Visual Elements within the photograph--What You See
light and shadow
Does the light seem to be natural or artificial? Harsh or soft? What direction is the light coming from? Describe the shadows. Are they subtle or do they create strong contrasts?
value
Is there a range of tones from light to dark? Squint your eyes. Where is the darkest value? The lightest?
focus
What parts of the image are clearly in focus? Are some parts out of focus? Note: The range between the nearest and farthest things that appear in focus define the photograph's depth of field.
space
Do overlapping objects create a sense of space? Is the space shallow, deep, or both?
shape
Do you see geometric or organic shapes? Are there positive shapes, such as objects, or negative shapes that represent voids?
line
Are there thick, thin, curvy, jagged, or straight lines?
color
What colors do you see, if any?
texture
Do you see visual textures within the photograph? Is there an actual texture on the surface of the photograph?
Design of the photograph--How Things Are Arranged
angle
From what vantage point was the photograph taken? Imagine the photograph taken from a higher or lower angle or view. How does the angle affect the photograph?
framing
Describe the edges of the view. What is included? What does the framing draw your attention to in the photograph? Can you imagine what might have been visible beyond the edges of the picture?
dominance
Close your eyes. When you open them and look at the photograph, what is the first thing you notice? Why is your attention drawn there? Are there other centers of interest? How are they created? How do the focal points help move your eye throughout the photograph?
contrast
Are there strong visual contrasts--lights and darks, textures, solids and voids, etc.?
repetition
Repetition of visual elements can create unity--a sense of order or wholeness that holds the work together visually. What elements are repeated? Do they contribute to a sense of unity?
variety
Variety often creates interest. Can you see a variety of visual elements such as values, shapes, textures, etc.?
balance Is the visual weight on one side of the photograph about the same as the other? How about top to bottom and diagonally.
light and shadow
Does the light seem to be natural or artificial? Harsh or soft? What direction is the light coming from? Describe the shadows. Are they subtle or do they create strong contrasts?
value
Is there a range of tones from light to dark? Squint your eyes. Where is the darkest value? The lightest?
focus
What parts of the image are clearly in focus? Are some parts out of focus? Note: The range between the nearest and farthest things that appear in focus define the photograph's depth of field.
space
Do overlapping objects create a sense of space? Is the space shallow, deep, or both?
shape
Do you see geometric or organic shapes? Are there positive shapes, such as objects, or negative shapes that represent voids?
line
Are there thick, thin, curvy, jagged, or straight lines?
color
What colors do you see, if any?
texture
Do you see visual textures within the photograph? Is there an actual texture on the surface of the photograph?
Design of the photograph--How Things Are Arranged
angle
From what vantage point was the photograph taken? Imagine the photograph taken from a higher or lower angle or view. How does the angle affect the photograph?
framing
Describe the edges of the view. What is included? What does the framing draw your attention to in the photograph? Can you imagine what might have been visible beyond the edges of the picture?
dominance
Close your eyes. When you open them and look at the photograph, what is the first thing you notice? Why is your attention drawn there? Are there other centers of interest? How are they created? How do the focal points help move your eye throughout the photograph?
contrast
Are there strong visual contrasts--lights and darks, textures, solids and voids, etc.?
repetition
Repetition of visual elements can create unity--a sense of order or wholeness that holds the work together visually. What elements are repeated? Do they contribute to a sense of unity?
variety
Variety often creates interest. Can you see a variety of visual elements such as values, shapes, textures, etc.?
balance Is the visual weight on one side of the photograph about the same as the other? How about top to bottom and diagonally.
the_photo_commandments.docx | |
File Size: | 2000 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Assignment
EXPLORING COMPOSITION AND FOCUS
Pick an object and place it in a location that has good light and where you can move around it. Take photos of this object with different compositions as described in this chapter. Remember your focus point is set to center – so focus first and then recompose. Push yourself past your initial points of view,
taking as many as 100 photos of the same subject in the same location. Move around to get all points of
view.
4. Download and review on the computer. Notice the differences in the feel of the photos as you vary composition and focal point. Note which compositions are most interesting to you.
5. Pick two or three of your best images. Open these photos in your photo editing software, and make compositional adjustments. How do these adjustments enhance the photo? Which image do you like better – before or after the change? Make a few notes on what you like about each. If you would change anything next time, note that too.
EXPLORING COMPOSITION AND FOCUS
Pick an object and place it in a location that has good light and where you can move around it. Take photos of this object with different compositions as described in this chapter. Remember your focus point is set to center – so focus first and then recompose. Push yourself past your initial points of view,
taking as many as 100 photos of the same subject in the same location. Move around to get all points of
view.
4. Download and review on the computer. Notice the differences in the feel of the photos as you vary composition and focal point. Note which compositions are most interesting to you.
5. Pick two or three of your best images. Open these photos in your photo editing software, and make compositional adjustments. How do these adjustments enhance the photo? Which image do you like better – before or after the change? Make a few notes on what you like about each. If you would change anything next time, note that too.
REVIEW THE POWERPOINT LESSON HERE
composition_and_focus.pptx | |
File Size: | 7190 kb |
File Type: | pptx |