What are the Elements of Design?
Hey there nature lovers! Ready to dive into the world of nature photography? We typically begin our in-school workshops by asking students if they think they can learn and remember seven new words. These seven words are like the language of visual arts and photography, also known as the Elements of Design. Let's embark on this linguistic journey!
The seven components of the Elements of Design include line, shape, form, space, texture, tone, and colour. We provide students with name tags to wear during the workshop, to help the instructors make the experience more personable and memorable. Additionally, though, these name tags have the Elements of Design as well as the rule of thirds and SCUFI listed on the back to help students recall what elements can help make up a great nature photo.
Line is “a mark with length and direction”. We encourage students to find a leading line to capture! This leading line captures your attention and leads your gaze directly through the photograph.
Shape is “an enclosed space defined by a line”. Students have been learning about shapes since JK, so they are nearly experts by the time we visit them! There are countless shapes that can be found in nature. It just takes a well-trained eye or an individual who pays much attention to detail to find these shapes in the natural environment.
Form is “a 3 dimensional subject”. We ask students how they know the image we show them is 3D in real life. They explain that the use of shadows and light helps demonstrate that an object is 3 dimensional.
Space is “the distance or area between things”. Having a large or small amount of space between your subject and the area around it can truly make for an interesting shot. Having lots of space can really centre in on your subject. Having little space will make your photo look busy and full.
Texture is “the surface quality of how something feels”. Students are very talented at capturing texture. They understand that in order to successfully create an image that portrays the element of texture, you must be able to look at a photo and imagine how it would feel if you reached out and touched it. This can be better shown by getting really close-up to the subject.
Tone is “the variation between light and dark”. Typically, photographers aim for their subject to have the lightest tone so that it stands out the most!
Colour has three properties: hue, saturation, and brightness.
There are 7 basic hues: Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
Saturation is the intensity of a colour.
Brightness refers to the lightness or darkness of a colour.
By the end of an in-school workshop, students are experts in the field of the Elements of Design! After reading this blog, can you tell which element is being captured in the student photos below?
