PHOTOGRAPHY AS ART
Photography is more than combining cameras, lenses, and film; it is about using those tools in combination with the elements and principles of design to create visual art. Understanding how to use the elements and principles will turn your “snap shots” into photographic works of art. Define the following terms.
Elements of Design
Line:
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Leading
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lines within an image that leads the eye to another point in the image, or occasionally, out of the image.
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Vertical
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Lines going up and sometimes out of frame can convey a sense of growth, strength and power as well as create interesting patterns within your images.
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Horizontal
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Often act as a dividing point in a photograph. Layers of horizontal lines can create rhythm or patterns in an image that can become the focus of an image in and of itself.
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Diagonal
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Diagonal lines generally work well to draw the eye of an image’s viewer through the photograph. They create points of interest as they intersect with other lines and often give images depth by suggesting perspective.
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Curved
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allow the eye to explore an image in a smooth, free-flowing manner.
http://char.txa.cornell.edu/language/element/element.htm use this website to figure out what each type of line represents.
Principles of Design
Balance:
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Symmetrical- an image which can be divided into two equal parts which are mirror images of each other.
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Asymmetrical- The opposite of symmetrical. When you divide it in half there will not be equal parts
Unity: occurs when all of the elements of a piece combine to make a balanced, harmonious, complete whole.
Variety: is to combine different elements (differences in shape, color, line, texture...) into one composition,
Movement / Rhythm: Rhythm movement in which some elements recurs regularly. Movement is the path the viewer’s eye takes through the artwork, often to a focal area
Emphasis: piece where one is superior or dominate over the others
Proportion / Scale: refers to the size of an object (a whole) in relationship to another object (another whole).
Repetition / Pattern: Repeating visual elements such as line, color, shape, texture, value or image tends to unify the total effect of a work of art as well as create rhythm.
Making Choices
Point of View:
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bird’s eye- down on an object
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worm’s eye- up to an object
Rule of Thirds: is applied by aligning a subject with the guide lines and their intersection points, placing the horizon on the top or bottom line, or allowing linear features in the image to flow from section to section.
Framing: when you create a frame inside of frame
Simplicity: The simplicity rule directs that you should keep the items in your photo relatively simple.
Tim Dexter and Eric Beam pd. 8
