Blog post 4

Blog Task

1. Explain what the phrase Formal Elements means in photography.
2. Describe each of the 6 elements discussed so far (line, shape, pattern, texture, tone, focus)
3. Give an example that emphasizes each element (you can use your own image or an image from somebody else – but it must be cited!)
4. Can an image show just one element at a time? Justify your answer.

Formal Elements of Photography

Definitions have been paraphrased from DX

Formal Elements – they are visual elements that make up an interesting, captivating photograph. These include line, shape, pattern, texture, tone and focus (DX).

Line – Objects are framed in a way that emphasize on their lines, which can be of varied lengths, boldness, directions. They can be both straight or curvy, and can suggest direction and guide the audience’s attention (DX).

Shape – geometric/organic shapes created through lines or elements of the scene (DX).

Repetition/Pattern – shapes/lines/elements in the scene which repeat and create a pattern (DX).

Texture – The subject is photographed in a way that suggests different sensory feelings when touched, for example, smooth, coarse, uneven (DX).

Value/Tone – shades and shadows in a photograph, for example dark VS light and portrayal of value (DX).

Focus – deals with parts of the scene the camera focuses on, which parts are clearest or sharpest? Sometimes, this can just be the whole photo (DX).

Example of Formal Elements

I used my own images as examples!

Line –

Shape – 

Repetition/Pattern – 

Texture –

 

Value/Tone – 

Focus

Discussion Question

Can an image show just one element at a time? Justify your answer.

Generally I think this is near impossible to do. Unless you isolate your composition until there is only a line and a blank background, you can always identify more than one element. They might not be the most detailed or interesting, however, everything is composed of lines, so that’s already one element. Lines are 2 dimensional and have no width, so you would also need either another element of photography, a background, or repeated lines to fill in a photograph. That would then show another element of photography.

Even an abstract photograph of, say, just a pipe, will include at least 2 elements: line and texture. If it has a background, it might also have elements of value/tone. So, generally, I think that one image usually will show more than 1 element at a time.

Citation

Dawson, Mike. “Formal Elements – Blog Posts 4 & PHOTO ANALYSIS – Blog Post 5.” Login / International School of Beijing, dx.isb.cn/dash/#/classroom/648607/sections/lesson/344121/page/344128. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.