1. Visual Literacy Concepts
Composition, Tone and Light

2. Make the photograph interesting
Composition
Balance
Subject Placement
Pattern
Tone
Light
Direction
Quality
Composition

3. Composition is the arrangement of items in an image
where the subject is, in relation to the borders of the image
the key to successful images

4. Composition is Balance Balance Subject Placement Pattern Symmetry
Asymmetry
Subject Placement
Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds
Pattern
Radial Design
Repetition
Balance

5. Make the photograph interesting
Be Sure to Balance
Symmetrical
Asymmetrical

6. Balance
Equal weight on the left & right sides of the image

7. Balance Symmetry Asymmetry
Both sides of an imaginary central line are the same (like a mirror image)
Asymmetry
Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same

8. Symmetry
Both sides of an imaginary central line are the same (like a mirror image)
Karl Blossfeldt

9. Asymmetry Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same
Karl Blossfeldt

10. Symmetry
Both sides of an imaginary central line are the same (like a mirror image)
Diane Arbus

11. Asymmetry Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same
Diane Arbus

12. Symmetry
Both sides of an imaginary central line are the same (like a mirror image)
Walker Evans

13. Asymmetry Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same
Walker Evans

14. Which? Symmetry or Asymmetry?
Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same
Ansel Adams

15. Which? Symmetry or Asymmetry?
Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same
Bill Brandt

16. Which? Symmetry or Asymmetry?
Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same
Jerry Uelsmann

17. If a photograph has an asymmetrical composition, is it balanced?
????? Question ?????
If a photograph has an asymmetrical composition, is it balanced?
????? Answer ?????
YES!

18. Balance
Equal weight on the left & right sides of the image

19. Balance Symmetry Asymmetry
Both sides of an imaginary central line are the same (like a mirror image)
Asymmetry
Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same

20. Balance Symmetry Asymmetry
Both sides of an imaginary central line are the same (like a mirror image)
Asymmetry
Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same

21. Balance Symmetry Asymmetry
Both sides of an imaginary central line are the same (like a mirror image)
Asymmetry
Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same

22. Is a photograph of a human face always symmetrically balanced?
????? Question ?????
Is a photograph of a human face always symmetrically balanced?
????? Answer ?????
NO!

23. Is a photograph of a human face always symmetrically balanced?
This photo IS symmetrical (basically)
Will Smith
William Bailey

24. This photo is NOT symmetrical
Is a photograph of a human face always symmetrically balanced?
This photo is NOT symmetrical
Leonard DiCaprio 1994 Greg Gorman

25. This photo IS symmetrical
Is a photograph of a human face
always symmetrically balanced?
This photo IS symmetrical
Gloria Swanson
Edward Steichen

26. This photo is NOT symmetrical
Is a photograph of a human face
always symmetrically balanced?
This photo is NOT symmetrical
Michael Jackson
Greg Gorman

27. Balance Symmetry Asymmetry
Both sides of an imaginary central line are the same (like a mirror image)
Asymmetry
Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same

28. Composition is Balance Subject Placement Subject Placement Pattern
Symmetry
Asymmetry
Subject Placement
Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds
Pattern
Radial Design
Repetition
Subject Placement

29. Make the photograph interesting
Draw Attention to Your Subject
Leading Lines
Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds

30. Draw Attention to Your Subject
Leading Lines
Lines that lead in a path to the subject
Ansel Adams

31. Leading Lines
Lines that lead in a path to the subject
Lewis Hine

32. Leading Lines
Lines that lead in a path to the subject
Dorothea Lange

33. Make the photograph interesting
Draw Attention to Your Subject
Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds
Framing

34. Draw attention to the subject
Framing
Objects within the borders of the image frame the subject
Arnold Newman

35. Framing Objects within the borders of the image frame the subject
Manuel Alvarez-Bravo

36. Framing Objects within the borders of the image frame the subject
Anne Geddes

37. Make the photograph interesting
Draw Attention to Your Subject
Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds
Rule of Thirds

38. Rule of Thirds
Place the subject in ONE junction of an imaginary “tic-tac-toe” grid over the image.

39. Rule of Thirds
Place the subject in ONE junction of an imaginary “tic-tac-toe” grid over the image.
Dorothea Lange

40. Rule of Thirds
Place the subject in ONE junction of an imaginary “tic-tac-toe” grid over the image.
Imogen Cunningham

41. Rule of Thirds
Place the subject in ONE junction of an imaginary “tic-tac-toe” grid over the image.
Steve Ludlum

42. Composition is Balance Subject Placement Pattern Pattern Symmetry
Asymmetry
Subject Placement
Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds
Pattern
Radial Design
Repetition
Pattern

43. Make the photograph interesting
Look for patterns
Radial Design
Repetition
Radial Design

44. Radial Design
Objects, shapes, lines and/or colors radiate out from a central point in a circular pattern.
Yuri Bond

45. Radial Design
Objects, shapes, lines and/or colors radiate out from a central point in a circular pattern.
Yuri Bond

46. Make the photograph interesting
Look for patterns
Radial Design
Repetition
Repetition

47. Repetition
Same shape, line, pattern, and/or color is repeated throughout the image.
Harry Callahan

48. Repetition
Same shape, line, pattern, and/or color is repeated throughout the image.
Margaret Bourke-White

49. Elements of Composition
Draw Attention to Your Subject
Convey a Clear Message
Make Your Photograph Interesting

50. Elements of Composition
Balance
Symmetry
Asymmetry
Subject Placement
Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds
Pattern
Radial Design
Repetition

51. Name that Composition! Symmetry Asymmetry Leading Lines Framing
Rule of Thirds
Radial Design
Repetition
Nelson Mandela
Howard Bingham

52. Name that Composition! Symmetry Asymmetry Leading Lines Framing
Rule of Thirds
Radial Design
Repetition
NYC Skyscrapers
Berenice Abbott

53. Name that Composition! Symmetry Asymmetry Leading Lines Framing
Rule of Thirds
Radial Design
Repetition
Pablo Picasso
Arnold Newman

54. Name that Composition! Symmetry Asymmetry Leading Lines Framing
Rule of Thirds
Radial Design
Repetition
Eisenhower
Arnold Newman

55. Name that Composition! Symmetry Asymmetry Leading Lines Framing
Rule of Thirds
Radial Design
Repetition
Booty Dog
Elliott Erwitt

56. Elements of Composition
Balance
Symmetry
Asymmetry
Subject Placement
Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds
Pattern
Radial Design
Repetition

57. Visual Literacy Concepts
Composition, Tone and Light