Elements of Art: The vocabulary or “building

blocks” an artist/photographer uses to compose an image

Line - the visual path that enables the eye to move within the piece

Shape - areas defined by edges within the piece, whether geometric or organic

Color - hues with their various values and intensities

Texture - sur face qualities which translate into tactile illusions

Form - 3-D length, width, or depth

Value - Shading used to emphasize form

Space - the space taken up by (positive) or in between (negative) objects

Creating a Visually

Compell ing Photograph

Composition: The arrangement of visual elements and principles in an image

The Principles of Art are the set of rules or

guidelines that are to be considered when

composing an image- the organization of the

elements of art

Proportion/Scale- the size and quantity of elements within a composition

Balance/Harmony/Unity- The arrangement of elements and principles to create a feeling of completeness. The three different kinds of balance are symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial.

Emphasis/focus- The center of interest

Pattern/Movement- shows actions, or alternatively, the path the viewer's eye follows throughout an artwork or makes an artwork seem active by the repetition of elements

METRO

For example, if a dog is photographed from above, perhaps from the eye level of an adult, he is diminished in stature. A photograph taken at the dog's level would treat him as an equal, and one taken from below could result in an impression of dominance.

Imagine that your image is divided into 9 equal segments by 2 vertical and 2 horizontal lines. The rule of thirds says that you should position the most important elements in your scene along these lines, or at the points where they intersect.

Doing so will add balance and interest to your photo. Some cameras even offer an option to superimpose a rule of thirds grid over the LCD screen, making it even easier to use.

Rule of Thirds

You, as the photographer, choose how the viewer will perceive your subject. The position from which you take the photo influences not only the elements and principles that make up itʼs composition, but also how your subject is interpreted.

Viewpoint

METRO SYSTEMS

SIMPLICITY

Simplicity is the key to most good pictures. The simpler and more direct a picture is, the clearer and stronger is the resulting statement. For example, instead of photographing an entire scene that would confuse the viewer, frame in on some important detail within the scene.

Be sure there is nothing in the foreground or background to distract the viewer's attention from the main point of the picture.

Tell only one story. Nothing should attract more of the viewer's attention than the primary object of the picture. Select a viewpoint that eliminates distractions so the principal subject is readily recognized. When numerous lines or shapes are competing for interest with the subject, it is difficult to recognize the primary object or determine why the picture was

Because photography is a two-dimensional medium, we have to choose our composition carefully to conveys the sense of depth that was present in the actual scene. You can create depth in a photo by including objects in the foreground, middle ground and background. Another useful composition technique is overlapping, where you deliberately partially obscure one object with another. The human eye naturally recognises these layers and mentally separates them out, creating an image with more depth.

The absence of content does not mean the absence of interest. In fact, negative space often adds interest as it can place a stronger emphasis on the subject

Create a relationship between the subject and the rest of the image

Fill the frame.

Lines are a powerful element of composition, and the viewer’s eye naturally follows any lines in your images.There are are number of established composition

guidelines which can be applied in almost any situation, to enhance the impact of a scene.

These guidelines will help you take more compelling photographs, lending them a natural balance, drawing attention to the important parts of the scene, or leading the viewer's eye through the image.

a focal point is important because when you look at an image your eye will generally need a ‘resting place’ or something of interest to really hold it. Without it you’ll find people will simply glance at your shots and then move on to the next one.Once you’ve identified a point of interest or focal point you then should ask yourself how you can enhance it.