Composition
The Elements of Art and the Principles of
Design
Line• Line is defined as a series of points
connected through space.
Line
• http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/dynoGall2.asp?catID=361&pageID=1&rows=12&contestCatID=&camID=
Line•6 types: *horizontal: imbues calm & peace*vertical: imbues strength & stability*diagonal: directional/guiding lines*zig-zag: imbues anxiety & danger*curving: imbues whimsy and fun*implied: unconnected series of points
that create a sense of a line
horizontal
• Do not place horizontal lines in middle of page
• Use caution when applying lots of horizontal lines, can cause visual boredom
• Make sure you “square” your horizontal lines
• Don’t bisect your format
What did they do great?
What did they do poorly?
Vertical
• Keep lines from “tapering” • Using a horizontal orientation with
strong verticals imbues a sense of barely contained strength
• Be careful of bisecting format
How do they work?
diagonal
• Lead the viewer through image• Create visual interest points when
intersecting with other lines• Don’t bisect format• Brain “reads” visual information from
left to right, therefore diagonals starting from bottom left to upper right are natural directional lines
What’s working?
Zig-Zag• Great directional
potential • Creates
energetic rhythm
Curving• Variety of
curving lines: peaceful flowing bands to whimsical spirals
Great compositional
trick, say what?
• The “S” curve is a compositional practice that engages the viewer to follow the curve throughout the image. Follow the river…..
Say….what are you implying?
Resources
• http://drawsketch.about.com/od/drawinglessonsandtips/ss/contourdrawing_5.htm
• http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&rlz=1T4ADSA_enUS370US377&tbs=isch:1&ei=9JOSTLOvAcK88gaGg5GnBQ&q=horizontal+lines+in+photos&start=20&sa=N
Space and Shape
• The final frontier….ha ha
Space: positive & negative
• Space: the areas composing an artwork
• Positive space is filled with value
• Negative space is unfilled
• Are U positive?
Shape
• Shape: defined areas…can be defined by pattern, color, line, value, etc
• Geometric: defined mathematically: square, circle, oval, triangle, etc
• Organic: not defined mathematically: any amoeba shape or freeform shape
Diagram: all the pretty shapes…
Value• Hatching: lines to show value
• Cross hatching: crossed lines to show value
• Stippling: using dots to show value
• Blended: gradual transition of value
High contrast: Great difference in value
High Key: overall value is
light values
Texture: the appearance of a tactile texture
What?
Pattern: Repetition of shapes, lines,
values and/or objects. Just like visual texture, your brain will recognize similar elements. If the pattern is
the same over whole image, the brain will “read” it quickly and then dismiss it. Need to
include a little variety for interest.
What is not working?
Does it work and why?
color
• Characteristics: *Represents meaning (culturally dictated)*Affects psyche*Has temperature
• 3 Primary: Red , Yellow, and Blue• 3 Secondary:
*Orange= Red + Yellow*Green= Yellow + Blue*Purple= Blue + Red
color
• 6 Tertiary or Intermediate colors:
*Red-Purple
*Red-Orange
*Blue-Green
*Blue-Purple
*Yellow-Orange
*Yellow-Green
Color Schemes
• Monochromatic: one hue and it’s corresponding tints and shades. Tint= hue + white and Shade = hue + black
• Analagous: one color and the colors next to it on the color wheel that are related. Ex. Blue, blue- purple,
purple and red-purple
Color Schemes
• Complementary Colors: colors that are not related and have a unique relationship.
• 3 basic pairs: Pair each secondary color with the only primary color not used to create that secondary color. Opposites
on color wheel.
3 Uses for Complementary colors
• To create a focal point or emphasis: when placed next to each other, the colors create an area of visual interest because they contrast in temperature and due to the fact that they are not related.
• To tone down the intensity of another color: small amounts of complement placed on top of a color will lesson the brightness of the base color.
• To make brown or gray: mixing complements will create gray if you use more of the cooler color and brown if you use more of the warm color
Color schemes
• Split complementary: one color and the 2 colors on either side of it’s complement
• Triad: the 3 primary colors or the 3 secondary colors: all share same color intensity.
