1. PHOTOGRAPHY 101 UNDERSTAND THE ELEMENTS OF ART: Line
CVH - MS. COPELAND
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of commercial photography in relation to seeing photographically, operating cameras, use of light, image capture, and processing digital images. Students will also learn the history of photography, legal and ethical issues related to the industry. Career exploration is also a part of this course.

2. CONTENT STANDARD 5.0 UNDERSTAND THE ELEMENTS OF ART AND PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN AND COMPOSITION
Performance Standard 5.1: Identify and Apply the Elements of Art
Pacing Guide: S1 Unit 7 - Elements of Digital Photographic Design
7A: Teach students to identify, record and use art elements. Students to explore, analyze, and talk about what they see in the physical world and how to describe their own digital art creations.
Objective: Identify and use the art element Line. Explore, analyze, and talk about how they appear in the physical world and describe their use in your own digital art creations.

3. Performance Standard 5.1: Identify and Apply the Elements of Art
CONTENT STANDARD 5.0 UNDERSTAND THE ELEMENTS OF ART AND PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN AND COMPOSITION
OBJECTIVES
Performance Standard 5.1: Identify and Apply the Elements of Art
Identify, record and use the art element Line.
Explore, analyze, and talk about how they appear in the physical world and describe their use in your own digital art creations.

4. Vocabulary Assignment (24 pts) Elements of Art
In your own words, define each of the eight terms below and find a photographic* example of each.
*Photographic – an image taken by a camera.
Your completed assignment should have the term, its definition and a photograph (not a drawing or graphic design) depicting its use.
Line
Shape
Form
Value
Space
Perspective
Texture
Color

5. Performance Standard 5.1: Identify and Apply the Elements of Art
What are the Elements of Art?
The Elements of Art are fundamental ideas about the practice of good visual design.
An element of art is simply a component, like a tool, that the artist uses to accomplish what he/she sets out to create.
The parts that provide structure to a piece include:
Line
Shape
Form
Value
Space
Perspective
Texture
Color

6. Understanding LINE is one of the primary requirements of photography.
Performance Standard 5.1:
Identify and Apply the Elements of Art
Understanding LINE is one of the primary requirements of photography.

7. Performance Standard 5.1: Identify and Apply the Elements of Art
A line is a one-dimensional series of points. A mark on a surface that describes a shape or outline.
Line can function as an edge or a border to group objects together or divide them apart.
Line may also suggest moods and rhythm.

8. Performance Standard 5.1: Identify and Apply the Elements of Art
Line may also suggest moods and rhythm:
Straight lines tend to make an image appear rigid or immobile.

9. Performance Standard 5.1: Identify and Apply the Elements of Art
Line may also suggest moods and rhythm:
Lines that converge (that are closer together at one end than at the other) or that shoot off toward the corners of the frame tend to suggest motion.

10. Performance Standard 5.1: Identify and Apply the Elements of Art
Line may also suggest moods and rhythm:
Curved lines and circles are more inviting, calm and soothing. Curves also tend to suggest movement that is more like dance.

11. Performance Standard 5.1: Identify and Apply the Elements of Art
Line may also suggest moods and rhythm:
Zig-zags seem busy, conveying excitement or confusion.

12. Performance Standard 5.1: Identify and Apply the Elements of Art
Line may also suggest moods and rhythm:
Thin ones seem delicate.

13. Performance Standard 5.1: Identify and Apply the Elements of Art
The most basic element of art, line gives the eye explicit directions about where to look.
All of the possibilities of line boil down to three basic functions: pattern, direction and structure.
How do your eyes react to this highly linear shot? Can you feel your eyes moving as you look at it?

14. Performance Standard 5.1: Identify and Apply the Elements of Art
Pattern
As pattern, line is often a photograph's primary element. The lines themselves interact in some interesting way that is more important than any other element within the frame. A photograph of buildings or cornfields or blades of grass is likely to emphasize pattern.

15. Performance Standard 5.1: Identify and Apply the Elements of Art
As direction, line helps the viewer's eye travel around the picture. Visually, the lines say, "Go here. Look at that. Stop. Move on." A photograph with many different kinds of objects especially needs strong directions to help the viewer understand it. Without directing lines, the overall image can simply seem like chaos (which, sometimes is the photographer's intention).
Direction
What "instructions" do these lines give to your eye? How does your eye move around the photograph? Where, if anywhere, does your eye come to rest?

16. Performance Standard 5.1: Identify and Apply the Elements of Art
Structure
As structure, line divides a photograph into smaller areas, providing a skeleton to support the other elements and link them together. A strongly structured photograph will often seem to be several photographs in one.

