Elements and Principles of Art

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: using certain types of lines in photography creates different moods and lead the viewer to the subject   ·          Leading o   Lines within a picture which direct the eye to a different point ·         Vertical o   In a composition, vertical lines add moods such as strength, power, and growth. ·         Horizontal o   Horizontal lines, such as horizons act as stabilizers in an image that add a calm feeling. They add weight to the image so the rest of the image settles against the horizontal lines. ·         Diagonal o   These types of lines make the image look as though there is movement in it. Diagonal lines can also show depth to create a space that looks three-dimensional. ·         Curved o   Curved lines create feelings of chaos or confusion if they are deep and sharp. On the other hand, soft curves show ease or relaxation.

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: Balance in an image prevents the viewer from getting dragged into one spot and getting stuck there. ·         Symmetrical: Symmetrical balance divides an image into equal halves so that there are identical subjects on each side. ·         Asymmetrical: The left and right side of an image are not equal and the elements on each side are different.

Unity: Similar elements throughout an image bring together the composition through repetition.

Variety: Including different details to an element, such as thick vs thin lines adds complexity to the art.

Movement / Rhythm: Movement takes the eye from one spot in the image to another. Rhythm occurs when a flow is created in the image because of similar elements appearing throughout.

Emphasis: A particular area which stands in contrast to the rest of the image and therefore attracts the eye first.

Proportion / Scale: Proportion is the relative size relationships between various elements in an image. It can emphasize the grandeur of a large-scale element or play a trick on the eye based on the position of an object.

Repetition / Pattern: Repetition is the technique of reusing the same elements many times in an image. A pattern, then, gives order to a image and keeps the viewer interested.

Making Choices

Point of View:  Point of view is the position from which the camera is set up to create a specific representation of a scene. ·         bird’s eye: Perspective in which the image is captured from an elevated position, making the viewer see the scene as a bird would. ·         worm’s eye: A shot taken from low on the ground; the view creates an interesting angle to even an ordinary object.

Rule of Thirds: The idea of splitting an image into thirds horizontally and vertically to create nine equal parts. A viewer’s eye naturally travels to the intersections of the lines,  so placing certain points of interest there allows the photographer to emphasize them. The rule of thirds also creates a well balanced image.

Framing: Framing involves blocking out some parts of an image with something else. Framing draws attention to the specific piece that is not blocked and adds depth.

Simplicity: The idea of setting the subject of the image against a clean background so that there is no distraction from the focus on the image.