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

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.

Find 1 example of each element and principle used in photography Save to your Google Drive in a folder named Elements and Principles

• Elements and Principles of Photography Assignment Create a 2 pg MAX Google doc, with a collection of photograph thumbnails that exemplify the elements, principles and concepts of photography.

– File Name: concepts_LastName – – Save in your Mod#_DM_LastName Name: Top Left folder on Google Drive – – – Thumbnails: 1 ½ ” – 2 ” Label each with the concept UNDER the thumbnail 19 total: • Elements: Line, Shape/Form, Space, Value, Texture, Color • Principles: Emphasis, Balance, Unity, Contrast , Movement/ Rhythm, Pattern/Repetition, Economy • Concepts: Rule of Thirds, Vantage Point (2), Framing, Silhouette, Dutch Angle

Elements and Principles of Photography Assignment

• • • •

Art Concept Peer Lesson

Research and figure out what your word has to do with PHOTOGRAPHY (start on the Resources page of my website and please ask me if you need help or clarification!) Google Presentation saved as Mod#_LastNames_Concept (ex. Mod1_SmithVallecorsa_Line) At least 10 slides: – 1. Title Slide – – – 2. Explain the concept that was given to you in your own words .

3-6. Show us some examples of the concept in action in photography —each photo on a separate slide (for this presentation, using photographs from the Internet is acceptable because it ’ s for educational purposes.) Be sure your images are large and clear.

7-8. Each group member includes one original photo each exemplifying the concept.

– – 9. Give us some ideas on how WE can use the concept you researched to make our own compelling photographs.

10. Bibliography (cross-reference your information, at least 3) You will show the class your presentations and teach them your concept starting on Friday.

Art Concept Peer Lesson

1 Elements Line 2 3 4 5 6 Shape/Form Space Value Texture Color 7 Principles Emphasis 8 9 10 11 Balance Unity Contrast Movement/ Rhythm 12 Pattern/Repetition 13 Economy Concepts 14 Rule of Thirds 15 Vantage Point 16 birds eye, worms eye, direct Vantage Point 17 18 19 angles, close up, long view Framing Silhouette Dutch Angle