Visual Text Photographs

Rhythm Is repetition intended to create a feeling of movement. Visual artists use visual rhythms that you receive through your eyes, not your ears. These are created by repeated positive shapes (beats) separated by negative shapes. (rests between beats)

Examples of Visual Rhythm Lines in a parking lot Coins dropping on the floor A checkerboard Waves on a lake Lockers in a hall that seem to get smaller as they recede or larger as they come toward you.

Balance / Symmetry Visual imbalance ( or unbalanced): makes viewers feel uneasy; they want to “straighten up” the composition Symmetrical Balance: the images on either side of the axis are identical or mirror images of each other Asymmetrical Balance: creates casual effect and seems less planned.

Visual Examples Asymmetrical balance Symmetrical balance Unbalanced

Variety/ Contrast Artists manipulate elements to achieve variety and interest. They can vary lines, shapes, textures and colors. Too much variety however, can cause chaos. Variety should be balanced with harmony.

So, positioning of subject elements to create contrast gives them added emphasis and directs the viewer's attention. In black-and-white photography, contrast is the difference in subject tones from white-to-gray-to-black or from the lightest tone to the darkest tone. In color photography different colors create contrast.

Harmony Can be accomplished in the a variety of ways Repeating objects and elements Making spaces between parts uniform to give a feeling of order Limiting the variety of elements in a work (simplicity)

Emphasis Makes one part of a work dominant over the other parts. In art, what the artist emphasizes controls the sequence in which the viewer notices the parts and the amount of attention the viewer gives each part. Artist can make one element dominant or create a focal point.

Focal Points These can be created by: Contrast Isolation Location Convergence The Unusual

Unity Unity brings order to a work of art. Established through: Harmony, simplicity, and repetition Proximity (the closeness of the different shapes in a work) Continuation (placing objects so that a line or edge of one shape continues through the work, drawing the eye along its line and linking different parts)

Context – when looking at the context of a photograph you are examining the background of the photo and deciding what the subject matter is. Describe the context of the above photograph.

Placement of Subject(s)/Objects – determine what the focus of the photo is and the significance of how things are placed in the photo. What stands out in this photo about the subjects? What is the significance of where they are in the photo?

Lighting – natural lighting What is the effect of using natural lighting in this photo? Consider how if effects the mood of the photo.

Lighting – back-lighting Describe what happens in the photo when you place the lights behind the subject. What feeling does it create?

Lighting – Top Lighting Describe where the lighting falls on the subjects in the photo when they are lite from above. What feeling does it create in the photo? What effect does it have on the interpretation of the subject(s)?

Lighting – Side Lighting Describe what happens to the subject when they are lite from the side. What does this effect imply about the subject?

Lighting – under lighting Describe where the lighting falls on a subject when they are lite from below. How does the subject make you feel with this type of lighting?

Describe what you feel the mood of this photo is Describe what you feel the mood of this photo is. What photographic elements used give you this feeling?

How is balance and harmony created in this photo How is balance and harmony created in this photo? What type of lighting is used in the photo? What effect does it create?

Describe how you think the subject in this photo feels Describe how you think the subject in this photo feels. What feeling does the photo create in the viewer? What do you think the intended theme is of this photograph?

What stands out to about this photo? What are your eyes drawn to first? What feeling does this photo create in you? What techniques used in the photo contribute to this? What do you think was the intended theme of the photographer? What elements of the photographic contribute to this theme?

Bringing it all together… What is the context of the photograph? (Context is what surrounds the subject)   What is signifincant about the placement of subject(s)/object(s) in the photograph? What camera angle has been used in this photograph? What does this angle suggest? What camera distance has been used in the photograph? What is the effect of this camera distance? Describe the lighting used in the photograph. What is the mood of the photograph (what feeling is evoked in the viewer of the photo)? How do colour and light in the photograph contribute to this mood? Write a sentence that explains the theme of the photograph. Why do you think this is the theme of the photograph?