Assignment 1 - 20 Compositions

Texture Composition

These 10 pictures are all examples of the composition texture.

Understanding Histograms

1. What is a histogram?
A histogram is a tool a large amount of cameras offer to help you get a quick summary of the tonal range in any image you take. It gives you more information about an image and helps you get the effect that you want. Having your camera set to show you histograms during the view process will tell you how your image is exposed.

 2. What happens to the visual when a histogram is skewed to the left? Right?
 When a histogram is skewed to the left there are dark pixels that create a blackish tone. When it is skewed to the right, the tones become lighter and create a whiter tone.

3. In most cases, what does a “good” histogram look like? 
 When the light and dark tones are evenly distributed in the middle, it is considered a "good" histogram.

a. Describe your answer in words 
 When it is equally distributed, it means there's an equal amount of light tones and dark tones. When you look at the levels, it is in the middle and not just on the left side or on the right side.

b. Provide a visual 

4. Why is a histogram a good tool for photographers? 
 A histogram is a good tool for photographers because it will let you fix any exposure mistakes. You will get an even distribution of light and dark tones that makes the image look the best it can.

Assignment 2 Homework

Photographic Composition

Photo Composition

Emphasis:

Definition: Emphasis is a principle of art which occurs any time an element of a piece is given dominance by the artist. In other words, the artist makes part of the work stand out, in order to draw the viewer's eye there first.

This is an example of Emphasis because the astronaut is the first thing your eyes are drawn to. It takes all of your attention.


Horizontal Lines:

Definition:  a constructive line, either drawn or imagined, which passes through the point of sight, and is the chief line in the projection upon which all verticals are fixed, and upon which all vanishing points are found.

This is an example of horizontal lines because when you look at the the picture you can see the horizontal lines right on the picture. It takes you a horizontal direction with your eyes.

Repetition/ Pattern:

Definition: Repeating visual elements such as line, color, shape, texture, value or image tends to unify the total effect of a work of art as well as create rhythm. Repetition can take the form of an exact duplication (pattern), a near duplication, or duplication with variety.


This is an example of repetition/pattern because it has the same green and blue colors all throughout the image. It also has more than one of the same object.


Birds Eye View:



Definition: an image gained when the position of the observer is significantly higher than that of the subject.

This is an example of birds eye view because its directly above the airplane and ground, looking completely down.

Vertical Lines: 

Definition: positioned up and down rather than from side to side : going straight up


This is an example of vertical lines because the direction your eyes go is up and down because of the lines found on the fence.

Texture:

Definition: the visual and especially tactile quality of a surface

This is an example of texture because you can see what the leaf would feel like if you were able to physically touch it. 

Symmetrical Balance: 

Definition:  perfectly centered compositions or those with mirror images. In a design with only two elements they would be almost identical or have nearly the same visual mass.

This is an example of symmetrical balance because it is the same on both sides.


Unity:

Definition: when all of the elements of a piece combine to make a balanced, harmonious, complete whole. Unity is another of those hard-to-describe art terms but, when it's present, your eye and brain are pleased to see it.

This is an example of of unity because the colors balance out.


Rule of Thirds: 

Definition: photos are divided into thirds with two imaginary lines vertically and two lines horizontally making three columns, three rows, and nine sections in the images. Important compositional elements and leading lines are placed on or near the imaginary lines and where the lines intersect.

This is an example of Rule of Thirds because it is separated into 9 parts.

Diagonal Lines:

Definition: lines that lead you towards a slanted direction

This is an example of vertical lines because the lines are all going the same direction and its leading your eyes in that direction.

Variety:

Definition: refers to a way of combining elements of art in involved ways to achieve intricate and complex relationships

This is an example of variety because there is a lot of different fruit all throughout the composition.

Simplicity:

Definition: The simplicity rule directs that you should keep the items in your photo relatively simple. If your main subject is close to the lens, then your background should be very simple in order to avoid distractions. Another good idea is to avoid objects or lines that lead the eye away from your main subject.


This is an example of simplicity because it completely singles out the seagull from its surroundings.

Asymmetrical:

Definition: off-center or created with an odd or mismatched number of disparate elements

This is an example of asymmetrical balance because if you split the picture in half, both sides are different.

