels, or how it looks like it feels. • Rough, smooth, bumpy, gooey, sharp, etc. • Adds interest! Sense of sight and sense of touch involved.

TEXTURE

TEXTURE

COLOR • • Artistic term is HUE Need light to see color. Primary, Secondary, Intermediates. Use color schemes to enhance appeal or make impact.

COLOR

COLOR

COLOR

Principles of Design The different arrangements – or compositions - of the ELEMENTS of design to create artistic, interesting, more visually powerful photographs.

Principles of Design • • Emphasis / Focal Point Balance Unity Contrast Movement/ Rhythm Pattern/Repetition Economy

EMPHASIS / FOCAL POINT • Emphasis in a composition refers to developing points of interest to pull the viewer's eye to important parts of the body of the work. • Size, shape, color, placement, contrast, etc.

EMPHASIS / FOCAL POINT

EMPHASIS / FOCAL POINT

VARIETY • Variety is all of the different elements in the photograph • Variety adds interest to the work and keeps the viewer’s eyes moving around the piece

VARIETY

VARITEY

BALANCE • Balance is a sense of stability in the body of work. Balance can be created by repeating same shapes and by creating a feeling of equal weight. • Symmetrical • Asymmetrical

BALANCE

BALANCE

BALANCE

BALANCE

UNITY • Unity is seen in a composition when all the parts equal a whole.

UNITY

CONTRAST • Contrast refers to the opposites and differences in the work. • You can achieve variety by using different elements in your work, such as: – Shapes – Textures – Colors – Values

CONTRAST

CONTRAST

MOVEMENT / RHYTHM • Movement adds excitement to your work by showing action and directing the viewers eye throughout the picture plane. • Rhythm is a type of movement in an artistic composition. It is seen in repeating of shapes and colors. Alternating lights and darks also give a sense of rhythm.

MOVEMENT / RHYTHM

PATTERN / REPETITION • An element that occurs over and over again in a composition. • Can repeat the element in a consistent pattern. • Can repeat the element in a variation of the pattern.

PATTERN / REPETITION

PATTERN / REPETITION

ECONOMY • Economy takes into account that less is more. • Using minimal ingredients to convey the concept.

ECONOMY

Photography Compositional Concepts Rule of Thirds Vantage Point Framing Silhouette Dutch Angle

RULE OF THIRDS • Natural tendency to be drawn to certain portions of an artwork/composition • Adds a great deal of interest when placed: – At the 4 intersecting points – One section of the Thirds • Oppose the direction a figure is facing

VANTAGE POINT • Gives your photograph a unique/more interesting view • Drastically different than the usual 5 -6 feet off the ground • Bird’s eye view • Worm’s eye view • Direct approach • Angled approach • Close up • Long view

FRAMING – Direct the viewers attention to the primary subject – Creates the illusion of depth – Can obscure unwanted objects in foreground/background – Can be naturally occurring – Tight framing – Wide framing – Using an object as a frame

SILHOUETTE • Conveys drama, mood, mystery • Simplifies a busy composition • Place your subject(s) in front of an interesting light source

DUTCH ANGLE • • Horizon line is angled Creates a more dynamic composition Creates feeling of disorientation Canted, Oblique, German, or Batman angle

Elements and Principles of Photography Assignment • The Elements and Principles are used in making photographs – not just taking photographs. • You have to know and understand the elements and principles of art to see them all around you and capture them in your photos. • You are tasked to find 1 WEB example of each element, principle and concept used in photography • Save to your Google Drive

Elements and Principles of Photography Assignment • Create a folder in your DM folder named: Elements & Principles • In the Photography folder, create another folder named: Web Images • Find 1 WEB example of each element, principle and photography concept • Save each image to the Web Images folder in Google Drive • Use the naming convention: 01_concept_artist. jpg ex. 01_line_worthington. jpg

Photography Elements, Principles & Concepts Elements Principles Concepts 01_Line 02_Shape or Form 03_Space 04_Value 05_Texture 06_Color 07_Emphasis 08_Balance 09_Unity 10_Contrast 11_Movement or Rhythm 12_Pattern or Repetition 13_Economy 14_Rule of Thirds 15_Vantage Point birds eye, worms eye, direct 16_Vantage Point angles, close up, long view 17_Framing 18_Silhouette 19_Dutch Angle