6 Elements of Design for Striking Photographs.docx

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6 Elements of Design for Striking

Photographs

Diana Eftaihaon May 12th 2010 with36 CommentsThis entry is part 3 of 9 in theCompositionSession -Show All

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What makes a striking photo? Often, its merely ordinary things composed in an ordinarymanner. Thats because they always tend to have a single theme or idea, and because clutter is

kept to a minimum. They are simple, true, and sincere. Today were looking at the elements ofdesign (line, shape, form, texture, color etc) that can turn a simple subject into a striking photo.

Successful photos rely on order, and the main elements that bring and emphasize order in acomposition are: line, shape, form, texture, pattern, and color. Every photograph, intentionally or

not, contains one or more of these element, which are known as the elements of design.

All of these elements have a huge impact on a photo, especially the line, texture, and color.

Usually we recognize and utilize these elements unconsciously. This depends on the individuals

sensitivity to the different visual components out there, and is very much affected by the personsmemories and life experiences that are registered on their own personal mind tape.

Line

Out of the 6 elements of design, line is the strongest and most important and influential. Withoutline there can be no shape. Without shape there can be no form. Without form there can be no

texture and there can be no pattern. Lines are powerful tools that can be used smartly to lead the

viewers eyes towards the point of interest in a photograph, and alter the overall feeling and moodof an image.

Lines can be vertical, horizontal, diagonal, or curved. Lines can be short or tall, can be thick orthin. Lines can lead you away, or move you forward in an image. A lines emotional effect on an

image cannot be overlooked. They sometimes feel restful, soothing, rigid, active, guiding, or

threatening.

Thin lines can be experienced by some as unstable, and by others as vulnerable. Thick lines canbe experienced as rigid and dependant, or can be experienced as dominating or stern. Curvedlines are often perceived as soft, soothing, settling, and relaxing. Jagged lines can be perceived as

forceful, chaotic, sharp, and threatening.

Vertical lines in a photograph tend to convey different moods, ranging from power and strength,

to growth. Vertical lines can include strands of hair, poles, trees, buildings, and a lot of other

different objects that expand vertically rather than horizontally.
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Horizontal lines in a photo tend to cast a feeling of restfulness, permanency, and stability. If you

want to further accentuate the restful, stable feeling of a horizontal line in an image, a good way

is to use horizontal framing rather than vertical.

Layers of multiple horizontal lines in an image can create drama and rhythm, and can become

the main interest of the image all by themselves. Horizontal lines can include horizons, seas,laying people, street sides, and almost anything that expands horizontally.

Diagonal lines work well to guide the viewers attention towards the main subject of your photo.They can convey a sense of action and render photos as dynamic and interesting. Diagonal lines

can be the shape of a path, a line of trees, a fence, river or any other component of an image.


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Shape

The second most fundamental element of design is shape, because shape is the principal element

of identification. The most important thing to keep in mind when shape is the essential elementin an image is that it is best defined when the subject is frontlit or backlit. For that shape to be

successfully identifiable, it needs to be in strong contrast with its surroundings so that it is

detached from the clutter around it.

Shapes in images can also be seen as silhouettesthese are best shot several minutes before

sunset up to several minutes following it, as well as several minutes before sunrise up to several

minutes following it. It is also worth mentioning that silhouettes are the purist and strongest of

all shapes.

Form

Form is basically a three-dimensional shape, and is best accentuated by side lighting since itcasts soft elegant shadows, and the difference between light and shadows gives a better

illustration of the depth of an object and amplifies the sensual understanding of its meaning and

message.


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Texture

No design element is more capable of moving your deep emotions than texture. The challenge of

seeing and capturing texture is mostly based on one elementlight. Texture can be accentuatedby the side light of early sunny mornings or early evenings, or by overhead light when the sun is

vertical and high in the sky.


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With the sun high in the sky, the roughness of the walls of buildings, or the wood textures of treetrunks, or any kind of texture along vertical surfaces is emphasized as the overhead light casts

small shadows along those surfaces. While the impact is subtle, it adds more depth, interest, and

reality to the shots.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that texture as a background can create an exciting and emotion-filled composition. And with the correct use of texture, pictures can become more alive and

almost three dimensional.


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Pattern

Life is full of patterns. It is all part of our cosmic existence, for without patterns our lives would

be utter chaos. Most patterns we dont recognize or we overlook because of our busy, routine-driven, daily lives.

Two techniques come into practice while working with patterns; you can emphasise the pattern,or you can break it:

Emphasising a pattern can accentuate a sense of size and expansion. The idea is to zoom in onto

the pattern and fill the frame with it. Emphasized pattern can include faces amongst a crowd, aline of homogenous plants, bricks of a wall, etc


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Breaking a pattern is all about finding an object that disrupts the continuous flow of a pattern. It

can be an object that is in clear contrast with the rest of the objects; be it in shape, color, or even

texture. You might need to handle your composition with extra care while trying to render abroken pattern, and the rule of thirds can come in handy in such situations.

For example, you can place your "odd" object along one of the thirds or on one of theirintersecting points. You can also play with your depth of field. Have the contrasting item in

sharp focus and the items around it fading slowly into the out-of-focus. Broken patterns can be

found naturally, or some situations can be manipulated to disrupt readily existing patterns.


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Color

Color is characterized by attributes such as value, hue, and saturation. Colors, and how theyre

arranged, can either make or break a shot. Different colors can send out different messages, andthey indeed have an important visual weight and impact on a photo.

Vibrant colors are energetic, interesting, and active. So are reds and yellows. Blues and greensare comforting and soothing. The path towards creating creative photos benefits from a high

understanding of colors and their impact on an image, as well as a high awareness of colors

surrounding you.

There are colors everywhere. Macro insect photography is filled with interesting colors. Nature,

cities, people and their clothing, houses, streets, skies, beacheseverything around you is filledwith color. You just need to be aware of it, and train your eyes to see it. Paying attention to color

and its emotional messages and meanings is an important step towards photographic maturity.

It is worth mentioning that there are two types of colors; subtractive and additive. Each type has

two sets of its own; primary colors, and secondary colors. Painting, photography, and printing

use subtractive colors, and this is our concern in this post.


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Red, blue, and yellow are called primary subtractive color, from these colors the secondary

subtractive colors violet, orange, and green emerge. Mixing red and blue creates violet. Mixing

blue and yellow creates green, mixing yellow and red creates orange. Mixing equal amounts of

blue, red, and yellow produces black.

Pairs of colors that fall opposite to each other on the above color wheel are calledcomplementary colors. These pairs complement and intensify one another when put together.

Studying the color wheel can give you a better understanding as to how colors affect or

complement each other, so that you can use this knowledge to better prevail the correct meanings

and messages in your photography.


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Note that yellow, red, and orange are considered to be warm colors. These are associated with

sun and fire. Blue, violet, and green are considered cool colors. These are associated with snow,

water, and shadows.


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Conclusion

Elements of design are the most basic visual components of any composition. Understanding the

elements of design, how they affect and complement each other, and what messages they conveyis the way to step up with your photographic images and create stunning work that reaches out topeoples hearts and souls.

hese are the building blocks for creating your own work of art. Putting these elements together,

and knowing how/when to use them will make your photos far more effective and purposeful.

These elements are all around us, we just need to train our eyes to see and capture them, and ourminds and souls to translate them into conveying our own emotions and ideas. Then, and only

then, will our work become eye-catching and dramatic.

Documents

6 Elements of Design for Striking Photographs.docx