Elements of a Good Photo

1. Elements of a Good Photo

2. Elements of Photographic Composition

3. The elements and principles of design are the building blocks used to create a work of art. Principles of Design: The Principles of design can be thought of as what we do to the elements of design. How we apply the Principles of design determines how successful we are in creating a work of art. Elements of Design: are things that are involved within making an image or design. The seven elements of design are color, value, texture, shape, form, space, and line

4. Elements of Design Line Shape Texture Color Value Space Line

5. Texture Images a two dimensional thing yet with the clever use of ‘texture’ they can come alive and become almost three dimensional. Texture particularly comes into play when light hits objects at interesting angles. Visual Texture is the illusion of a three-dimensional surface. It refers to the way something feels or appears to feel. •We use our hands to feel real Texture. Think about what youfeel when you run your hands over the bark of a tree. Nowthink about what the surface of a piece of sandpaper feels like. •These objects have real Texture, texture you can feel as well as see. Artists strive very hard to imitate the look and feel of real Texture in works of art

6. Value Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. All values, from deepest black to perfect white, and all the greys in between, should be present in your prints.With very few exceptions, all of the following tones should be present in your photographs. The tones do not have to be evenly represented, but each one should appear somewhere in your image. One reason you want all of the tones is because the light greys give you detail in your highlights, and the dark greys give you detail in your shadows. High Key Vs. Low Key •Both photographs on the right have a limited range of values. •The top image is white on white, or high key. •The bottom image is black on black, or low key. •How do the range of tones affect the feelings conveyed by the two images

7. Shape/Form Shapes are the result of closed lines. However shapes can be visible without lines when an artist establishes a color area or an arrangement of objects within the camera's viewfinder. Some primary shapes include circles, squares, triangles and hexagons all of which appear in nature in some form or another. •It is 2 dimensional (flat) and can be geometric or organic. •Geometric shapes are usually angular and appear frequently in man-made objects.Organic shapes are usually more rounded and appear most often innature Organic shapes are also called“freeform” shapes.

8. Color An element of art with three (3) properties: (1) Hue, the color name, e.g., red, yellow, blue, etc; (2) Intensity, the purity and strength of a color, e.g., bright red, or dull yellow etc; and (3) value, the lightness and darkness of a color.

9. Lines When we look at a photo our eye is naturally drawn along lines. By thinking about how you place lines in your composition, you can affect the way we view the image, pulling us into the picture, towards the subject, or on a journey 'through' the scene. There are many different types of line - straight, diagonal, curvy, zigzag, radial etc - and each can be used to enhance our photo's composition. Often its purpose in a *compositionis to lead the viewers eye through the workof art.

10. Principles of Design • Balance • Gradation • Emphasis • Repetition • Contrast • Harmony • Unity • Pattern • Movement • Rhythm

11. Pattern There are patterns all around us if we only learn to see them. Emphasizing and highlighting these patterns can lead to striking shots - as can high lighting when patterns are broken.

12. Symmetry Depending upon the scene - symmetry can be something to go for - or to avoid completely. A symmetrical shot with strong composition and a good point of interest can lead to a striking image - but without the strong point of interest it can be a little predictable.

13. Depth of Field The depth of field that you select when taking an image will drastically impact the composition of an image. It can isolate a subject from its background and foreground (when using a shallow depth of field) or it can put the same subject in context by revealing it’s surrounds with a larger depth of field.

14. Emphasis What is the subject? Where is the subject? Where should the viewer look? What is important? There are many techniques used to show emphasis. The photographer can show emphasis through framing choice, whether he uses a vertical or horizontal format. Or he might show emphasis by the placement of the subject, governed by the rule of thirds. Or he might use selective focus to simplify the background. Or by drawing the viewers attention to a certain spot within the frame using perspective

15. Proportion A principle of design, it refers to the relationship of art elements to the whole and to each other. Often proportion is allied with another principle of design, emphasis. For example, if there is a greater proportion of intense hues than dull hues in a work of art, emphasis is suggested. Proportion may also refer to size relationships. For example, if one figure is made to look larger compared to other figures in a composition, it is said to be out of proportion and is given greater importance.

16. Rhythm (Pattern) Refers to a way of combining the art elements to produce the look and feel of movement, especially with a visual tempo or beat. It is often achieved through the careful placement of repeated art elements which invites the viewers eye to jump rapidly or glide smoothly from one to the next element or object. Rhythm refers to the regular repeating occurrence of elements in the scene just as in music it refers to the regular occurrence of certain musical notes over time. In photography the repetition of similar shapes sets up a rhythm that makes seeing easier and more enjoyable

17. Unity Coherence refers to the belonging together or the various parts of the artwork. In reality these parts may be unrelated, but within the confines of the image their color, shapes, and size form a sense of unity. Visual coherence can be achieved through the use of analogous color and color tonality

18. Balance Balance implies that the visual elements within the frame have a sense of weight. Large objects generally weigh more than small objects and dark objects weigh more than light colored objects. The position of the elements is also critical. We unconsciously assume the center of a picture corresponds to a fulcrum. A heavy weight on one side can be balanced by a lighter weight on the other side if the lighter weight is located at a greater distance from the fulcrum. Another way to achieve balance is through symmetry Balance can be symmetrical or formal, or it can be asymmetrical, or informal. Symmetrical balance is the type of balance where one side is very similar or exactly the same as the other Asymmetrical balance is the type of balance where the picture, although not symmetrical, is balanced. This can be achieved through balancing of objects in the foreground, middle ground, and background. For example, if there is a man standing taking a picture in the foreground on the left then in the background on the right is the subject he is shooting.

19. Gradation Refers to a way of combining the art elements by using series of gradual changes in those elements. Unlike contrast which stresses, sudden changes in elements, gradation refers to a step-by-step change. A gradual change from dark to light values or from large to small shapes would be called gradation.

20. Harmony Refers to a way of combining the art elements to accent their similarities and bind the picture parts into a whole. It is often achieved through the use of repetition and simplicity.

21. Movement Refers to a way of combining the art elements to produce the look of action or to cause the viewers eye to sweep over the work of art in a certain manner.

22. Variety Variety is often obtained through the use of diversity and change by artists who wish to increase the visual interest of their work. A photo which uses many different hues, values, lines, textures, and shapes would reflect the artist’s desire for variety.

23. Space Positive Space is the space created by an image or a sculpture. •Negative Space is the Space around and between parts of an image or a sculpture