Principles of Design
• Balance
• Emphasis
• Rhythm
• Proportion
• Unity/Harmony
Balance• Balance: the visual weight of an artwork…think about your positive and
negative space and where the areas affect composition• 3 types of Balance: Symmetrical, Asymmetrical and Radial• There are many other factors to consider in order to make pictures appear
balanced. Some of these are as follows: – An object far from the center of the picture seems to have more weight than one
near the center. – Objects in the upperpart of a picture seem heavier than objects of the same size
in the lower part of a picture. – Isolation seems to increase the weight of an object. – Intensely interesting objects seem to have more compositional weight. – Regular shapes seem to have more weight than irregular shapes. – Elements on the right side of an asymmetrical picture appear to have more
weight than elements of the same size on the left side of the picture. – The directions in which figures, lines, and shapes appear to be moving within the
picture area are important to balance; for example, a person may be walking in a direction, or his eyes may be looking in a direction, or the shape of some element creates a feeling of movement. When the feeling of direction is present within a scene, it tends to upset the balance if judged on the size of the subject alone.
Symmetrical• The visual weight is the same on both
sides of the composition….does not mean it has to be the same subject on both sides!
Asymmetrical
• The visual weight of both sides of the composition is uneven.
radial
• The visual elements radiate from a central point, much like a bicycle or flower
Are you balanced?• Important balancing techniques in photography
• Light against dark.Black against white has a much stronger contrast than gray against white. To balance gray against white you need a larger gray area to compensate compared to if you used black.
• ColorsSmall areas of vibrant color can be balanced to larger areas of more neutral colors
• SpaceOpen space can be balanced on one side with the primary subject on the other side of the imageLarge against smallSometimes larger elements on one side of the image can be balanced by a smaller element that is positioned by itself at the far end of the other side of the image.
• ShapeLarge flat areas without much detail can be balanced by smaller irregularly shaped objects since the eye is led towards the more intricate shape. This is a very tricky type of asymmetrical balance that often ends up looking out of balance.
• TextureSmaller areas with interesting textures (variegated light and dark, or random fluctuations) can balance larger areas with smoother, untextured looks
• Eye directionYour eye can be led to a certain point in a picture by using elements like triangles or arrows or as simple as the eye is led in the direction the people in a picture is looking.
What’s the balance?
What’s the balance?
Emphasis/Focal Point• The dominant area of the photograph. It is where your
eye goes to first or where it dwells longest.
Ways to create
• Placement: near or around center• Size: either smaller or larger than other
elements• Detail: more or less detail than other elements• Color: contrast in temp or use complementary
colors• Converging lines: diagonal directional lines lead • Contrast: any contrasting element• The unusual: anything out of the ordinary
You find it!
Seat work!
• Find one example of each type of balance
• Find one example for each of the R U Balanced techniques
• Find one example for each emphasis/focal point technique
Unity/Harmony• Use of similar elements throughout the image to create an overall
sense of all areas relating• Color
TextureValueShapessubjects
?
Proportion• proportion refers to the comparative, proper, or harmonious
relationship of one part to another or to the whole with respect to size, quantity, or degree; a ratio
• Regular: the usual or normal relationship• Distorted: some or all parts are bent at an unusual angle\• Exaggerated: at least one part is either smaller or larger than normal
?
Rhythm
• Visual movement created by repetition of a motif or module.
• Motif: 2-D elemental unit
• Module: 3-D elemental unit
• Used to manipulate where the viewer looks in the image
• 5 types of rhythm: Regular, Random, Alternating, Flowing and Progressive
Regular Rhythm: even repetition of motif
Random: irregular repetition of motif
Alternating: repetition of 2 or more motifs OR
altering the repetition pattern of
one motif
Flowing: I think you get this one…
Progressive: Each time the
motif is repeated, it
changes
Compositional do’s and don’ts
Frame within a frame
Do not bookend
Do not center focal point
Do not “Corner”
Do not put even subjects with even negative space
Do isolate and concentrate
Do let subjects go off page
Do frame within a frame
Do Use Rule of Thirds
More resources
• http://photoinf.com/General/NAVY/Photographic_composition_Balance.htm