Post on 22-Dec-2015
Visual Literacy Concepts
Composition, Tone and Light
Make the photograph interesting
Composition Balance Subject Placement Pattern
Tone Light
Direction Quality
Composition
Composition is
the arrangement of items in an image
where the subject is, in relation to the borders of the image
the key to successful images
Composition is Balance
Symmetry Asymmetry
Subject Placement Leading Lines Framing Rule of Thirds
Pattern Radial Design Repetition
Balance
Make the photograph interesting
Be Sure to Balance Symmetrical Asymmetrical
Balance
Equal weight on the left & right sides of the image
Balance
Symmetry Both sides of an imaginary
central line are the same (like a mirror image)
Asymmetry Both sides of an imaginary
central line ARE NOT the same
Symmetry
Both sides of an imaginary central line are the same (like a mirror image)
• Karl Blossfeldt
Asymmetry
Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same
• Karl Blossfeldt
Symmetry
Both sides of an imaginary central line are the same (like a mirror image)
• Diane Arbus
Asymmetry
Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same
• Diane Arbus
Symmetry
Both sides of an imaginary central line are the same (like a mirror image)
• Walker Evans
Asymmetry
Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same
• Walker Evans
Which? Symmetry or Asymmetry?
Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same
• Ansel Adams
Which? Symmetry or Asymmetry?
Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same
• Bill Brandt
Which? Symmetry or Asymmetry?
Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same
• Jerry Uelsmann
????? Question ?????
If a photograph has an asymmetrical composition,
is it balanced?
????? Answer ?????
YES!
Balance
Equal weight on the left & right sides of the image
Balance
Symmetry Both sides of an imaginary
central line are the same (like a mirror image)
Asymmetry Both sides of an imaginary
central line ARE NOT the same
Balance
Symmetry Both sides of an imaginary
central line are the same (like a mirror image)
Asymmetry Both sides of an imaginary
central line ARE NOT the same
Balance
Symmetry Both sides of an imaginary
central line are the same (like a mirror image)
Asymmetry Both sides of an imaginary
central line ARE NOT the same
????? Question ?????
Is a photograph of a human face always
symmetrically balanced?
????? Answer ?????
NO!
Will Smith William Bailey
Is a photograph of a human face always symmetrically balanced?
This photo IS
symmetrical (basically)
Is a photograph of a human face always symmetrically balanced?
Leonard DiCaprio 1994 Greg Gorman
This photo is NOT
symmetrical
Is a photograph of a human face always symmetrically balanced?
Gloria SwansonEdward Steichen
This photo IS
symmetrical
Is a photograph of a human face always symmetrically balanced?
Michael JacksonGreg Gorman
This photo is
NOT symmetric
al
Balance
Symmetry Both sides of an imaginary
central line are the same (like a mirror image)
Asymmetry Both sides of an imaginary
central line ARE NOT the same
Composition is Balance
Symmetry Asymmetry
Subject Placement Leading Lines Framing Rule of Thirds
Pattern Radial Design Repetition
Subject Placement
Make the photograph interesting
Draw Attention to Your Subject Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds
Leading Lines
Draw Attention to Your Subject
Leading Lines Lines that lead
in a path to the subject
• Ansel Adams
Lines that lead in a path to the subject
• Lewis Hine
Leading Lines
Leading Lines
Lines that lead in a path to the subject
• Dorothea Lange
Make the photograph interesting
Draw Attention to Your Subject Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds
Framing
Draw attention to the subject
Framing Objects within the
borders of the image frame the subject
• Arnold Newman
Framing
Objects within the borders of the image frame the subject
• Manuel Alvarez-Bravo
Framing
Objects within the borders of the image frame the subject
• Anne Geddes
Make the photograph interesting
Draw Attention to Your Subject Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds Rule of Thirds
Rule of Thirds
Place the subject in ONE junction of an imaginary “tic-tac-toe” grid over the image.
• Dorothea Lange
Rule of Thirds
Place the subject in ONE junction of an imaginary “tic-tac-toe” grid over the image.
• Imogen Cunningham
Rule of Thirds
Place the subject in ONE junction of an imaginary “tic-tac-toe” grid over the image.
• Steve Ludlum
Rule of Thirds
Place the subject in ONE junction of an imaginary “tic-tac-toe” grid over the image.
Composition is Balance
Symmetry Asymmetry
Subject Placement Leading Lines Framing Rule of Thirds
Pattern Radial Design Repetition
Pattern
Make the photograph interesting
Look for patterns Radial Design RepetitionRadial Design
Objects, shapes, lines and/or colors radiate out from a central point in a circular pattern.
• Yuri Bond
Radial Design
Objects, shapes, lines and/or colors radiate out from a central point in a circular pattern.
• Yuri Bond
Radial Design
Make the photograph interesting
Look for patterns Radial Design RepetitionRepetition
Same shape, line, pattern, and/or color is repeated throughout the image.
• Harry Callahan
Repetition
• Margaret Bourke-White
Repetition
Same shape, line, pattern, and/or color is repeated throughout the image.
Elements of Composition
Draw Attention to Your Subject
Make Your Photograph Interesting
Convey a Clear Message
Elements of Composition
Balance Symmetry Asymmetry
Subject Placement Leading Lines Framing Rule of Thirds
Pattern Radial Design Repetition
Name that Composition!
Symmetry Asymmetry Leading Lines Framing Rule of Thirds Radial Design Repetition
Nelson MandelaHoward Bingham
Name that Composition!
Symmetry Asymmetry Leading Lines Framing Rule of Thirds Radial Design Repetition
NYC SkyscrapersBerenice Abbott
Name that Composition!
Symmetry Asymmetry Leading Lines Framing Rule of Thirds Radial Design Repetition
Pablo PicassoArnold Newman
Name that Composition!
Symmetry Asymmetry Leading Lines Framing Rule of Thirds Radial Design Repetition
EisenhowerArnold Newman
Name that Composition!
Symmetry Asymmetry Leading Lines Framing Rule of Thirds Radial Design Repetition
Booty DogElliott Erwitt
Elements of Composition
Balance Symmetry Asymmetry
Subject Placement Leading Lines Framing Rule of Thirds
Pattern Radial Design Repetition
Visual Literacy Concepts
Composition, Tone and Light