Digital Photography and Imaging: Week 2

29/08/2021 - 04/09/2021 (W2)
Evaleez Voo Lian Yun/ 0350275
Digital Photography and Imaging/ Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Week 2

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Lectures

Introduction to Composition

Focal Point

• A key element to any good composition is a strong focal point.
• Helps your viewers’ eyes naturally settle on the important pieces of your design first.

Scale and Hierarchy

• Help communicate hierarchy by drawing attention toward and away from certain elements.
• Helps in signifying their importance to the communication.

Balance the Elements

• Smaller objects might ‘weigh’ less than larger objects
• Heavily textured elements might ‘weigh’ more than flatly colored elements.

White Space

• Mostly known as “empty space”.
• Balance up the main focus of a composition.
• Helps your design to breathe.

Rule of Thirds

• Dividing an image into thirds, using two horizontal and two vertical lines. This imaginary grid yields nine parts with four intersection points.
• When you position the most important elements of your image at these intersection points, you produce a much more natural image.
• Horizon is suggested to be placed on either the top horizontal line or bottom horizontal line.
• Examples:

Fig 1.0 Rule of Thirds Example 1 (30/08/21)

Fig 1.1 Rule of Thirds Example 2 (30/08/21)

Golden Ratio

• Commonly found in nature, and when used in a design
• It fosters organic and natural-looking compositions that are aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
• Creates harmony and proportion.
• Useful guideline for determining dimensions of the layout.
• One very simple way to apply the Golden Ratio is to set your dimensions to 1:1.618.
• Examples:

Fig 1.2 Golden Ratio Example 1 (30/08/21)

Fig 1.3 Golden Ratio Example 2 (30/08/21)

Composition

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Practical: Collage Design Elements

Pre-Composition #1

Fig 1.4 Pre- Composition 1 (03/09/21)

I wanted to make something menu-esque after finding some pictures of food in my mother’s old magazines. I placed the blueberries and salmon in the intersection points according to the Rule of Thirds to emphasize the focus point of the entire piece. Besides that, the images beside the two ingredients have a different colour scheme as well - more earthy rather than vibrant. 

Pre-Composition #2

Fig 1.5 Pre Composition 2 (03/09/21)

After listening to the lecture on week 2, I wanted to implement the Golden Ratio in my design. I used some curves so the audience would follow the flow from the top left to the bold words in the middle. Besides that, I chose a red subject as the focus while choosing a more monochrome approach to the others.

Pre-Composition #3

Fig 1.6 Pre Compostion 3 (03/09/21)

This piece was a combination of Pre-Composition #1 and #2 with some extra pieces. I wanted to showcase how the bear was dreaming of getting fish and how getting it would bring joy. Besides that, I tried using the golden ratio with it’s tip ending at the salmon pieces This allows a smooth flow from the bottom of the bear to the salmon on top.

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Feedback

• That's a good series of collage Evaleez. Good job! You've done this exercise. Later you may select the PRE-COMPOSITION #3 for your submission in WEEK 5. Thanks!

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Reflection

This week was interesting because I had to rummage all the old newspapers and magazaines that were kept in my house. Fortunately, my family consissts of a bunch of hoarders and I had a lot of materials I could use. Overall, it made me understand the rule of thirds and golden ratio better because I had a hands on experienc on appliying it.