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Composition The Art of Seeing Images. Arrangement of elements Relationship of elements. Part Two Visual Elements. Visual Elements. Typical Visual Elements include: Lines Shapes The Spot. Visual Elements. Line: denote movement in one direction Horizontals Verticals
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CompositionThe Art of Seeing Images • Arrangement of elements • Relationship of elements
Visual Elements • Typical Visual Elements include: • Lines • Shapes • The Spot
Visual Elements • Line: denote movement in one direction • Horizontals • Verticals • Parallel Verticals/Horizontals • Curved or S-shaped lines • Diagonals • Irregulars
Linear elements • Diagonal lines are dynamic; curved lines are flowing and graceful • such as roads, waterways, a fence and shadows • You can often find the right line by moving around and choosing an appropriate angle • natural lines of the scene lead the viewers' eyes into the picture and toward your main center of interest
Function of Lines • Lines help the viewer to read the image • Help viewer to locate key contrasts • Add visual interest • Guide the viewer in a certain direction
HORIZONTALS • Add stability to photo, imply COOL or RESTFUL
Parallel Vert. / Horz. Lines • Suggest: Symmetry, Order, or Direction
Verticals • Can suggest WARMTH or AGGRESSIVENESS • Intersection of vertical and horizontal lines create FOCAL POINTS
Curved or S-Shaped Lines • Most Natural appearing, evoke natural rhythms, and feelings of slow, easy movement
Diagonals • Neither warm or cool • Most naturally occur from Lower Left to Upper Right • Falling Diagonals move Down and Off picture
Irregular Lines • Varying size, thickness, shape, & texture • Provides visual interest
SHAPES • Five basic forms or SHAPES in photography • Squares • Triangles • Circles • Oblongs • Irregular
Contrast • more impact • light subject placed against a dark background and vice versa • Contrasting colors
Contrast & The Spot • One “spot” that commands the viewer’s attention • Focal point of contrasting masses
Other Compositional Tools • Lines of Direction • Actual & Psychological • Directs movement of eye through image • Shape & Form • Shape is flat, two-dimensional • Repeated shapes can form a shape • Form refers to volume, its 3-D • Depth—Lines of Perspective • Parallel lines converge in distance • Gives sense of depth to photo
Direction of movement • leave space in front of the subject • it appears to be moving into, rather than out of, the image
Form, Shadow, & Light • Shadows coming towards the viewer implies the “third” dimension
Rule of Thirds • One of the most popular 'rules' in photography and art • principle taught in fine art, graphic design and photography • based on the theory that the eye goes naturally to a point about two-thirds up the page • achieve the informal or asymmetric balance mentioned above
Rule of Thirds • Imaginary lines are drawn dividing the image into thirds both horizontally and vertically • important elements placed where these lines intersect • also arrange areas into bands occupying a third or place things along the imaginary lines • simple to implement
Rule of Thirds • The Greeks developed the concept of the “Golden Mean” • Divide the image into grid of 1/3s • Place subject at one of intersecting lines
Rule of Thirds • Common example is the placement of the horizon line in landscape photography
If the area of interest is land or water • Horizon line will usually be two-thirds up from the bottom • To suggest closeness, position the horizon high in your picture
If the sky is the area of emphasis • Horizon line may be one-third up from the bottom, leaving the sky to occupy the top two-thirds • To accent spaciousness, keep the horizon low in the picture
Breaking the Rule of Thirds • Once you have got the hang of the Rule of Thirds • you will very quickly want to break it • This is fine • 'rules' are best used as guidelines • if you can create a better image by bending or ignoring rules then fire away
Framing - Foreground objects • Add a sense of depth to the picture • helps establish scale • use the foreground elements to "frame" your subject • Overhanging tree branches, a doorway, or an arch can give a picture the depth • something in the foreground that leads you into the picture or gives you a sense of where the viewer is