Movement/Rhythm:

Definition:  the path the viewer’s eye takes through the artwork, often to a focal area. It can be directed along lines, edges, shapes and color. Movement is closely tied to rhythm.

This is an example of movement/rhythm because the object in the picture makes your eyes move in a certain direction.

Leading Lines:

Definition: lines within an image that leads the eye to another point in the image, or occasionally, out of the image

This is an example of leading lines because the lines of the pier leads you in the direction of the ocean. 

Proportion and Scale:

Definition: Scale refers to the size of an object (a whole) in relationship to another object (another whole). In art the size relationship between an object and the human body is significant.

This is an example scale and proportion because its showing the size of the book in comparison to how big the two hands are.

Horizon Line:

Definition: horizontal line across the picture that is always at eye level - its placement determines where we seem to be looking from - a high place, or from close to the ground

This is an example of horizon line because there are horizontal lines all across the photo.

Worm's Eye View:

Definition: a perspective seen from below or from a low or inferior position

This is an example of worm's eye view because it is looking up directly from the ground upwards.

Curved Lines:

Definition: used as a popular design technique for leading the eye into the frame

This is an example of curved lines because the tracks form curved lines.


Framing:

Framing: a technique used to focus the viewer's attention upon the subject

This is an example of framing because the circle draws your attention to the building in the middle. 

Barbara Kruger - Day Three

Barbara Kruger Inspirations and Influences

Barbara has a couple influences/inspirations for her work. Her biggest influence of all though is pop culture and media. She believes media makes people feel a certain way and makes sure that people can see that the media 'manipulates' us through her artwork. She wants to show reality in her artwork which the media tends to hide. It makes people believe virtually impossible things so she makes sure people who view her work can see how the media and pop culture actually is. She likes to twist the words the media spits out at us so that we can understand it in an easier and deeper way. So, media and pop culture are the main influence of all of Barbara's work.

Article:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Barbara-Krugers-Artwork-Speaks-Truth-to-Power-160281585.html

Barbara Kruger - Day Two

Barbara Kruger's Inspiration

Barbara Kruger had a couple of different inspirations for her work. She went to school for graphic design so she liked to put that into her artwork.She was inspired though by another woman artist, Magdalena Abakanowicz. She liked how the artist how intelligence was challenged in the work. It helped shape how she wanted her work to be seen as. This inspired her to start teaching, writing criticism about television and cinema, and to curate exhibitions which then centered on the focus of her work, advertisement and media.


Article:
 http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/kruger-barbara

Barbara Kruger - Day One

Day One

I believe this photograph has a lot of meaning to it. To me, it says that your body goes through a lot of trials. The trials turn you from one kind of person to another. You learn from it and change because of it. I also see it as a 'Before and After' picture. The left side is who you are before you had all the trials in your life and the left is the outcome of the trials. The right side looks fiercer to me than the left side too. This says to me that the trials you have gone through makes you tougher and stronger as well. The difference between them isn't too huge, but you can definitely tell the change between them. Another detail I noticed is that she kind of looks two faced. It seems like she has had to put up a guard for herself to protect her from these trials as well. I could interpret many different meanings to this picture, but I believe those are the main meanings behind it.

Sketchbook Cover

Personal Reflection:

Why is this photo good (compositional standpoint)?
It has a lot of repetition and the color scheme is the same all throughout the photo. It also has emphasis/focal point because it always leads back to the stage.

Why do you value this photograph (sentimental standpoint)?
This particular concert was when I saw one of my favorite bands in the whole entire world perform in person. The band is really important to me for personal reasons so it was a really special night. I also met one of my best friends at this concert and am grateful they brought us together.

How did this photo inspire your theme? What is your theme?
It was the inspiration of my theme because the photo is a concert and concerts always involve music. Music was my theme for the cover.

How do the other images you selected relate to your theme?
Every picture I put on the cover has something to do with music. Music notes, CDs, and confetti from the concert all have something that comes back to music.

Describe the compositional strategies used (Elements and Principles of Design).
In this cover, it shows spacing with the CDs and how I placed the music notes. There's also the same colors all throughout the cover. There's repetition with the music notes, CDs, and confetti. Unity/Variety is all throughout the piece with the CDs and confetti. The stage has Emphasis because everything is gravitating towards it. Repetition is expressed throughout with the CDs, especially, and also the notes and confetti.