Photography Composition using the Elements and Principles of Art

Elements of Design The basic building blocks of art Line Texture Shape and Form Space - positive/negative relationships Color Value

Lines A mark made by a moving point. Has greater length than width. Directs the eye – horizontal, vertical, diagonal, curvilinear, zig-zag, etc. Can be actual obvious lines or the borders or edges of shapes. Implied line- Line that is implied but not visible

Lines Geometric lines

Geometric Lines

Curvilinear Line

Organic line Ted Szukalski

Leading Line leading you into the composition

Perspective lines

Line on an edge of an object or shape

Implied Line

Assignment Line in Photography Take a series of photographs in which Line is the dominating element in the photograph Take a minimum of 30 photographs showing. Take photographs showing geometric lines Take photographs showing curvilinear lines Take photographs showing organic lines Take another 30 photographs. Take photos line on the edge of a shape Take photographs showing leading lines Take photographs showing perspective lines Take photographs showing implied lines

Texture (use macro lens) The surface quality. How an object feels, or how it looks like it feels. Can be rough, smooth, bumpy, gooey, sharp, etc. Find a few photographs of each type of texture for your PowerPoint! Adds interest! Sense of sight and sense of touch involved.

Assignment Take 10 photos of texture show at least three different types of texture. Rough, bumpy, smooth, weathered, etc. (hint, use macro lens) Take 10 photos showing shape. (2-Dimensional) Take 10 photos showing form. (3-Dimensional)

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.

Cali Heffernan

Shape/Form

Shape

Julie Magers Soulen Packard Form

Emilio Grossi Form

Grossi Shape and form

Space. Positive and Negative Space The area used or unused in a composition. Positive space – the area the objects/subject takes up. Negative space – the area around, under, through and between. Foreground (closest), Middle ground, and Background (farthest). Gives the photo a 3-dimensional feeling. (Depth) Think about near, middle, far

Positive and Negative Space

Space foreground, middleground, background

Take a series (10-15) of photographs that clearly show foreground, middleground and background. Think near, middle, far. Make sure you have one object that is very close to you “in focus”. Use focus lock focus on the object and then recompose the composition. Take a second series (10-15) of photographs that show an interesting relationship between positive and negative 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!

Walker Evans View of Easton Pa.

Ansel Adams

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

Complimentary Colors are opposite on the color wheel and have higher contrast.

High contrast colors

Complimentary Colors Photo taken with a very fast shutter speed to “freeze” the action.

Red & Green

Yellow & Purple

Orange & Blue

Harmonious Colors are close to each other on the color wheel and thus have less contrast.

Harmonious Colors

Krog Street Tunnel Atlanta, GA