Visual Literacy Concepts
Composition, Tone and Light
Make the photograph interesting
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Composition
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Balance
Subject Placement
Pattern
Tone
Light
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Direction
Quality
Composition is
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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
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Balance
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Subject Placement
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Symmetry
Asymmetry
Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds
Pattern
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Radial Design
Repetition
Make the photograph interesting
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Be Sure to Balance
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Symmetrical
Asymmetrical
Balance
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Equal weight on the left &
right sides of the image
Balance
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Symmetry
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Both sides of an imaginary
central line are the same
(like a mirror image)
Asymmetry
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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
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Question
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If a photograph has an
asymmetrical composition,
is it balanced?
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Answer
YES!
?????
Balance
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Equal weight on the left &
right sides of the image
Balance
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Symmetry
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Both sides of an imaginary
central line are the same
(like a mirror image)
Asymmetry
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Both sides of an imaginary
central line ARE NOT the
same
Balance
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Symmetry
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Both sides of an imaginary
central line are the same
(like a mirror image)
Asymmetry
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Both sides of an imaginary
central line ARE NOT the
same
Balance
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Symmetry
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Both sides of an imaginary
central line are the same
(like a mirror image)
Asymmetry
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Both sides of an imaginary
central line ARE NOT the
same
?????
Question
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Is a photograph of a
human face always
symmetrically balanced?
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Answer
NO!
?????
Is a photograph of a human face
always symmetrically balanced?
This photo
IS
symmetrical
(basically)
Will Smith
William Bailey
Is a photograph of a human face
always symmetrically balanced?
This photo
is NOT
symmetrical
Leonard DiCaprio 1994
Greg Gorman
Is a photograph of a human face
always symmetrically balanced?
This photo
IS
symmetrical
Gloria Swanson
Edward Steichen
Is a photograph of a human face
always symmetrically balanced?
This photo
is NOT
symmetrical
Michael Jackson
Greg Gorman
Balance
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Symmetry
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Both sides of an imaginary
central line are the same
(like a mirror image)
Asymmetry
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Both sides of an imaginary
central line ARE NOT the
same
Composition is
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Balance
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Subject Placement
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Symmetry
Asymmetry
Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds
Pattern
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Radial Design
Repetition
Make the photograph interesting
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Draw Attention to Your Subject
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Leading Lines
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Framing
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Rule of Thirds
Draw Attention to Your Subject
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Leading Lines
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Lines that lead
in a path to the
subject
• Ansel Adams
Leading Lines
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Lines that lead
in a path to the
subject
• Lewis Hine
Leading Lines
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Lines that lead
in a path to the
subject
• Dorothea Lange
Make the photograph interesting
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Draw Attention to Your Subject
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Leading Lines
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Framing
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Rule of Thirds
Draw attention to the subject
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Framing
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Objects within the
borders of the image
frame the subject
• Arnold Newman
Framing
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Objects within the
borders of the image
frame the subject
• Manuel Alvarez-Bravo
Framing
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Objects within the
borders of the image
frame the subject
• Anne Geddes
Make the photograph interesting
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Draw Attention to Your Subject
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Leading Lines
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Framing
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Rule of Thirds
Rule of Thirds
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Place the subject in
ONE junction of an
imaginary “tic-tactoe” grid over the
image.
Rule of Thirds
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Place the subject in
ONE junction of an
imaginary “tic-tactoe” grid over the
image.
• Dorothea Lange
Rule of Thirds
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Place the subject in
ONE junction of an
imaginary “tic-tactoe” grid over the
image.
• Imogen Cunningham
Rule of Thirds
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Place the subject in
ONE junction of an
imaginary “tic-tactoe” grid over the
image.
• Steve Ludlum
Composition is
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Balance
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Subject Placement
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Symmetry
Asymmetry
Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds
Pattern
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Radial Design
Repetition
Make the photograph interesting
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Look for patterns
Radial Design
 Repetition
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Radial Design
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Objects, shapes,
lines and/or colors
radiate out from a
central point in a
circular pattern.
• Yuri Bond
Radial Design
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Objects, shapes, lines
and/or colors radiate
out from a central point
in a circular pattern.
• Yuri Bond
Make the photograph interesting
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Look for patterns
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Radial Design
Repetition
Repetition
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Same shape, line,
pattern, and/or
color is repeated
throughout the
image.
• Harry Callahan
Repetition
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Same shape, line,
pattern, and/or
color is repeated
throughout the
image.
• Margaret Bourke-White
Elements of Composition
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Draw Attention to Your Subject
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Convey a Clear Message
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Make Your Photograph Interesting
Elements of Composition
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Balance
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Symmetry
Asymmetry
Subject Placement
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Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds
Pattern
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Radial Design
Repetition
Name that Composition!
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Symmetry
Asymmetry
Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds
Radial Design
Repetition
Nelson Mandela
Howard Bingham
Name that Composition!
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Symmetry
Asymmetry
Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds
Radial Design
Repetition
NYC Skyscrapers
Berenice Abbott
Name that Composition!
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Symmetry
Asymmetry
Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds
Radial Design
Repetition
Pablo Picasso
Arnold Newman
Name that Composition!
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Symmetry
Asymmetry
Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds
Radial Design
Repetition
Eisenhower
Arnold Newman
Name that Composition!
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Symmetry
Asymmetry
Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds
Radial Design
Repetition
Booty Dog
Elliott Erwitt
Elements of Composition
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Balance
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Symmetry
Asymmetry
Subject Placement
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Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds
Pattern
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Radial Design
Repetition
Visual Literacy Concepts
Composition, Tone and Light