ELEMENTS OF ART

(FOR PHOTOGRAPHY)

(The Ingredients)

LINES

Lines can be varied in many ways to create different properties in an image.

Line

• Lines are the most noticeable part of the image

• Lines do not have to be straight

SHAPE

Take up the positive space in an image and can be geometric or organic.

Shape

• A square, rectangle, triangle, or circle is the main focus of the image

SPACE

The illusion of depth created by the way subjects are arranged, using negative space, and using perspective.

FOCAL POINT One subject or object is the centre of attention.

Everything else in the image does not take a lot of attention

Off Centre• One object or subject is the centre of attention, however it is placed away from the centre of the image.

• Allows eyes to move across the image to find the focal point (focus)

• One object/subject is up close, while another is far away

• Gives the sense of distance and depth

Visual/Linear Perspective

• Visible lines going into the image, meeting within the image.

•Creates a tunnel effect into the image

AerialPerspective

• Subjects/objects in the image disappear into the distance

• Is different from Visual Perspective: No tunnel effect.

Space in Front

• Moving objects/subjects move INTO the image

• Can see where the subject/object is going

TEXTURE

Creating the illusion of what it would be like to touch or provoking a specific sense of touch through an image.

Texture

• Usually a close up view of the subject/object.

• The texture of the subject/object is the focus, and is noticed first.

COLOR

Perception of reflected light.

Color

• The color takes more attention than anything else in the image.

• You see the colors first, then the subject of the image.

VALUE/TONE

The lightness or darkness of a color or line

Value

• Different hues/shades of a color is the most noticeable part of the image

• The image has one soft color as the main focus

FORM

Has a size, shape, and a background. Creates the illusion of three dimensionality. Many elements can

be combined to make form (ie: shape, space, texture, and value/tone

Form

• Has soft shadows: Dark image with low lighting

• Focus is on showing the three dimensionality of the subject/object

•NOT fashion photography: fashion photography does not show shadows!