Composition Shooting Assignment

Phone

DSLR

What is Composition?

1.     What is composition?

C Composition is how the elements of a photograph are arranged and placed so that their different characteristics express the theme of the picture.

2.     Why is it important to understand & utilize composition in photography?

IiIt is important to understand and use composition because it makes the photograph so much more interesting.  it gives the picture meaning, and it shows thought and artistic design which captures the viewers attention.

3.     Describe aspects of a “snapshot”.

A A snapshot is just the clicking of the shutter button, to capture the moment in a picture quickly.  It has not been planned, and does not have intentional meaning.  

4.     Describe aspects of a “photograph”.

A A photograph has been planned out and thought through.  The artist is trying to communicate something about the nature of his subject.  He incorporates artistic tools to help him accomplish a theme that is present throughout the picture.

5.     “Photography is the art of _________discovery_______________”

a.     Describe what interests you the most about this art form or what drew you to this form of communication.

Understanding Focal Length

Focal Length: 18 mm

Focal Length: 24 mm

Focal Length: 35 mm

Focal Length: 55 mm

Different lenses have different types of zoom.  A Prime lens has a fixed focal length and it is smaller and more light weight.  However, a zoom lens has variable focal lengths, so you do not have to change to lens as frequently because you can change your focal length.  The smaller the focal length, the farther away the object appears.  The larger the focal length, the closer the object appears.

Elements and Principles of Photography

Leading Lines

Lines in a photograph that are used to draw the audience's attention to the focus of the picture.  

This picture has leading lines because the boards are going off into the distance at the back of the picture, leading the audience's eyes to the forest.  This relates to me because I love to run outside, and I often run in a place that looks like this, boards and everything.


Vertical Lines

Lines that are used to show power and strength, as well as growth in some cases.

The vertical lines that are made by the piano keys show the strength of the music that they can play, it reminds me of the music my sister played and how powerful it sounded.


Horizontal Lines

Lines in a picture that convey rest, peacefulness and stability.

Comfort, safety, familiarity, relaxation.x  

The horizontal lines made by the dough give off a peaceful aura, as if the baker has left on a break.  This picture connects to me because my mom, sister, and I often make (find our from mom what they are called)

Diagonal Lines
Lines in a picture that help to move the audiences eyes through the photograph, a sense of movement.

The lines in the web draw the audiences eyes all throughout the picture, I love being outdoors and paying attention to the nature around me.

Curved Lines
Lines that are not linear, they show grace and movement, as well as giving the photograph a flowing and gentle feeling.

The lines created by the edges of the spheres and sidewalk make the photograph feel like it's flowing, these spheres remind me of the ones outside of Target.

Symmetrical Balance
The picture has the same visual weight on both sides of the picture, usually a mirror image.

continuos fashion.

The chairs reflect each other, and they mirror each other.  I like to travel, but I had never considered an airport could be artistic.

Asymmetrical Balance

Both sides of the picture are not equal, and gives the photograph a mismatched look.

This picture isn't equal because the man and the woman are different.  I love the balance in the picture, and it would be a shot well within my reach of resources.

Unity

When the pieces of a photograph work well together as a whole.

This picture has unity because all of the dounuts and pasteries work well together since they are similar.  I could find other food items that are similar and set them up creatively to demonstrate unity.

Variety

Having pieces in your photograph that differ from one another.

The different pieces of the picture (the bike, the door, the window) create interest because they are not all similar.  I have a shed and old boards and bikes so all of these resources I could find at my house.

Movement/Rhythm

The pieces of the picture move the audience's eyes throughout the picture, often the movement will end at the focal point, or off the page.

The blurred lines that the cars make lead the eye to the focal point, which is the city in the background.  I often travel with my family, but any populated area with an extended shutter speed would work.

Emphasis

Some part of the photograph that draws attention to itself, or has attention drawn to it, and so it becomes the focal point.

This picture shows emphasis because the background and foreground are plain, so the cat draws our attention due to it's simply surroundings.  I also have a cat, so maybe I can creatively incorporate her in my pictures if she cooperates.

Proportion/Scale

Proportion is the size of pieces of something in relation to other pieces of the same thing.  Scale is the size of an object in relation to other objects. 

