Elements of Photography
- Explain what the phrase Formal Elements means in photography?
There are 6 elements in photography art that demonstrate what we see in formal languages.
2. Describe each of the 6 elements discussed so far (line, shape, pattern, texture, tone, focus)
Line: The lines that appear in photos (vertical, horizontal, curve, etc.) create some infinite tones and drama.
Shape: There are shapes used in photographs such as squares, rectangles, circles, etc. They can create the contrasting and overlapping feeling of the whole picture.
Pattern/Repetition: Repetition can be a pattern but a pattern can’t be a repetition, they are small pictures that repeat (or go in a trend) again and again in the whole picture.
Texture: Some textures of surfaces can involve rocky, spilled, which contain textural quality.
Value: Some pictures have darker values and some have lighter, some gradually change and some have more than one color.
Focus: For the audience to see the main subject, usually by setting the back blurry and the focus clear.
3. Give an example that emphasizes each element
Line: the footprints create a straight line at first, and then curves to have angles. This also established a contrasting tone between the different types of lines.
Shape: This picture had various shapes overlapping or on top which creates a comprehensive feeling when the audience sees it.
Pattern: The squares were repeated and connected in this photo, and the image trying to show on the left side defines the object.
Texture: This picture seeks to show the texture of crumpled paper, even though it’s just a picture, it somehow can convey the feeling of how the paper feels.
Value: This picture shows the value of blue in which the right top doesn’t have the sun so its darker, and the left lighter. (gradation?)
Focus: This image states the focus as the flower held by the little girl, and only the flower and her hand was clear, and the background (the girl’s face and grass).
- Can an image show just one element at a time? Justify your answer.
In my opinion, no. All pictures contain different elements, even if its just all white and a line, there are color contrasts, shapes, etc. It only depends on whether you want to extrude which element.