In photography, the phrase formal elements refers to the different components that make up a photograph, and ‘good’ photographs are often ones that are able to recognize and control these elements to convey their ideas. They are fundamental to photography.

 

 

Line – either one line or multiple lines, straight lines or curving lines, thin lines or thick lines, they make up the photograph and give the audience a different feel. For example, horizontal lines can give a peaceful and stable effect, while vertical lines symbolize growth.

 

 

Shape – tells us what the subject is and how it interacts with its environment. To make a shape stand out, it is often placed in high contrast with its background or surroundings. Shapes can overlap and intersect with each other in the photograph to create different images.

 

 

Texture – the technique emphasizes details, often filling up the entire frame to show the design of the surface. Texture is always three-dimensional, and can be rough, smooth, patterned, irregular, obvious, or subtle. Almost all photographs will have texture as it is present on all things natural or urban. It can be emphasized depending on the amount of light in the photograph.

 

Pattern – multiples of one thing that repeat within the photograph, often filling the entire frame and seen as textural at a glance, or multiple images of likeness. Both methods are able to emphasize differences and similarities all at once. Patterns can be identified at different scales and angles, from the lines on a leaf to a forest of trees from the bird eye’s view. There is no singular subject. Rather, only combined does the objects create an idea of relationship and interaction.

 

 

Tone – a color that is not a pure color hue. Any shade of a color can be considered a tone.

 

 

 

 

Focus – when photographs are out of focus, they have the opportunity to emphasize elements such as shape or pattern. They can detach the audience from the subject and encourage them to look beyond what is straightforward or ‘real’.

 

An image will often show multiple elements at once. For example, all lines can also be seen as shapes, and when photographing different textures they are emphasized by the shapes that make up each design. From a leaf, the texture of the surface can also be seen as a pattern, and the lines of the pattern are also distinct shapes. The surface of the leaf is separated into two tones of green, and if the photograph is out of focus it can emphasize the elements to a further degree.

No citations as all photographs are my own.