The size of the duck has a different scale from reality.  This is because the duck is so much larger than the humans.

Repetition/Pattern

Replication of an object or other visual aid that help to unify the picture, the replicas can be exact or with variety.

The repetition of the chairs creates interest and rhythm.  I could easily take a picture like this with school chairs. 

Bird's Eye View

The picture is being taken from a point that is elevated above the subject to create the effect that may resemble a bird's perspective.

This is a bird's eye view because the photographer is high above the buildings and is looking down from them.  Even though I don't live near a city, I could recreate this effect from the top of any building.

Worm's Eye View

The picture is being taken from the ground looking up at the subject, this makes it seem as if the picture is being taken from the perspective of a worm.

This picture is being taken from the ground looking up at the cows.  I live close to cows and I was impressed by how interesting subjects they could be, this picture showed me a lot can change due to perspective.

Horizon Line

The horizon line separates the sky and the ground in the picture and is used to convey the perspective the picture was taken from as well as what the picture is trying to emphasize.

The horizon emphasizes the ground more, which brings the audience's attention to the vertical and horizontal lines of the fence.  I live near farms so this is a common landscape that I could take a picture of.

Rule of Thirds

The subject of the picture is placed on the intersecting third lines that divide the picture vertically and horizontally.

The dog is placed strategically in an intersection of vertical and horizontal guidelines.  I have a dog so if I wanted to take a more interesting picture of him, I should place him more strategically in the picture.

Framing

The subject is singled out from the rest of the photograph so that the focus is on it.

I loved the simplicity of this photograph, anyone could so easily take this picture, yet it is really beautiful.  The person's hand frames the sun, which is the subject.

Simplicity

Making sure that the picture doesn't look too busy, which usually means having a plain background, maybe in a neutral color.

The color of the frog and the background match, making the picture extremely simple, since the only objects are the frog and the stick.  I could use this idea with a bug or possibly small creature, but I think finding a bug is more likely. 

Texture

When a certain texture is the focus of the picture, and the feeling of the subject is accurately conveyed.

The texture of this backpack is the focus of the picture, and I could easily use everyday textures like my backpack.

Elements & Principles of Design:

Asymmetrical Balance

Curved Lines

Diagonal Lines

Emphasis

Framing

Horizon Line

Horizontal Lines

Leading Lines

Movement/Rhythm

Pattern/Repetition

Proportion/Scale

Rule of Thirds

Simplicity

Symmetrical Balance

Texture

Unity

Variety

Vertical Lines

Image	E/P of Design	Rational
	Framing	Directs viewer's attention to what is important using objects or elements existing in the scene.
	Repetition	All of the leaves are identical, and they are a lot of them to show the repetition in the piece. The repeated consistency of an element in a work.
	Bird's Eye View	We are looking down on the subjects as if we are far above them, like a bird. View above looking down
	Rule of Thirds	The stork is in one of the intersecting points of the vertical third lines and the horizontal third lines.
	Symmetrical Balance	One side balances or mirrors the other (separated by a vertical line)
	Vertical Lines	Lines represent grandness and spirituality
	Unity	All elements of a piece work together to produce a balanced, harmonious, complete whole
	Asymmetrical Balance	The tree in the right side is balanced by the rock formation on the left, but they are not the same. Different objects balance each other out on the page
	Leading Lines	Lines that lead the eye to other points in the image (or out of the image)
	Horizontal Lines	Lines represent rest, calmness, tranquility
	Diagonal Lines	Lines mean movement and direction
	Proportion/Scale	The relative size of one object in relation to another.
	Texture	The sections of rope show the rope's texture, and employ the texture of the rope as a main focus of the picture. The appearance or feel of a surface.
	Curved Lines	Lines represent comfort, safety, familiarity, relaxation
	Movement/Rhythm	Shows action and the path of the viewer's eyes through the artwork Doesn't have to be a moving photograph
	Worm's Eye View	View from below looking up
	Emphasis	Elements in a piece that are given dominance to attract attention.
	Variety	Differences in elements and principles of design that give interest to a composition
	Simplicity	The monochromatic color scheme and the simple background show the simplicity of the picture. Singling out an item from their surroundings
	Horizon Line	Where the sky and the ground meet, emphasizing sky or ground to emphasize tree.