1. Photography Composition
Using the Elements and Principles of Design

2. Elements of Art The Basic Building Blocks
Line
Shape/Form
Space
Value
Texture
Color

3. 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.

4. LINE

5. LINE

6. LINE

7. 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.

8. SHAPE / FORM

9. SHAPE / FORM

10. 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.

11. SPACE

12. SPACE

13. SPACE Atmospheric Perspective One point perspective
Objects close = detailed, bright, sharp
Objects far = blurred, dull/gray
One point perspective
One vanishing point
2 point perspective
2 vanishing points

14. SPACE

15. 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!

16. VALUE

17. VALUE

18. 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.

19. TEXTURE

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

21. COLOR

22. COLOR

23. COLOR

24. Principles of Design
The different arrangements – or compositions - of the ELEMENTS of design to create artistic, interesting, more visually powerful photographs.

25. Principles of Design Emphasis / Focal Point Balance Unity Contrast
Movement/ Rhythm
Pattern/Repetition
Economy

26. 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.

27. EMPHASIS / FOCAL POINT

28. EMPHASIS / FOCAL POINT

29. 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

30. VARIETY

31. VARITEY

32. 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

33. BALANCE

34. BALANCE

35. BALANCE

36. BALANCE

37. UNITY
Unity is seen in a composition when all the parts equal a whole.

38. UNITY

39. 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 

40. CONTRAST

41. CONTRAST

42. 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. 

43. MOVEMENT / RHYTHM

44. 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.

45. PATTERN / REPETITION

46. PATTERN / REPETITION

47. ECONOMY Economy takes into account that less is more.
Using minimal ingredients to convey the concept. 

48. ECONOMY

49. Photography Compositional Concepts
Rule of Thirds
Vantage Point
Framing
Silhouette
Dutch Angle

50. 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

52. 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

54. 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

56. SILHOUETTE Conveys drama, mood, mystery Simplifies a busy composition
Place your subject(s) in front of an interesting light source

58. DUTCH ANGLE Horizon line is angled Creates a more dynamic composition
Creates feeling of disorientation
Canted, Oblique, German, or Batman angle

60. 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 Home drive as LastName_Concepts.doc

61. Elements and Principles of Photography Assignment
On a 2 pg MAX word document, you will create a collection of photograph thumbnails that exemplify the elements, principles and concepts of photography.
Name: Top Left
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

62. Elements and Principles of Photography Assignment

63. 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!)
PowerPoint Presentation saved as LastNames_Concept.ppt
(ex. SmithVallecorsa_Line.ppt)
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.) Bes 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 PowerPoint presentations and teach them your concept starting on Friday.

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