Principles of Design:

Photography Edition

Directions: Copy the notes in red.

The principles of design are as follows:

Balance, Rhythm, Movement, Variety,

Emphasis, Proportion, Harmony & Unity

The principles of design a set of 8 ways to

organize the elements of art in the creation of artwork.

Balance

• Balance refers to the visual weight in a picture and how it is divided.

• A composition works when the elements are equalized.

• How are the soldiers in the photograph by Elliot Erwitt arranged? Is it balanced?

Balance may be

symmetrical (formal),

asymmetrical (informal) or

radial (circular)

Symmetrical Balance symmetrical=same

• This photograph by Jerry

Uelsmann is symmetrically

balanced.

• The right and left sides of

the composition are nearly

identical.

• Would you describe this

composition as still or

energetic?

Asymmetrical Balance

• This photograph by Gary Winogrand is arranged

asymmetrically. The right and left sides, as well as the top

and bottom are different.

• Does the picture still feel balanced to you? Why?

Radial Balance

Karl Blossfeldt

Laserpitum silver

Laserwort

Part of a fertilizing cluster magnified four times

• This photo by Karl Blssfeldt

demonstrates radial balance.

Radial balance is where all

elements radiate out from a center

point in a circular fashion. It is

very easy to maintain a focal point

in radial balance, since all the

elements lead your eye toward the

center

• Does the picture still feel balanced

to you? Why?

Rhythm • Rhythm involves the repetition of

identical or nearly similar elements (such as shape or colour) to create a sensation of movement. Alternating lights and darks also give a sense of rhythm.

• Just as in music, visual rhythm can be connecting and flowing, or abrupt and dynamic

• Various types of rhythm include simple, alternating, and progressive

• What rhythms and patterns can you find in this photograph by Olivia Parker?

• Does this make the picture more visually striking? Explain.

• How is rhythm created in

this *abstract photograph?

• Abstract (AKA non-

representational, non-

objective) A type of artwork

that is not meant to be

realistic.

• Movement is a principle of

design related to rhythm: How

is the movement created in this

series of photographs?

• Describe the movement of

your eyes when looking at

these photographs.

• Do you think the images work

better individually or as a

group? Why?

Movement

Variety • VARIETY in art refers

to the use of contrasting

or different types of

Elements in a work of

art.

• Variety is necessary to

keep your unified design

from creating visual

boredom. Shapes may be

repeated, but perhaps in

different sizes; colours

could vary slightly in

value.

•CONTRAST emphasizes

differences between

elements (long / short

lines, black / white, light /

dark, smooth / rough,

near / far, big / small).

•Variety and contrast can

refer to nearly every

component in a work of

art including tone or color,

subject matter and size.

Variety & Contrast

Emphasis

• EMPHASIS is a focal point

or centre of interest that

attracts attention and

encourages one to look

further.

• The strongest focal point is

the centre of the composition

- this is a simple solution.

• EMPAHSIS can be created

through: contrast (size,

colour, shape), isolation,

placement.

• Who or what is given Emphasis in this photograph?

• Can you identify examples of variety and difference?

Proportion • The word "Proportion"

means one part in relation

to another.

• All people have a sense of

proportion concerning

themselves as compared to

others. "My nose is too long

for my face". "She has long

legs".

• All of these comments

reinforce the idea that we see

and have opinions about the

relationships between one

thing compared to another.

• The proportion between the structure and figure

is dramatically different.

• What do you think is the subject? Why?

Harmony • "Harmony" in music results in

pleasing tones to the ears.

• "Harmony" in art results from a combination of related (but often different) Elements of Art creating a pleasing work for the eye.

• HARMONY of design suggests an agreement or congruity that exists among the elements (line, shape, colour, texture, value, space) of a composition. They look as though they belong together.

• In music, harmony

can be described as

different tones that

are pleasing when

blended.

• What differences and

similarities

(harmonies) are seen

in this image of an

ear on a beach?

Unity • "Unity" infers that

the work of art is presented as a " whole".

• When a work of art has "Unity", the viewer sees the work as a whole, not in separate sections. To be unified, the composition must be stronger than the individual parts.

• UNITY can be achieved by proximity, repetition, and/or continuation.

The End