Friday, 17 June 2011

Rhythms and Patterns

The purpose of the final section and exercise is to demonstrate and understand the difference between Rhythms and Patterns.

The basic principal is that rhythms shown within photographs should display some form of sequence or movement within the frame, so that the eye follows a direction through the photo. Pattern is essentially a static object or arrangement that has no movement.

Rhythm
f2.8-1/2500-200-70mm

This image demonstrates the rhythm within this building by its arrangement of windows. Although a relatively simple image, it was taken from a slightly obscure angle to enhance the curvature of the building, whilst still allowing the eye to follow across from one side to the other.


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Here is a slightly different composition to illustrate rhythm.

The line of coloured rocks in this modern art display help attract the eye down towards the pile on the floor, creating movement.






Pattern
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This display of different snowflake morphologies offers an excellent illustration of patterns.







In concluding this assignment, I can see that when taking photographs, the composition of the image as well as how it is brought to life through the use of lines and shapes is an important rule within elements of design. This is a desired aspect within photography which helps spark peoples imagination. Even the most talented of minds have undergone years of development in order to fine tune their artistic flair and vision.

Real and Implied Triangles

Here I have to demonstrate both 'Real' and 'Implied' triangle compositions.

As with the previous exercises, the process is the same, the ideas similar and the outcome to improve and understand how shapes (in this instance, triangles) both real and implied are important in composition.

Real
f4.0-1/30-1600-27mm

Although not completely triangular in shape, on closure inspection you can see and identify several triangular shapes which help make up this hanging stone sculpture.



 f3.5-1/60-1600-18mm

By lowering the angle of view and changing the perspective so that the base of the sculpture appears wider, it was possible to create a triangular shape converging at the top of the frame.






f4.5-1/30-1600-18mm

Using the same principle as above, however this time the photo was taken  from above the sculpture (note the floor below) so that a converging triangle is seen towards the bottom of the frame.



Implied ... (Still life to follow)

Implied Lines

Lines, in one form or another, play an important role in composition and help you display and draw peoples eyes to what you want them to see and/or focus on.

In this next exercise I have to use the same principal as the previous 'line' exercises, however this time the lines used are more "Implied" rather than physical and can hold different meanings/directions.

Looking at the two photographs within the course material, you can see the implied lines and movement within the first photo of the matador and bull. The use of the cape give a strong feeling of movement as its swings in an arch or curve.
The second photo again shows movement through the galloping horses, however in this photo the dominate feature is the eye line between horse and man.

Selection of my Implied line photos;

f25-10s-100-29mm

The implied lines of traffic/car lights moving through a winding road give a sense of movement and curves.







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The implied lines shown here give a connection between the 3 posts





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There is an implied line of direction and movement taken from the child running in the field. Her hair and stature give a dominant feel to the image of movement and direction.







Extension of a line/lines
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This photo was chosen to illustrate the extension of the suns rays that are dominant near the centre of the photo, and reach out beyond the clouds to the edges of the frame. The dark shadow of tree helps balance the photos as the suns rays draw attention and lead the eye back, forth and around the photo.





Eye line
f2.8-1/500-100-100mm

This photo was taken whilst out hiking around National Trust premises in Hampshire.

A woman is shown here as she wanders through the blue bell fields whilst looking at the near by handkerchief tree.
One can imagine what she thinking from the tilt of her head, wonderful expression of thought and the section of tree foliage in focus, which draws towards it her eye line.

Tuesday, 10 May 2011

Curves

As with Horizontal, Vertical and Diagonal lines we have one further type of line to demonstrate, that being Curved.
The next shots are a selection of images which help illustrate this.

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The swirls on this ice cream statue help illustrate the lines as curves.








f4.0-1/1600-100-40mm

Here we see rounded/curved tables.








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Curved architecture.





 f5.0-1/250-100-40mm

As the road fades away in the distance the 'S bend helps illustrate the curve effect.

Diagonals

Another form of line within the photograph would be that of 'Diagonals'.
In this exercise I have to illustrate this concept.

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The patterned diagonal lines shown on this floor.





f4.0-1/800-100-40mm

The diagonal lines that help make up the pattern in the back of this chair.





f5.6-1/250-125-179mm

The rotten old post shot from this angle are shown to create a diagonal line.




f11.0-1/125-100-17mm

The projected lines along the roof line, window frames (top and bottom) on all levels and the ground all converge to illustrate diagonal lines.

Horizontal and Vertical Lines

In this exercise I had to go out and photograph different objects and scenes that were made up of Horizontal and Vertical lines without repeating each type of image.

HORIZONTAL
f4.0-1/250-100-28mm

A flight of steps illustrate horizontal lines perfectly.





f5.6-1/800-100-250mm

Perhaps the most obvious horizontal line ... Horizon.
I choose a bridge in distance to add detail.




f4.0-1/30-640-17mm

Line of shoes laid out horizontally.








f5.0-1/500-100-135mm

The slates on this roof accentuate the horizontal lines.








VERTICAL
f5.0-1/800-100-90mm

The tall reeds here extend nicely from the bottom of the frame upwards, giving the appearance of vertical lines.







f5.6-1/800-100-180mm

From this angle the vertical lines of the steel gantry sign and ladder towering above the nearby trees helps illustrate this point.







f4.0-1/60-1600-40mm

Vertical display case of sunglasses








f5.0-1/500-100-40mm

The trees planted in row helps highlight their standing position and trucks (vertical) while the tracks in the rapeseed field disappear in the distance, giving another set of vertical lines.

Multiple Points

Continuing on the 'Points' theme here I have to set up a still life composition made up of several similar small shaped objects. By introducing each object in turn the idea is to finally end up with a grouping avoiding regular shapes but ensuring the image hold together.
The camera had to be fixed so composition was altered by moving the object alone.

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I decided to use chocolates and arrange the box in the top corner so that I could have an area (plate) to arrange the chocolate 'mini' display.







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f1.4-1/25-400-50mm










f1.4-1/25-400-50mm

Here I decided to move one of the chocolates from its original position in the 3rd shot and slightly rearrange the others.







f1.4-1/25-400-50mm

Again several of the object were re-positioned to give a more pleasing outcome, while trying to stay away from regular shapes.







f1.4-1/25-400-50mm

Chocolates rearranged again.








f1.4-1/25-400-50mm

Final arrangement.
Again I wasn't overly happy with my previous shot, with the introduction of another object I decided to rearrange the entire layout until I finished with what you see.

I found this quite difficult at first, as when introducing more objects to the scene I wanted to arrange them logically in a pattern.