Design: elements and principles Wolfgang Hastert
Design • • • • • •
To design means to plan photographers plan photo compositions Photography does not start with a blank canvas as painting or drawing does The world a photographer looks at is cluttered and full with elements The photographer has to make choices by reducing The photographer frames his images
Consider this: • “ The camera is an instrument of detection. It shows us what we see but also what we don’ t see.” Lisette Model
• “ As photographers we are responsible for everything in the frame.” David DuChemin
Design Elements • Elements and principles of design are the building blocks used to create a good photograph/ art piece • Photographers use these elements to make a photographic composition
1 Line • Line is the foundation and the main element of design. Line creates shapes, texture and tones (through hatching/cross hatching). • All lines have direction - Horizontal, Vertical or Oblique. Horizontal suggests calmness, stability and tranquility. Vertical gives a feeling of balance, formality and alertness. Oblique suggests movement and action
2 Shape • A shape is a self contained defined area of a geometric or organic form. A positive shape in a photo automatically creates a negative shape – which is an important consideration when defining and expressing the main subject
3 Texture • Texture is the surface quality of a shape - rough, smooth, soft hard glossy etc. Texture can be physical (tactile) or visual. • Visual texture is what we use in photography
4 Color Also called “ Hue” , colors can create contrast through complementary color combinations: • blue / orange red / green yellow / purple
• Black and white are not colors – they represent the absence of color. • Color can be a strong device in isolating elements and defining main subjects.
5 Value • Value is the lightness or darkness of a color. Value is also called Tone. Tone can also refer to black, white, and gray tones.
Principles of design Balance Harmony
Unity Dominance
4 types of Balance • Symmetry Asymmetry • Grid balance ( all areas of an image repeat similar shapes and depth)
• Radial balance (balance is central in the composition stemming from the middle. A radial balanced image can be turned and the balance remains the same
symmetry
Using a divided frame
Framing for the middle
Harmony / Unity • Balance gets created through related elements repeating within the frame
Dominance • One element is emphasized and controls the frame
More composition techniques • Focal point is a point of emphasis in and image. • We look first to a focal point and then to a secondary focal point (accent) • Rule of Thirds- a grid device used to place areas of interest or the focal point within a composition
• Detect some design elements and principles