Elements and Principles of Design

ELEMENT & PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

Leading:

Refers to a technique of composition where the viewer of your photos attention is drawn to lines that lead to the main subject of the image.

LEADING LINES

Vertical:

The eye is drawn up and down the picture.

VERTICAL LINES

Horizontal:

To be found in photographs and they often act as a dividing point in a photograph.

HORIZONTAL LINES

Curved:

They are also used as a popular design technique for leading the eye into the frame. 

DIAGONAL LINES

Diagonal:

Is to lead the eye to a certain point in the photo. 

DIAGONAL LINES

Balance:

is a compositional technique in photography that juxtaposes images within a frame so that the objects are of equal visual weight.

BALANCE

Symmetrical: 
refers to a line that splits an object in half and, if both sides of the object are an exact mirror image of each other.

SYMMETICAL


Asymmetrical: 
not identical on both sides of a central line; unsymmetrical; lacking symmetry: Most faces are asymmetric

ASYMMETRICAL


Unity: 

A principle of art, unity occurs when all of the elements of a piece combine to make a balanced, harmonious, complete whole. 

UNITY


Variety:
the means an artist uses to organize elements within a work of art. 

VARIETY


Movement / Rhythm: 

These repeated photographic elements will create a type of unity and structure to your photography. By finding a pattern in lines, shapes or colors you can easily add rhythm to your photographs that the human eye will easily follow. 

MOVEMENT / RHYTHM

Emphasis: 

 defined as an area or object within the artwork that draws attention and becomes a focal point. 

EMPHASIS

Proportion / Scale: 

refers to the relative size and scale of the various elements in a design. 

PROPORTION / SCALE

Repetition / Pattern: 

Repeating a shape throughout your photo is a way to grab the attention of your audience and draw them into the image.

REPETITION / PATTERN



Point of View:
Also, known as POV shot, first-person shot or a subjective camera.

POV
Bird’s eye:

 Elevated view of an object from above, with a perspective as though the observer were a bird. worm’s eye: a view of an object from below, as though the observer were a worm.

BIRDS EYE


Worm’s eye: 

a view of an object from below, as though the observer were a worm.

WORMS EYE

Rule of Thirds: 

The basic principle behind the rule of thirds is to imagine breaking an image down into thirds (both horizontally and vertically) so that you have 9 parts.

RULE OF THIRDS

Framing:

 refers to using elements of a scene to create a frame within your frame.

FRAMING

Simplicity:

 is to place the subject against a neutral background such as a backdrop or the sky.

SIMPLICITY