Photographic Composition

E&P Homework

Elements and Principals

Emphasis: elements in a piece that are given dominance or attract attention. This photo shows emphasis because the oranges in the background are all the same but the bright glittering ring in the center draws your eye to that section of the photography.

Horizontal Lines: lines that run east & west and give off a sense of calmness and rest. This photo is showing horizontal lines on the building. They are running east and west and give this picture a peaceful state.

Repetition: repeated consistency of an element in a work. This picture is showing repetition because the columns are being repeated multiple times across the photo.

Birds Eye View: a view from above looking down. This picture is showing a birds eye view of a building along with all the people in front of it. It is giving a different view of the architecture.

Vertical Lines: lines that run north and south, that give a photo grandness or spirituality. This photo is showing the vertical lines in the trunks of the trees. The vertical lines are giving this photography a sense of grandness.

Texture: the appearance and feel of a surface. In this photograph, you can see the texture of the wood. You can see how it is both rough and a little jagged. The texture being shown helps give the picture uniqueness.

Formal Balance: one side mirrors the other side by a vertical line. In this photo if you cut vertically down the center of the picture you would have almost the same result on either side. This gives the photo formal balance.

Unity: all elements of a work put together to produce a complete whole. This photo shows unity because of the repeating shape of the gum ball. There is also a little variety in the colors which gives the  picture a sense of unity.

Rule of Thirds: the whole image is divided into 9 equal parts, three vertically and three horizontally; the compositional elements are places on either the lines or the vertexes. This photo is showing the rule of thirds because the focal point (the bird) is placed on one of the vertexes.

Diagonal Lines: lines that run slanted, they often show movement. This photograph has diagonal lines in the road and the buildings. They also show the movement of the lights of the cars, giving the picture a sense of movement.

Variety: differences in elements and principals that show interest. This photo is showing variety not only in the type of plants, but also the color of the flowers. It gives the picture a very interesting look and it often catches the eye of the viewer easily.

Simplicity: singling out an item from their surroundings. This photo shows a bird perched on an arc. The background is blue and the bird is white, so your eye is drawn to the bird. Simplicity often gives a picture a very appealing look because of how simple it is.

Informal Balance: different objects balance each other. If you split this picture down the middle vertically, it would be completely different of both sides. This gives the photo informal balance which makes it a little more interesting.

Movement: shows action and keeps your eye moving throughout. This picture is showing a man riding his bicycle but you can tell he is obviously not just sitting on it without moving. He is making the bike move which is making your eye move.

Leading Lines: lines that lead the eye to other points on or out of the image. This picture has leading lines across and out of the tunnel. It makes your eye move with it leading your eye to the end of the tunnel.

Proportion and Scale: relative size of an object in relation to another. This picture is showing proportion and scale because it is showing that a cigarette butt is much larger than the couple looking at it. It also shows that the butt is in its regular size and the humans are shrunk because you can see the background in relation to it all.

Horizon Line: used to emphasize the sky or ground, it is where the sky and the ground meet. In this photo you see how the ocean eventually meets with the blue sky. This is called the horizon line. The horizon line is not directly half way down the page, it is usually in the upper third or lower third. In this case it is in the upper third of the picture.

Worms Eye View: view from below looking up at something. This photograph is in a worms eye view because it looks like you are on the ground looking up at all of the skyscrapers. This gives it a very dynamic feel

Framing: directs viewers attention to what is important using stuff in the scene. This picture is using framing as a technique because your attention is drawn to the house that is being shown through the pin wheel. This is a very effective technique.

Curved Lines: lines that deviate in a smooth continuous fashion that portray comfort, safety, and relaxation. This photo is showing curved lines in the ceiling windows. They are going across the ceiling giving it a calm look due to the curving lines