Elements of Art and Principles of Design in Photography

Lines - are marks made by a pointed tool: brush, pencil, pen, etc. Lines can vary in width, direction, curvature, length, or color.

This represents line because you are able to see the line that makes a bull.

I chose this photo because you can clearly see the lines on on top of the tunnel. 

 Shapes - are formed wherever the ends of a continuous line meet. Geometric shapes such as circles, triangles or squares have perfect, uniform measurements and don't often appear in nature. Organic shapes are associated with things from the natural world, like plants and animals.

I chose the painting because you are able to see rectangles and squares that make the windows.

I chose this photo because you are able to see a lot of square shapes that form windows

Color - color wheels show the primary colors, secondary colors, and the tertiary (intermediate) colors. They also show the relationships between complementary colors across from each other, such as blue and orange; and analogous (similar or related) colors next to each other such as yellow, green, and blue. Black and white may be thought of as colors but, in fact, they are not. White light is the presence of all color; black is the absence of reflected light and therefore the absence of color.

I chose this painting because you are able to see the relationship between complementary color which are blue and orange.

This photo shows color because analogous (similar or related) colors next to each other such as yellow, green, and blue are clearly shown in this photo.

Value - or tone, refers to dark and light; the value scale refers to black and white with all gradations of gray in between.  Value contrasts help us to see and understand a two-dimensional work of art.

I chose this painting because you are able to see white and black and the grey in between.

This photo represents value because on the bottom right its pretty dark and then at the top left its lighter.

 Form - describes objects that are three-dimensional, having length, width, and height.

I chose this painting because you can clearly see that each object has length width and height.

I chose this photo for form because you are able to see that the pole has large amounts of width.

Texture - can be rough, bumpy, slick, scratchy, smooth, silky, soft, prickly--the list is endless.  Texture refers to the surface quality, both simulated and actual, of artwork.

This painting falls into the elements of art because the painting has this rough bumpy look.

This photo can be placed in the texture category in elements of art because the hand are touching a branch which texture is rough and scratchy 

Space - refers to distances or areas around, between, or within components of a piece. Space can be positive (white or light) or  negative (black or dark), open or closed,shallow or deep, and two-dimensional or three-dimensional. 

This painting shows space because it has a distant between the two people.

This photo is represented as space because it shows negative spacing meaning the dark shades in the photo.

Balance - is the comfortable or pleasing arrangement of things in art.  There are three different types of balance: symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial. The human figure is symmetrically balanced; the same on the left and right side. The tree is asymmetrically balanced; its branches are not distributed equally on each side, but their total weight is balanced left and right. The sun is an example of radial balance; all its rays are equal in length from the center. 

This painting is balanced cause you can tell each side is the same

This photo is balanced because you can clearly see whatever is on the right side is the exact same on the left hand side.

Contrast - is created by using elements that conflict with one another. Often, contrast is created using complementary colors or extremely light and dark values. Contrast creates interest in a piece and often draws the eye to certain areas. It is used to make a painting look interesting.

This painting is a form of contrast because it creates dark values. 

This photo is contrast because it creates an area for the eye to focus on.

Emphasis in the focal area of an artwork gives it importance.  An artist may stress some elements of the design over others. The eye of the viewer will focus on the area of emphasis or center of interest first, then take in the rest of the composition. 

This painting represents emphasis because is causes the eye to focus in on one thing then allows it to view the rest of the picture.

This shows emphasis because you focus in on one thing then make your way to the rest of the composition.

Movement - in an artwork means the artist is taking viewers on a trip through the work by means of lines, edges, shapes, and colors often leading to the focal area.  Movement is a visual flow through the composition. It can be the suggestion of motion in a design as you move from object to object by way of placement and position.  Directional movement can be created with a value pattern. It is with the placement of dark and light areas that you can move your attention through the format.

This shows movement because you can see the way the waves move.

This shows movement because you can see the motion of the man.

Patterns - are made in art when the same shapes or elements are repeated again and again.  Pattern uses the elements of art in planned or random repetitions to enhance surfaces of paintings or sculptures.

This is pattern because it has the same color and shape.

This is pattern because it is repeated and has the same color shape and is continued on and on.

Rhythm is the repetition of shapes, lines, and forms.  Rhythm is a movement in which some elements recurs regularly.  Like a dance, it will have a flow of objects that will seem to be like the beat of music.

This shows rhythm because you can see the flow of the waves of sand and how the repeat.

This shows rhythm because it repeats and has the same flow.

Unity means that all elements in an artwork are in harmony.  Unity brings together a composition with similar units.  For example, if your composition was using wavy lines and organic shapes you would stay with those types of lines and not put in even one geometric shape.

This show unity because you can see how the artist stayed with the same lines.

This shows unity because each figure is doing the same thing and they are moving in the same direction.

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