Objective: Students will understand and apply the principles of design in a series of photographs.
What are the "Principles of Design?"
If the elements of art are the building blocks of art, then the principles of design are HOW those building blocks are put together in a composition. The principles of design include: rhythm, repetition, unity, contrast, balance, and emphasis.
RHYTHM
Rhythm is the repetition or alternation of elements, often with defined intervals between them. Rhythm can create a sense of MOVEMENT in your photograph, as your eye will tend to follow the repeated elements throughout your composition.
If the elements of art are the building blocks of art, then the principles of design are HOW those building blocks are put together in a composition. The principles of design include: rhythm, repetition, unity, contrast, balance, and emphasis.
RHYTHM
Rhythm is the repetition or alternation of elements, often with defined intervals between them. Rhythm can create a sense of MOVEMENT in your photograph, as your eye will tend to follow the repeated elements throughout your composition.
REPETITION
Pattern and repetition refers to repeating visual elements such as line, color, shape, texture, or value in an image. This tends to unify the total effect of a work of art as well as create RHYTHM. Repetition can take the form of an exact duplication (pattern), a near duplication or duplication with variety.
Pattern and repetition refers to repeating visual elements such as line, color, shape, texture, or value in an image. This tends to unify the total effect of a work of art as well as create RHYTHM. Repetition can take the form of an exact duplication (pattern), a near duplication or duplication with variety.
UNITY
Unity occurs when all of the elements combine to make a balanced, harmonious, complete WHOLE.
Unity can be created by Simplicity (only having a limited type of lines, shapes, colors, etc), Repetition (repeating similar elements), Proximity (placing similar elements together).
For example, in the image below there is unity created by the simplicity, repetition, and proximity (all the marbles are the same shape, the marble coloring is repeated, and all the marbles are close in proximity to one another-- not spread apart)
Unity occurs when all of the elements combine to make a balanced, harmonious, complete WHOLE.
Unity can be created by Simplicity (only having a limited type of lines, shapes, colors, etc), Repetition (repeating similar elements), Proximity (placing similar elements together).
For example, in the image below there is unity created by the simplicity, repetition, and proximity (all the marbles are the same shape, the marble coloring is repeated, and all the marbles are close in proximity to one another-- not spread apart)
CONTRAST
Contrast refers to placing two opposite elements together. This most often refers to a contrast in VALUES. Contrast can refer to any opposing elements- such as a contrast in different textures, colors, shapes, etc.
Contrast refers to placing two opposite elements together. This most often refers to a contrast in VALUES. Contrast can refer to any opposing elements- such as a contrast in different textures, colors, shapes, etc.
BALANCE
Balance describes the way subject matter is placed in a photograph. Balance can be symmetrical or asymmetrical. This "harmony" is achieved by balancing the VISUAL WEIGHT. Visual weight describes how much something in an image "pulls" your eye to look at it. Imagine that you have an almost entirely white image with a small black dot in it. That black dot will pull your eye immediately- it carries a lot of VISUAL WEIGHT.
Balance is a way of evenly distributing visual weight. This way, no single area of the image draws our eye so much that we get "stuck" there. Instead, our eye is free to roam around the image and take it all in. A balanced image feel pleasing to the eye, not lop-sided in any way!
Balance describes the way subject matter is placed in a photograph. Balance can be symmetrical or asymmetrical. This "harmony" is achieved by balancing the VISUAL WEIGHT. Visual weight describes how much something in an image "pulls" your eye to look at it. Imagine that you have an almost entirely white image with a small black dot in it. That black dot will pull your eye immediately- it carries a lot of VISUAL WEIGHT.
Balance is a way of evenly distributing visual weight. This way, no single area of the image draws our eye so much that we get "stuck" there. Instead, our eye is free to roam around the image and take it all in. A balanced image feel pleasing to the eye, not lop-sided in any way!
EMPHASIS
Emphasis is highlighting or drawing your attention to some aspect of a scene or subject. There are several ways of creating emphasis: Framing, placement of subject (rule of thirds), selective focus to simplifying the background (depth of field), drawing the viewer's attention to a certain spot using leading lines, and contrast.
Emphasis is highlighting or drawing your attention to some aspect of a scene or subject. There are several ways of creating emphasis: Framing, placement of subject (rule of thirds), selective focus to simplifying the background (depth of field), drawing the viewer's attention to a certain spot using leading lines, and contrast.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT:
Take a series of 6 photographs, 1 for each principle of design listed above
-1 photograph showing RHYTHM
-1 photograph showing REPETITION
-1 photograph showing UNITY
-1 photography showing CONTRAST
-1 photography showing BALANCE (symmetrical or asymmetrical)
-1 photograph showing EMPHASIS
**All photographs must be focused on a theme**
Possible theme choices:
-Nature and Plants
-Man-made, industrial objects, technology, machinery
-Architecture, parts of buildings
-People, parts of people
-Textures
-Lines
Take a series of 6 photographs, 1 for each principle of design listed above
-1 photograph showing RHYTHM
-1 photograph showing REPETITION
-1 photograph showing UNITY
-1 photography showing CONTRAST
-1 photography showing BALANCE (symmetrical or asymmetrical)
-1 photograph showing EMPHASIS
**All photographs must be focused on a theme**
Possible theme choices:
-Nature and Plants
-Man-made, industrial objects, technology, machinery
-Architecture, parts of buildings
-People, parts of people
-Textures
-Lines