Photography Composition
Using the Elements and
Principles of Design
Elements of Art
The Basic Building Blocks
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Line
Shape/Form
Space
Value
Texture
Color
LINE
• A mark made by a moving point.
• Has greater length than width.
• Directs the eye – horizontal, vertical,
diagonal, curvy, zig-zag, etc.
• Can be actual obvious lines or the
borders or edges of shapes.
LINE
LINE
LINE
SHAPE / FORM
• A contained area.
• Can be GEOMETRIC (man-made)
ex. Square, triangle, circle, etc.
• Can be ORGANIC (natural) ex.
Leaves, humans, puddles, etc.
• Shapes are 2-Dimensional and flat.
(circle)
• Forms are 3-Dimensional with
height, width and depth. (sphere)
• Used to create a sense of space
and substance.
SHAPE / FORM
SHAPE / FORM
SPACE
• The area used or unused in a composition.
• Positive space (occupied space) – the area
the objects/subject takes up.
• Negative space (unoccupied space) – the
area around, under, through and between.
• Gives the photo a 3-dimensional feeling Depth of Field
• Foreground (closest) bottom
• Middle ground – middle
• Background (farthest) – top
• Can be open, crowded, near, far, etc.
SPACE
SPACE
SPACE
• Atmospheric Perspective
– Objects close = detailed, bright, sharp
– Objects far = blurred, dull/gray
• One point perspective
– One vanishing point
• 2 point perspective
– 2 vanishing points
SPACE
SPACE
SPACE
VALUE
• Black and White and all the Grays in
between
• Dark to Light
• Can add drama and impact to
composition.
• Can give a sense of timelessness
• Train your eye to read color as Black
and White!
VALUE
VALUE
TEXTURE
• The surface quality.
• How an object feels, or how it looks like
it feels.
• Rough, smooth, bumpy, gooey, sharp,
etc.
• Adds interest! Sense of sight and sense
of touch involved.
TEXTURE
TEXTURE
COLOR
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Artistic term is HUE
Need light to see color.
Primary, Secondary, Intermediates.
Use color schemes to enhance appeal
or make impact.
COLOR
COLOR
COLOR
Principles of Design
The different arrangements – or
compositions - of the ELEMENTS of
design to create artistic, interesting,
more visually powerful photographs.
Principles of Design
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Emphasis / Focal Point
Balance
Unity
Contrast
Movement/ Rhythm
Pattern/Repetition
Economy
EMPHASIS / FOCAL POINT
• Emphasis in a composition refers to
developing points of interest to pull the
viewer's eye to important parts of the
body of the work.
• Size, shape, color, placement,
contrast, etc.
EMPHASIS / FOCAL POINT
EMPHASIS / FOCAL POINT
VARIETY
• Variety is all of the different elements in
the photograph
• Variety adds interest to the work and
keeps the viewer’s eyes moving
around the piece
VARIETY
VARITEY
BALANCE
• Balance is a sense of stability in the
body of work. Balance can be
created by repeating same shapes
and by creating a feeling of equal
weight.
• Symmetrical
• Asymmetrical
BALANCE
BALANCE
BALANCE
BALANCE
UNITY
• Unity is seen in a composition when all the
parts equal a whole.
UNITY
CONTRAST
• Contrast refers to the opposites and
differences in the work.
• You can achieve variety by using
different elements in your work,
such as:
– Shapes
– Textures
– Colors
– Values
CONTRAST
CONTRAST
MOVEMENT / RHYTHM
• Movement adds excitement to your
work by showing action and directing
the viewers eye throughout the picture
plane.
• Rhythm is a type of movement in an
artistic composition. It is seen in
repeating of shapes and colors.
Alternating lights and darks also give a
sense of rhythm.
MOVEMENT /
RHYTHM
PATTERN / REPETITION
• An element that occurs over and over
again in a composition.
• Can repeat the element in a
consistent pattern.
• Can repeat the element in a variation
of the pattern.
PATTERN / REPETITION
PATTERN / REPETITION
ECONOMY
• Economy takes into account that less
is more.
• Using minimal ingredients to convey
the concept.
ECONOMY
Photography
Compositional Concepts
Rule of Thirds
Vantage Point
Framing
Silhouette
Dutch Angle
RULE OF THIRDS
• Natural tendency to be drawn to certain
portions of an artwork/composition
• Adds a great deal of interest when placed:
– At the 4 intersecting points
– One section of the Thirds
• Oppose the direction a figure is facing
VANTAGE POINT
• Gives your photograph a unique/more
interesting view
• Drastically different than the usual 5-6 feet
off the ground
• Bird’s eye view
• Worm’s eye view
• Direct approach
• Angled approach
• Close up
• Long view
FRAMING
– Direct the viewers attention to the primary
subject
– Creates the illusion of depth
– Can obscure unwanted objects in
foreground/background
– Can be naturally occurring
– Tight framing
– Wide framing
– Using an object as a frame
SILHOUETTE
• Conveys drama, mood, mystery
• Simplifies a busy composition
• Place your subject(s) in front of an
interesting light source
DUTCH ANGLE
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Horizon line is angled
Creates a more dynamic composition
Creates feeling of disorientation
Canted, Oblique, German, or Batman
angle
Elements and Principles
of Photography Assignment
• The Elements and Principles are used in
making photographs – not just taking
photographs.
• You have to know and understand the
elements and principles of art to see
them all around you and capture them
in your photos.
• Find 1 example of each element and
principle used in photography
• Save to your Google Drive in a folder
named Elements and Principles
Elements and Principles
of Photography Assignment
• Create a 2 pg MAX Google doc, with a collection of
photograph thumbnails that exemplify the elements,
principles and concepts of photography.
– File Name: concepts_LastName
– Save in your Mod#_DM_LastName folder on Google Drive
– Name: Top Left
– Thumbnails: 1 ½” – 2”
– Label each with the concept UNDER the thumbnail
– 19 total:
• Elements: Line, Shape/Form, Space, Value, Texture, Color
• Principles: Emphasis, Balance, Unity, Contrast , Movement/
Rhythm, Pattern/Repetition, Economy
• Concepts: Rule of Thirds, Vantage Point (2), Framing,
Silhouette, Dutch Angle
Elements and Principles of
Photography Assignment
Art Concept Peer Lesson
• Research and figure out what your word has to do with
PHOTOGRAPHY (start on the Resources page of my website and
please ask me if you need help or clarification!)
• Google Presentation saved as Mod#_LastNames_Concept
(ex. Mod1_SmithVallecorsa_Line)
• At least 10 slides:
– 1. Title Slide
– 2. Explain the concept that was given to you in your own
words.
– 3-6. Show us some examples of the concept in action in
photography—each photo on a separate slide (for this
presentation, using photographs from the Internet is
acceptable because it’s for educational purposes.) Be sure
your images are large and clear.
– 7-8. Each group member includes one original photo each
exemplifying the concept.
– 9. Give us some ideas on how WE can use the concept you
researched to make our own compelling photographs.
– 10. Bibliography (cross-reference your information, at least 3)
• You will show the class your presentations and teach them your
concept starting on Friday.
Art Concept Peer Lesson
Elements
Principles
Concepts
1 Line
2 Shape/Form
3 Space
4 Value
5 Texture
6 Color
7 Emphasis
8 Balance
9 Unity
10 Contrast
11 Movement/
Rhythm
12 Pattern/Repetition
13 Economy
14 Rule of Thirds
15 Vantage Point
birds eye, worms
eye, direct
16 Vantage Point
angles, close up,
long view
17 Framing
18 Silhouette
19 Dutch Angle