17. Performance Standard 5.1: Identify and Apply the Elements of Art
Lines can increase or decrease the apparent depth image.
If you shoot a flat surface from an angle, the lines in it will be closest together at the point where the subject is furthest away from you. This creates the illusion of three dimensional space, or depth.
If you shoot a flat surface straight on, so the lines remain parallel, you reinforce the impression of flatness.
You can make a round object appear flat by shooting it straight on, at its exact center, and using a small aperture. Any lines that would normally indicate its roundness will appear straight and flat.
This appearance will be strengthened by the extreme depth of field (almost everything in focus) provided by the small aperture.

18. Performance Standard 5.1: Identify and Apply the Elements of Art
General Characteristics of Line:
WIDTH
Thick
Thin
Tapering
Long
LENGTH
Short
Continuous
Broken

19. Performance Standard 5.1: Identify and Apply the Elements of Art
General Characteristics of Line:
Horizontal Vertical Diagonal Curvilinear Perpendicular Parallel Zigzag
DIRECTION

20. Performance Standard 5.1: Identify and Apply the Elements of Art
The key point is that lines are expressive tools. As a photographer, you'll need to learn to use them effectively.
It may seem odd to think of photography as a language. But that's exactly what it is. Both a sentence and a photograph ought to have a subject. And just as a sentence may have verbs, adverbs, objectives and prepositions, a photograph may have movement, mood, perspective and relation.
Understanding line is the first step toward learning to express yourself in the photographic language.

21. ASSIGNMENT PART 1: PATTERNS USING LINE ASSIGNMENT PART 2: PHOTOSHOP - SHARPEN YOUR IMAGE
SHOOT IN MANUEL MODE!
At this point you should understand enough about aperture, shutter speed and ISO to know how they effect your pictures. If you find yourself having trouble, review these topics in your notes.
SET THE LENS TO AF (Auto-focus)
ASSIGNMENT OBJECTIVE: Find and shoot line patterns.
Any series of lines creates a pattern.
Look all around you: above your head, down at the ground, left, right, straight ahead.

22. ASSIGNMENT PART 1 : PATTERNS USING LINE
Try to find subjects that are primarily patterns, not just ones that have some pattern in them.
As much as possible, have the pattern fill the frame of the photograph. Try to have nothing in the photograph except pattern.
Remember to shoot in open sunlight if possible.
ASSIGNMENT PART 2:
As a photographer, there are many important Photoshop skills that you should know. One is how to sharpen your image. Sharpening is used to provide finer detail to your photo.

23. ASSIGNMENT PART 2: PHOTOSHOP SHARPEN YOUR IMAGE
Assignment Objective: Adjust the photo until all items are clear but not oversaturated.
Open your Pattern Using Line image from Photoshop.
Duplicate the layer with your original photo and lock the original layer.
Select the copy layer.
From the Filter dropdown menu of the Menu bar, select Sharpen and examine each setting to see how it effects your picture:
(NOTE: Use CTRL-Z to undo each time you apply a different setting. This way
you will only see what the setting will do to the original image.)
Sharpen
Sharpen Edges
Sharpen More
Smart Sharpen – Confirm the Preview box is checked. Adjust each of the settings to see their effect.
Unsharp Mask - Confirm the Preview box is checked. Adjust each of the settings to see their effect.

24. ASSIGNMENT PART 2: PHOTOSHOP SHARPEN YOUR IMAGE
Once you’ve achieved a setting that you like, export the image at a 300 ppi JPEG.
Photoshop: Select Image > Image Size. Set the Resolution to 300 ppi. Click OK.
Select File > Save As. Choose JPEG as the Format. Pay attention to where you
save your file.
PRESENTATION:
Create a slide with the original picture and the sharpened picture side be side to present to the class.
Be prepared to discuss / explain how Line is used to create Pattern in your photograph.
Explain your camera settings and why you used them:
Which aperture did you use and why? Which shutter speed, ISO and why?
EXTRA CREDIT:
Discuss how some of the other qualities of line: direction, structure, width, length, are exemplified in your photograph.

25. ELEMENTS OF ART: LINE REVIEW
The most basic element of art, Line gives the eye explicit directions about where to look.
It is a mark on a surface that describes a shape, outline or border to group objects or divide them.
Line may also suggest moods and rhythm.
The three basic functions of Line use are pattern, direction and structure.
The Four (4) Characteristics of Line are:
Width – thick, thin, tapered
Length – long, short, continuous, broken
Direction – horizontal, vertical, diagonal, curvilinear, perpendicular, parallel and zigzag
Texture – jagged, graceful

26. PHOTOSHOP: SHARPEN REVIEW
Sharpening is used to provide finer detail to your photo.
Photoshop has five settings for sharpening:
Sharpen
Sharpen Edges
Sharpen More
Smart Sharpen
Unsharp Mask