Design - Elements of Design (Assignment 2)

Requirement

10 photographs of a similar subject, incorporating the following effects:

• Single point dominating the composition
•  Two points
•  Several points in a deliberate shape
• Combination of vertical and horizontal lines
• Diagonals
• Curves
• Distinct, even if irregular, shapes
• 2 types of implied triangle
• Rhythm
• Pattern

Chosen from one of these groups of subjects

• Flowers and plants
• Landscapes
• Street details
• Raw materials of food

Summary notes/ Images

I chose urban landscapes as the subject of my assignment. All the images were taken in London.


Tutor's feedback
Strong, thoughtful work, well presented.  You've created a visual essay for street views that could be developed further, perhaps using the following themes:

• People resting in a busy city – the contrast between being colourfully dressed for leisure and the solid grey working environments.
• People (their postures, figures, forms) against the hard grey matter of the city.  People are often isolated here.
• The way people ‘fit in’ to urban environments, often seeming to be players in a stage set.

Blog
Include more about your choice of subject.

Sources of new ideas
Look at: 

• 'Street Photography Now' - Sophie Howarth, Stephen McLaren
• Toshio Shibata - see work on ‘isolated’ forms like dams and concrete river works that resemble sculptures.

Pointers or next assignment
Look at advertising photography. It makes strong use of colour to lead your eye. 


Single Point

• Relatively small area constrasting with its background but with strong impact
• Choice of position - centre, off-centre, edge - must support purpose
• Movement created by tension with frame - up & down and left & right
• Direction - organises/divides frame horizontally and vertically

Lunchtime reader relaxes at the base of the 'Pineapple'* in Paternoster Square

Warm advancing colour of the subject's T-shirt and
interest in the human figure provide the contrast
to set up the subject as a point. Placing him in bottom left
encourages the eye move between him and background.
His shape implies a weak triangle.

* The 23m tall Paternoster Square Column. Made of Portland stone topped by a gold leaf covered flaming copper urn, it bears the nickname the 'pineapple'.

Strong image.

Two points

• Points have 3 relationships: (a) with the frame, (b) with each other (implied line) and (c) with surrounding space
• 1 of the 2 points will dominate the other if (a) closer to foreground, (b) nearer to centre or (c) bigger
• Tension betweeen points can energise image

Shadows of commuters on pavement outside Chancery Lane Tube station

The shadows make 2 points on the pavement with
the larger, nearer one dominating. The difference in size and proximity
of the 2 commuters helps to convey motion. Although they are walking out of the frame, their shadows hold the eye within it

Well observed. Keep your eyes open for more such imagery. When you find a successful theme, keep snapping it until one finds the best of the bunch. 

Multiple points

• The eye follows a line. It also tries to create a line(s) from appropriate suggestions: the brain and the eye work together to resolve incomplete forms
• Implied lines between points create impression of shape, if suitably organised

4 clocks at Canary Wharf

The clocks act as points of light on a dark background.
The camera angle sets them in the shape of a
parallelogram, although one might also see 2 triangles.

Nice. However, try it in black and white or at least de-saturate the coffee stall on the right so that it doesn’t pull the eyes over there.  

Combination of vertical and horizontal lines

• Lines often edges of objects and reinforced by frame
• Graphic effect - divides frame, helps locate elements, gjves sense of direction
• Expressive value - horizontal lines (stable, static, have weight)/ vertical lines (moderate sense of movement, upright, strong)

Early stage in the building of The Pinnacle, Bishopsgate

The horizontal silhouette of the outside fence
contrasts with the mainly vertical lines
from the surrounding buildings and
cranes

Even though I prefer the images with people in the city, this image fills the frame and is a well composed collection of shapes and lines. Try removing the word on the crane. 

Diagonals

• Dynamic - leads the eye
• Creation largely by camera angle and perspective (lens)
• Wide angle lens - close to edge or surface to emphasise linear perspective
• Telephoto lens - used at angle to parallel lines, edges, rows of objects to give powerful effect of compression and repetition

Walkway to road bridge across Upper Thames Street

The wooden fencing around the steps shot
sideways provides a strong diagonal of mid-tone
browns against the dark green glass of
the nearby building. 

Clean, well ordered composition. But it does look a bit soft – is a high ISO setting?  Try to keep your camera steady – even prop it on something to steady it.  

Curves

• Dynamic - leads the eye
• Often low viewpoint gives acute angle to strengthen curvature

Steps leading to the London Assembly building

Shot from a low angle to emphasise the curvature of the steps
and the edge of the Assembly building. The climbing
figures adds to the sense of motion provided
by the curved steps

Good use of wide angle to exaggerate the curve.


 

 

Distinct shapes 

• Dynamic - leads the eye

Birds eye view of people eating their lunch near the Monument

The pillars set up one irregular, close triangular
shape, whilst the 2 banks of chairs imply
semi-circles which echo each other

Well ordered. Was there no way to include the whole object on the right?

Implied triangles

• 4 most common clues that create implied lines are – (a) a row of points (or objects) (b) line that points in a certain direction (c) suggestion of object in motion (d) the direction of the human gaze
• Triangles often seen as 'pointing' - low viewpoint = upward pointing, high viewpoint = downward pointing

Detail of front elevation of 6 More London Place

The change in tones and the framing sets up
several triangles of different textures

These are four very evident triangles.  Implied triangles are made between three separated objects – three people for example.  If you draw a line between them you form a triangle

Rhythm

• Dynamic repetition
• 4 types (a) elements regularly alternating, (b) change in shape at regular intervals, (c) change in colour or size at regular intervals (d) different elements that echo each other, esp. in shape
• Encourage viewer to imagine that rhythm continues outside image (no space between pattern and frame)
• Rhythm may need a constrasting element to break repetition

View down street near Green Park

Use of telephoto lens at acute angle to a section of
terraced buildings. Leads eye towards the Union Jack. Flag breaks rhythm but adds interest 

Most obvious and clichéd of your images – the telephoto lens squashing the vertical lines of houses into a steady rhythm of lines.  When you know something has already been done – avoid it and try something new!  

Pattern

• Static repetition - does not encourage movement of the eye
• Usually best used as a secondary element
• As elements of pattern become more numerous, tend to become a 'texture'

Adelaide House on north bank of London Bridge

Symmetry of windows sets up the pattern. Continuity
outside the frame by framing within the building edges

Features like the statue could be lifted subtly with a bit of dodging.  It would be nice if that stood out a bit more.