The formal elements in photography are the different parts that make the photo. These six elements are: line, shape, repetition/pattern, texture, value/tone, and focus. These elements can help in finding the composition and meaning behind the photo.

The most fundamental part is the lines. Lines will guide the viewer’s eyes around the photo, emphasizing the subject. They can grab the viewer’s attention, as it shows depth or even movement. Lines can be straight, curved, or a mixture of both. These lines can have different solid thicknesses, dashed, or interrupted. They can go in different directions, such as vertical, horizontal, or somewhere else in between. Straight lines can often show up in man-made objects, as they are very precise and near perfection. On the other hand, curved lines can also be man-made but show up more in natural objects. For example, this photo shows the different lines of the stairs, but also the curved staircase. When I saw this photo, the curvy staircase mixed with the straight lines of the stairs made the photo look like it was spinning.

When many lines are connected together, it creates the next element: shapes. Shapes are two-dimensional, as they can be familiar or nonfamiliar. These different shapes create a unique viewpoint. Shapes can only be identifiable when there is a contrast with the surroundings or background. Usually, the viewers look at the subject as the shape, which is known as positive space. However, the negative space in the background can also create different shapes. For example, in the photo, the different lines crossing over the background create different rectangles.

Textures can be felt by hand but also virtually by seeing a photo. A texture is the visual surface characteristics of an object. There are many photos inspired by textures in the natural world, like the photo shown above, which shows the texture of tree bark. An important part of taking photos with textures is having good lighting. This way, it can capture the little details in the photo, showing the unique textures. If the photo lacks lighting, it would make the photo look very smooth, which doesn’t show much surface texture.

Tone/value refers to the levels of brightness in a photo: from solid black to pure white. There are usually no grays in tone. Tones are identified by a color mixture, not a pure hue. Different tones make the mood of the photo different: when it is lighter, it makes the photo happier; however, when it is darker, it makes the photo more solemn. Adding a mixture of tones can make a two-dimensional photo look three-dimensional. For example, the trees in the photo have a dark tone, as it makes the mood very scary and mysterious.

Repetition/patterns are when lines, shapes, colors, and textures are combined together. It is using different elements combined. Using patterns makes the photo very abstract, as it can look different for the viewers. There are different types of patterns: regular patterns, irregular patterns, and breaking patterns. An important part of patterns is symmetry, which creates an eye-catching composition. In symmetry, the subject in the pattern is alike but not exactly the same, which highlights the difference in the subject of the pattern. For example, this photo is a regular pattern, as it focuses on the same shape, which repeats throughout the whole image.

Finally, the focus is the clarity of a photo. This is the process of adjusting the lens of the camera for a desired sharpness for the subject of the photo. This way, it highlights the subject of the photo, as the other parts are blurred in the background. For example, the photo shows the picture of the elephant and the zebra. The focus is on the zebra, which is the subject, as the elephant is walking by in the background. The elephant is not in focus, as half of its body is not shown in the photo.

Overall, I believe that a photo can show more than just an element, as many elements are a combination of each other. The element of patterns can created through the other elements of shapes, lines, textures, and tones. Through the picture of the hexagon pattern, it is clear that there are shapes, lines, patterns, and a little bit of tone. This shows the connection of the different elements, as a photo can be taken with many elements.

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