Assignment 2: Elements of Design

The section of study just completed has given an understanding of the basic principles of graphic design in photography.  The knowledge gained during this section has enabled me to apply these principles to my own work.

This assignment is an amalgamation of all the key uses of design in photography through one of my favorite subjects, flowers.

Photograph 1 shows a single point that dominates the composition:

The white against the shocking pink petal makes the little flower dominate this composition.  The off centre alignment of the white flower makes the positioning less static which is essential when framing a single point.  There are other features within the frame to lead your eye around the photo but the white flower is where the eye starts and settles.

Photograph two shows two points within the frame:

I chose this photo to represent two points to show that two points don’t have to be of equal focus to be significant.  What makes these two points work is that the flower in focus makes up the bottom half and centre of the frame with the out of focus flower making up the rest of the top half of the frame balancing out the composition.

Photograph 3 shows several points in a deliberate shape:

When choosing the correct framing for this photograph I had in mind the need to create a deliberate shape and initially had an implied circle in mind.  Now looking at the photograph there are many shapes that can be drawn from this composition making it even more interesting than first intended.

Photograph 4 shows a combination of vertical and horizontal lines:

When photographing flowers I love to use a macro lens and get right into the small parts of the subject and draw out the details that otherwise aren’t seen.  When looking for a subject to represent vertical and horizontal lines I couldn’t find a flower than had this criteria in the close up details.  I did however find a colourful flower bed that with the right framing would show vertical and horizontal lines.  I had to think outside the box and out of my usual style to achieve this representation.

Photograph 5 shows diagonals:

The petals in this photograph are arranged diagonally pointing towards and giving focus to the centre.  The focal point is also off centre giving some movement to this composition.

Photograph 6 shows curves:

Starting with the larger and outside petal the light around the top accentuates the curve and the shadow inside creates more depth and leads your eye on to the next petal eventually settling in the centre and back out again.

Photograph 7 shows distinct shapes:

Looking at the detail in this orchid each curve is made up of small circles almost like small stones balancing on one another.  These curves then when put together make bigger circles and ovals.

Photograph 8 and 9 shows implied triangles:

The five flowers together represent a triangle with a downward convergence.  Even the three flowers at the front have contrasting colours for centres and them themselves offer another example of a triangle with a downward convergence.

This flower, known as hotlips, is much simpler than the arrangement of forget me nots in that its a single flower with an implied triangular shape in an upward convergence.

Photograph 10 shows rhythm:

The small curved purple stems against the white background are repetitive and pointing toward the centre bud giving your eye chance to look around the frame before settling in the middle.

Photograph 11 shows pattern:

The pattern here is represented by each individual bud being the same or similar.  Even though the pattern is slightly broken by an uneven spread the framing is tight to keep the pattern visible.

All of these photos were an absolute joy to search out and find the design elements required to fulfill the criteria of this assignment.  What I found most enjoyable was looking at everything with a different eye all of a sudden.  Traffic cones become upward convergent triangles.  umbrellas show diagonals.  The facade of my house represents verticals and diagonals.  Now when looking through the viewfinder of my camera I’m looking for the design element within the frame to see which criteria the subject fits to make great photo.

Assignment 1 – Contrasts: Part 2

Solid – Liquid

This photo contains two contrasts in itself.  The solid rock sits within the liquid sea.  However, another contrast is that it shouldn’t be assumed that the rock is stronger because it’s solid.  The rock will never consume the water but the water, over time, will consume the rock.

Assignment 1 – Contrasts: Part One

Assignment 1, P   – Carried out 4/3/12.

I have looked back through the photographs I have taken so far to find the contrasting pairs needed for to complete this assignment.  Surprisingly I found five pairs of contrasts and one that is a contrasting pair in itself which is the requirement.

On a previous photography course I was asked to find images with contrasting colours.  It was easy to find instances of colour contrast as there is some form of colour in every image.  The difficulty I found with the contrasting pairs for this assignment was making them relevant to each other.  The following photographs are the contrasting pairs I selected from my portfolio.

Many – Few:
     
Many – Jelly Beans                                 Few – Jelly Sweets
The jelly beans extend beyond the frame which suggests that there is more than what you can see.  There are only three jelly sweets all clearly within the frame so compared to the jelly beans they are few.

Diagonal – Rounded:
     
Diagonal – Climbing Ladybird   Rounded – Wall
The diagonal image gives a much different feel to the rounded.  The Diagonal climb looks difficult but the rounded wall seems flowing and seamless.

Light – Dark:
     
Light – Orchid                                               Dark – Orchid
Rather than the traditional photographic sense of light and dark I wanted to show those qualities in a subject.  One orchid would lighten a mood and the other would appear quite dark and moody.

Curved – Straight

     
Curved – Posts                                                            Straight – Posts
The curve of the posts is quite subtle and in stark contrast is the cold straight Posts.

Large – Small
     
Large – Ironbridge                                      Small – Ladybird
It’s difficult to show large and small unless you have something within the same frame to compare the size to.  There are two white dots on top of the Ironbridge, they are people.  So in comparison the bridge is Large.  In contrast the Ladybird has fibres attached to its body which are so small it’s difficult to see with the human eye.

     
Black – Patterdale Terrier (Angel)              White – Parson Russell Terrier (Morrissey)
This was the most obvious contrast for me as I chose them to be contrasting. 

Still – Moving
     
Still – Sea                                                     Moving – Water Fountain
The sea appears to be still as there is nothing in the frame to suggest otherwise. Whereas the water fountain is creating droplets and ripples in the water indicating that it’s moving.

High – Low:
     
High Tide                                                     Low Tide
Both of these photos are of Tenby harbour taken at different time.  The first photo shows the boats floating in high tide and the second photo shows the boats on the sea bed during low tide.