Design+Principles

=SEVEN DESIGN PRINCIPLES IN PHOTOGRAPHY= - by Dasha Varabei

Dynamic "S"
- The S shape draws the eye throughout the entire picture - Adds more depth and gives the picture a feeling of continuity



1) The picture makes me feel curious why there is nobody on the boardwalk. The serene mood makes me calm, and brings me memories of sunsets that I have seen when I travelled. 2) The sky takes up half of the picture, and that creates balance between ocean and sky. The boardwalk perfectly balances the image in how the wide base is on the right of the picture, and the green bushes are on the left. There is also a balance between warm and cool colors; the blues, greens, greys, and purples are on the left, while the oranges, reds, and yellows are on the right. The clouds cover the entire sky, adding color to the whole image. 3) The light seems to be coming from the last rays of the sun setting towards the right of the image. The camera could have been at a slightly higher exposure time to capture more light, since the sun seems to have set already. 4) The grainy boards of the boardwalk and leafy grass contrast with the smooth ocean and sky. The fluffy clouds provide a difference in texture between ocean and sky. 5) The focus of the photo is in the middle of the boardwalk; this helps to guide the eye along the S curve to the end of the boardwalk. 6) In the background, there is the vast expanse of ocean, and there is a little band of land showing on the horizon. 7) The photo is about the serene moment that is captured at sunset; how nature is connected with human creation to create a beautiful balance. The ending boardwalk symbolizes that one can not go too far across the wide expanse of ocean, and can only watch from the shore.

Planes and Depth Levels
- Gives the image a more deeper field - Subject is isolated and in focus, and the multiple fields keep it contained inside the image



1) The picture makes me feel happy and carefree. I find the sheep that is poking his head out to be cute and funny. 2) The various shades of color and texture are all very similar, and the sheep's head guides the focus towards the left of the image. The foreground and background are the same, and balance the whole frame. 3) There seems to be no apparent light source, but the lighter shades on the tops of the sheep suggest that the light is coming from the outside. 4) The texture throughout the entire photo is fluffy and smooth, and the sheep's tongue and ears are also smooth 5) The focus of the photo is towards the sheep's face that is facing towards us with its tongue sticking out. 6) The sea of fleece is the main background, and is consistent throughout the whole frame. 7) The photo is about originality; the lone sheep is different from all the rest, and gathers the most attention from the viewers.

Simple and Single point
- A photo with a simple subject tends to look better than a photo with lots of clutter in it - Focus on subject only, not what is in the background



1) The picture makes me feel free, and makes me want fly. 2) The dandelion fluff takes up the whole picture, and the bright red color of the ladybug balances out the smooth vivid green of the background. 3) The glint on the ladybug's back suggests that flash was used when taking this picture. The photographer seems to be standing really close to the subject. 4) The rough texture of the stalk complements the smooth wings of the ladybug, and the white fluffy dandelion fluff is as soft as the background. 5) The focus of the photo is on the ladybug sitting on the stalk. 6) The background is very simple and really out of focus, and is composed on only two colors, which brings attention to the subject in the foreground. 7) The photo shows that wings are not needed to be able to fly.

Triangles
- Triangles are pleasing geometric shapes that makes the eye travel around the frame - Adds structure and complexity to the photograph

1) This picture reminds me of the times that I used to go horseback riding in Hawaii, and I remember all the times that I've been to the beaches there. 2) The horses in the picture take up the whole frame, and their rich brown color balances out the light blue and white background. 3) The light is all natural, coming from the sky 4) The horses are all smooth, and their manes can remind one of palm trees blowing in the breeze. 5) The focus of the photo is on all four horses, and the ocean is blurred. 6) The background is very simple, and thy sky almost blends in with the ocean. 7) The photo is titled "Beach Beauties", and this makes a reference at how usually photos of the beach nowadays include hot women in bikinis. The horses represent the beauty of animals, and the way they hold themselves and their long manes are very similar to how people would.

Framing
- Creates a natural frame around the subject -

1) This picture makes me feel curious where the picture is being taken; the praying mantis seems to be in between two boards of a fence, and it seems as if preying mantises are quite common in that place. 2) There is equal amount of grey board balance both sides of the frame, and the mantis is like the background; a perfect green stripe across the middle. 3) Judging by how the boards seem to be very sharp and light, I think the light source comes from the flash on the camera. 4) The mantis is tough and hard, and spiky in some places, which is like the fence boards. 5) The focus of the photo is on the praying mantis, and blurring occurs on the outside edges of the boards in the frame. 6) The background is very small; there is only a small glimpse of it in the gap between the boards, behind the praying mantis. The background and the mantis are both green, and this complements the grey color of the boards. 7) This picture is about how it's simplicity, with the fact that there are only two colors, is contradicted with how complex and not so common the praying mantis is. It is about how something that looks simple can actually be rare.

Depth (and Depth of field)
- Depth adds a sense that the scenery continues for a long distance, and gives the frame movement - Depth of field brings out the subject in the foreground, and the focus can bring out details that are hard to see without the use of a camera.



1) This picture makes me feel happy and carefree. 2) The big smiling flower in the foreground balances out the many small flowers in the background. 3) The light source is clearly natural and coming from the setting sun; the shadows on the big sunflower suggest that it is facing the sun. 4) The petals are smooth and the head of the sunflower is grainy and tough, which provides an interesting contrast. 5) The focus of the photo is on the smiling face of the sunflower. 6) The background is composed of many sunflowers that are blurred to create a shallow depth of field, and the main sunflower pops out of the foreground. 7) This picture represents happiness; and that sunflowers can smile too!

Diagonal Lines
- Draw focus towards the point where the lines are leading to - Creates movement

1) The photo looks like a maze of shapes, and is like a puzzle to solve. I am curious where this picture is taken. 2) The whole frame contains shades of grey, and the picture is balanced with geometric shapes in the entire frame. 3) I think that the light source is coming from the flash, judging by how the triangle in the foreground is brightly lit. 4) The glass texture of the pyramids contrasts with the tough cement of the buildings. 5) The focus of the photo is on the entire frame, and this adds sharpness that is very effective. 6) The background is the same as the foreground in color and form, and creates a maze of shapes. 7) The picture shows the wonders of architecture, and how an image can turn out really cool if taken from the right perspective.