Principles of Composition Balance Unity Variety Rhythm MovementPattern

Principles of Composition Balance Unity Variety Rhythm/ Movement/Pattern Emphasis Proportion Power-point by: Bria Johnson

What Exactly is Composition? � Composition is the arrangement & relationship of the elements of arts & principles of art in an image.

REMEMBER! � Elements are the building blocks of composition. � Principles are the plans/ideas for arranging the elements.

Principle #1: Balance/Rule of Thirds � Balance refers to the ways in which the elements (lines, shapes, colors, textures, etc. ) of a photo are arranged, � Rule of thirds: photos are divided into thirds with two imaginary lines vertically and two lines horizontally making nine sections in the image.

Examples of Balance in a Photo Garry Winogrand 1950 s (shows rule of thirds) Lothar Wolleh Guard Stockholm, 1965

Principle #2: Unity � when all of the elements in a photo combine to make a balanced, harmonious, complete whole.

Examples of Unity In a Photo Margaret Bourke-White Bread Line during the Louisville flood, Kentucky 1937 Margaret Bourke-White Diversion Tunnels, Fort Peck Dam 1936

Principle #3: Variety �a way of combining elements in involved ways to achieve detailed and complex relationships.

Examples of Variety in a Photo Irving Penn After-dinner Games New York, 1947 Irving Penn Salad Ingredients New York, 1947

Principle #4: Repetition/ Pattern Repeating visual elements such as line, color, shape, texture, value or image tends to unify the total effect of a work of art as well as create rhythm.

Examples of Repetition/Pattern in a Photo Tina Modotti Campesinos 1926 Margaret Bourke-White Fort Peck Dam 1936

Principle #5: Emphasis � Highlighting/focusing on some aspect of a scene, subject, or object in a photo.

Examples of Emphasis in a Photo Josef Koudelka Czechoslovakia 1968 John Gutmann Strange Visitors 1934

Principle #5: Proportion � refers to the relative size and scale of the various elements in photo. The issue is the relationship between objects, or parts, of a photo.

Examples of Proportion in a Photo Tina Modotti Woman with olla 1926 Eugene Atget Versailles 1905

Principle #6 Contrast � Contrast is the difference between the lights and darks of an image. The greater the difference between lights and darks, the higher the contrast.

Examples of Contrast in a photo William Klein Candy Store, Amsterdam Avenue New York 1954 -55 William Klein Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Broadway 1954 -55

These are the Principles of Composition