Are you aspiring to become a photographer? Then there’s a whole lot you need to learn about the art of photography. Photography is not just an art, but it is a skill. Professional photographers study hard to learn their art. They have to learn exactly what is needed to take an eye-catching photo. When it comes to photography, there are seven basic elements. These elements give a detailed analysis of what a true artist should focus on. They are line, shape, form, texture, pattern, color as well as space. Each of these elements brings its own unique quality to a picture.
So, what are these seven elements of photography?
Elements of Photography
The seven basic elements of photography are line, shape, form, texture, pattern, color, and space. These elements all refer to the way you set up your photo. You have to understand that composition helps you in representing any of these elements in the way you choose. So here, we are going to analyze these elements to help you understand them better.
Line – Line can be vertical, horizontal, curved or jagged. An example of line includes roads, sunsets, and bridges.
Shape – Shape is a two-dimensional representation of objects. Its examples include silhouetted photographs of birds.
Form – Form is a three-dimensional representation of objects, usually via the use of lighting and shadows.
Texture – Texture is the use of lighting to bring out details of an object. This makes it easy to see whether a surface is smooth or soft
Pattern – Pattern is the use of repetition in creating an interesting photo. Examples of patterns include photos of gardens or flowers.
Color – Color is the use of warm or cool colors in setting a mood.
Space – Space can either be positive or negative which can be used to make a statement. Space is often seen when using the rule of thirds.
The Rule of Thirds
One of the best ways of illustrating one of the most popular photography composition techniques, the rule of thirds, is by putting a nine-square grid over a photo. You would break an image into thirds both horizontally as well as vertically which arrives at nine segments in total. If you happen to place the most interesting element of your photos along one of those lines, your photo will naturally be well-composed, based on the general rules of form photography.
Lighting and Composition for Photography
Photography all boils down to the seven basic elements which come down to lighting and composition. These two items are the areas that new photographers focus on the most. However, there are many photography composition techniques in addition to the rule of thirds, including symmetry. This uses tricks like reflections in making an otherwise ordinary photo more interesting. Also, there’s depth, which combines the foreground and background in interesting ways which help bring an image to life. Another important form of photography is “shooting light”. This means searching for a medium of how the light hits objects and features in your photo. As you start playing with these seven elements of photography, these professional techniques can take you from photographer to photographic artist.