Work Task 1 - Composition and The Elements of Design

- Due December 4 -

As this is the start of the Digital Photography unit, we will look at the very basic building blocks of what makes an image and what it takes to compose a good photo. We’ll look at the elements of design first. They apply to all 2 dimensional art works whether they be drawings, paintings or photographs. Line, tone, shape, colour, volume, texture and pattern are important considerations in all art, photography included.

Composition applies to all 2 dimensional images in much the same way. It is to do with how objects are arranged in a picture. With a painting or a drawing you have the opportunity to "arrange" the objects to achieve the composition you desire. A photograph requires you to balance the objects in your view finder to achieve the composition. Most people have a natural sense of "Good" Composition and will take photos that have good compositional qualities, however this work task looks at what things to consider when composing a photo.

Information to complete the Work Requirements for this task can be found on the Resources and Links Page. There are also useful PowerPoints to view on Simon in CURRICULUM DOCUMENTS

You are to paraphrase the information. You are not to copy and paste information straight from the internet.

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Work Requirements:

1. Write a paragraph that discusses what is meant by the elements of design and explain why an understanding of them is important.

2. Give a written description of each of the individual elements and illustrate them with suitable images sourced from the internet.

3. Use a camera to take your own photographs for each of the 6 elements. You need to take a lot of shots to get a few good ones. Remember to think of creative and interesting shots.

4. Define composition. Again, this is to be in your own words and you are to look at visual composition, which is very different to composition in music or in literature.

5. Read through the articles from the 3 internet links On the Resource and Links Page and decide for yourself which things you think are important to remember when deciding on the composition of a photo or image. Write down the 5 ones you consider to be the most important ones and illustrate them with images sourced from the internet.

6. Use a camera to take photos of your 5 most important compositional qualities.

All work is to be presented in your display folder for assessment.