“ The task of artists is to organize elements into a comprehensible whole by simplifying, organizing, and unifying.” - Kenneth Bates

E lements + P rinciples = C omposition MUST understand elements & principles to recognize them and capture them. ELEMENTS = the Composition’s individual parts PRINCIPLES = the Composition’s organizing ideas COMPOSITION refers to the arrangement and relationship to the different parts that make up the whole image.

Why some work & some don’t? Effective images are those that command attention and communicate some feelings to an audience. Capturing a “feeling” and your viewer’s attention is a demanding task that requires practice, experimentation and study.

The key to the mystery... To create effective images a photographer must understand the way people respond to various kinds of visual organization. This involves learning the vocabulary of design, viewing examples of artwork that utilize effective design elements, and actually implementing components of design into the process of photography.

Elements & Principles LineShapeFormSpaceColourTextureBalanceEmphasisMovementPatternRepetitionRhythm ProportionVarietyUnityContrast

The direction and orientation of a line can imply certain feelings. Lines with feelings … you MUST be kidding … right? Let’s look at some examples:

can imply tranquility, rest, stability.

can imply power & strength.

can imply movement, action, change, & dynamic energy.

can imply quiet, calm, & sensual feelings.

Shape describes two dimensional space. It is defined by other elements of design like colour, line, space, and value. Form is the three dimensional counterpart to shape. Shape is to form as a square is to a cube.

Shape pertains to the use of areas in two dimensional space that can be defined by edges, setting one flat specific space apart from another. Shapes can be geometric or organic. Shapes are defined by the other elements of art.

Form may be created by the forming of two or more shapes or as three-dimensional shape (cube, pyramid, sphere, cylinder, etc.) It may be enhanced by tone, texture and colour. Form is considered three-dimensional showing height, width, and depth.

Space is the area provided for a particular purpose. Space includes the background, foreground, and middle ground. Space refers to the distances or areas around, between or within components of a piece. Two types of space: 1.Positive space refers to the space of a shape representing the subject matter. 2.Negative space refers to the space around and between the subject matter. Space is also defined as the distance between identifiable points or planes in a work of art.

Colour affects human beings. Men and women respond to colours differently. Colour affects us emotionally, with different colours evoking different emotions. In short colour has the capacity to affect the human nervous system. Colour Aspects: 1.Chroma 2.Intensity 3.Value

The texture is the quality of a surface or the way any work of art is represented. Lines and shading can be used to create different textures as well. It can be implied or real. What you can feel with your sense of touch.

Value is the degree of light and dark in a design/composition. It is the contrast between black and white and all tones in between.

The way the elements of art are arranged to create a feeling of stability. 1.Symmetrical (Formal) – left & right sides are the same. 2.Asymmetrical (Informal) – left & right sides contain elements similar in weight. 3.Radial – design elements radiate from a center point.

Emphasis is when special importance or significance is placed on or imparted to something … Stress given to a syllable, word, or phrase. The principle is known as “The Attention Giver”

Movement is the path the viewer’s eye takes through the work of art, often to focal areas. Such movement can be directed along lines, edges, shape, and color within the work of art. Can be implied.

Pattern is the repeating of an object or symbol all over the work of art.

Repetition works with pattern to make the work of art seem active. The repetition of elements of design creates unity within the work of art.

Rhythm is about the rate the eye moves throughout the work of art. This is usually because the eye moves, jumps or slides from one similar elements to another in a way similar to music.

Proportion is the feeling of unity created when all parts (sizes, amounts, or number) relate well with each other. The relation to one object/subject to another object/subject in terms of scale.

Variety is the use of several elements of design to hold the viewer’s attention & to guide the viewer’s eye through the work of art.

Unity is the feeling of harmony between all parts of the work of art, which creates a sense of completeness.

Contrast offers some change in value creating a visual discord in a composition. Contrast shows the difference between shapes and can be used as a background to bring objects out and forward in a design. It can be used to create an area of emphasis.

In-Class Today: Finding & analyzing Elements & Principles – Each student will travel around campus in search of examples of all elements and principles of art and design. They will create a collection of photographs and turn them in at the end of class. Home Work Home Work: 1.Review Elements & Principles & Composition for Quiz 2.Watch The Effect of Color