January 2012

The Art of Photography Assignment 2 Elements of Design

In order to gain an understanding of the basic elements of design, I studied the raw materials of food and narrowed this down to mostly raw fruit and vegetables in order to link the photographs.   These are a single point dominating the composition, two points, several points in a deliberate shape, a composition of vertical and horizontal lines, diagonals, curves, distinct, even if irregular shapes, two kinds of implied triangles, rhythm and pattern.

Single point dominating the composition

1/60 F2.8 ISO100

I placed a blackberry in a plate of redcurrants so that the blackberry would dominate the composition. To make the picture more dynamic, I placed the blackberry slightly off centre.  

0.4secs F8 ISO200

I also experimented with a lemon as a single point in a bowl of oranges. I found the arrangement of the lemon affected the photo. I think that although the lemon is central to the photo, which should create a dull image, as there is a diagonal line running through the middle, some movement is created within the photo.

Two points

1/20 F4 ISO100

The dish of redcurrants has two blackberries as contrasting points. Together they form an implied line. This gives the photo movement as the eye moves from one point and back again to the other.

Several points in a deliberate shape

1/160 F4 ISO100

Strawberries arranged into a circle on a circular plate created this deliberate shape and gave me opportunity to explore the Gestalt theory behind grouping objects together so that the viewer can appreciate the image.

A composition of vertical and horizontal lines

1/160 F4 ISO200

This photo demonstrates vertical and horizontal lines. My aim was to show minimal shadow detail on the beans. The positioning of the beans reminds me of Japanese pictures which makes me think of calm.

Diagonals

1/50 F2.8 ISO100

Slicing a red and green apple I layered them together to create diagonal lines. To lead the eye into the photo I placed the apple on a tablecloth and left some of the wood showing. The tablecloth falls into a zigzag, and the shadow follows the same direction.  The apple is deliberately placed off centre to create interest.  There also needs to be space around the apple so that the viewer can be led into the scene. If the scene is cropped close to the apple, there is not enough space for the perspective to soften the diagonal lines of the apple, so the apple looks more unstable.

Curves

1/13 F14 ISO400

By arranging pieces of onion, I hoped to show curved lines. I experimented by placing the onion pieces in different positions to look at the effect of how the eye would perceive them. I felt the curves in this arrangement were graceful and the eye was led along the lines. I opted for a square crop because I did not want the picture dominated by the shadows. I used a golden reflector to add warmth to the picture.

 Distinct, even if irregular shapes

1/15 F8 ISO200

The relationship of the gap in the middle between the two fruits is an even, balanced curve. This creates order within the picture. The lines are clean, simple curves with some symmetry which can be continued and the objects stand out from the background.

At least 2 kinds of implied triangles

Apex at the bottom

1/15 F5 ISO100

As I picked the tomatoes, I observed that the vine formed two sides of a triangle. On assembling chutney making ingredients, I noticed that there was a triangle beginning to form.  By looking down at the tomatoes, and using a focal length of 93mm I was able to force the perspective slightly of the tomatoes. I used an aperture of F5 to blur the background.

On reflection, I think I should have cropped the photo across the top, because it could be misleading whether the tomatoes or the vinegar is the apex.

 Apex at the top

1/500 F2.8 ISO100

This picture of an implied triangle has the apex at the top. Using the stalk of the apple as the apex of the triangle, I looked for fruit to lead the eye from the front of the frame to the apple. The edible flower was cone shaped with the trumpet so by the use of perspective, all 3 subjects made a triangle. I added the leaf to link the subjects together and took the photo using an aperture of F2.8 to blur the table.

Rhythm

1/15 F8 ISO400

I arranged segments so that the light would reflect through the transparent flesh. The viewer is able to carry on the rhythm, so they perceive the pattern to be longer than it is. The eye follows the pattern up and down, almost like looking at a sound wave. In order for the viewer’s eye to follow the rhythm of the photograph, the depth of field had to be enough that most of the photograph was in focus.Using an aperture of F8 allowed me to blur some of the background and keep the subject in focus.

Pattern

1/8 F11 ISO400

I chose a pomegranate to experiment with because it has a flowery pattern in the centre. Once the membrane was trimmed it had an interesting texture. A close crop into the fruit gave the pattern of a snowflake and more impact than using the fruit as a whole.

Tutor's comments 

I felt my tutor's comments were very positive and encouraging. I have taken on board the comments about my implied triangles picture (apex at the bottom) and have experimented with a picture for assignment 3.