Formal Elements Experience Focus
Task: To take 6 pictures and evaluate what it is like to compose a photograph while only focusing on two of the formal elements.
1. 2. 3.
4. 5. 6.
Focus: Line and Light
The first point about this set of photographs is that they are all black and white. This was a conscious decision because I didn't want any colour in my photographs as it would detract focus from the light element. Using a black and white effect in my set of photographs meant that only the light was being used to form my image, which would highlight the second element that I was focusing on which was line through different tones. Light and line are two fantastic elements to focus on because they go hand in hand, the light highlights the line, it is that simple. Taking this notion into account, I wanted to focus mostly on the contrast in light to clearly draw attention to the line in the photograph.
Take photograph number 2. for example, the focus is clearly light and line because the dark lighting behind, contrasts with the rungs on the Bannister which are made to be the main focus because they are the only objects that the light has fallen on. Focusing on just two of the formal elements makes you ask questions such as, How am I going to clearly show through the photograph, the elements I am focusing on? and, How can I make the two elements work together in a correct justified way? In photograph number 2. I approached answering the first question by noticing the objects in their line formation and then adjusting the lighting to make sure they were contrasting enough from the background that would make them stand out clearly. The two elements are justified in working together because the lighting brings out the line. When focusing on just two of the formal elements one should make sure that they are both dependent on one another, without the contrasting lighting, the line wouldn't have been illuminated or brought out as much, Despite this, you should always go into this exercise with an idea about how you want your elements to be clearly stated in the photograph.
If I don't want contrast between my lines for example, then the lighting I use will need to be bright and will also have to be shining almost directly on every object in the photo. An example of a photograph where there wasn't much contrast to differentiate between each surface is number 6. The darkest parts of this photograph are the cracks in the grooves of the ceiling and shutters, however the due to the shutter blocking off lighting to the wall behind, a large region of the photograph has been made slightly darker than the actual colour of the wall suggests it to be. The slight change in tone of the wall acts as a backdrop or ruler to clarify the two lines from the ceiling and shutter that meet at the tip, again, the line becomes visible because the light highlights it. focusing on the right part where it is merging the two corners into one another subtly, creases are thin lines of shhadow just highlighting the line gently, no large range in tone, the light illuminates the subtlty of the line in photo, also adds artists intent. ...
Take photograph number 2. for example, the focus is clearly light and line because the dark lighting behind, contrasts with the rungs on the Bannister which are made to be the main focus because they are the only objects that the light has fallen on. Focusing on just two of the formal elements makes you ask questions such as, How am I going to clearly show through the photograph, the elements I am focusing on? and, How can I make the two elements work together in a correct justified way? In photograph number 2. I approached answering the first question by noticing the objects in their line formation and then adjusting the lighting to make sure they were contrasting enough from the background that would make them stand out clearly. The two elements are justified in working together because the lighting brings out the line. When focusing on just two of the formal elements one should make sure that they are both dependent on one another, without the contrasting lighting, the line wouldn't have been illuminated or brought out as much, Despite this, you should always go into this exercise with an idea about how you want your elements to be clearly stated in the photograph.
If I don't want contrast between my lines for example, then the lighting I use will need to be bright and will also have to be shining almost directly on every object in the photo. An example of a photograph where there wasn't much contrast to differentiate between each surface is number 6. The darkest parts of this photograph are the cracks in the grooves of the ceiling and shutters, however the due to the shutter blocking off lighting to the wall behind, a large region of the photograph has been made slightly darker than the actual colour of the wall suggests it to be. The slight change in tone of the wall acts as a backdrop or ruler to clarify the two lines from the ceiling and shutter that meet at the tip, again, the line becomes visible because the light highlights it. focusing on the right part where it is merging the two corners into one another subtly, creases are thin lines of shhadow just highlighting the line gently, no large range in tone, the light illuminates the subtlty of the line in photo, also adds artists intent. ...