Basic Photography Course

of the machine shop to sidelight the machines, shadows
are cast at their sides and occupied or positive space
appears three-dimensional; however, since all the
machines, both near and far, are now lighted the same,
you do not create a sense of depth, and empty or negative
space appears flat. For the best picture of the machine
shop, you should light the machines in a way that the
three-dimensional form is represented, while creating a
sense of depth by reducing the intensity of illumination
toward the back of the shop.

LIGHTING

Lighting is also an important creative element of

composition. By controlling the light and directing it
where you want it, you can subdue objects or distracting
elements in the scene to give more emphasis to the main
point of interest.

For good picture composition, you must develop an

awareness of how changes in lighting can affect the
appearance of things around you. Light and shadows can

be used in composition to create mood, to draw attention
to an area, to modify or distort shape, or to bring out
form and texture in the subject.

Shadows are a key to apparent form in

photographs. Without shadows, the subject records
without form, curvature, or texture, appearing flat and
lifeless. This does not mean that shadows must be
harsh and black to achieve the effects of form,
curvature, and texture. They may be soft, yet of

sufficient density to show the most delicate roundness
and form. Generally, harsh, black shadows are
undesirable in a photograph due to the loss of detail
in them. From a compositional standpoint, black
shadows can be very useful in balancing a scene and
directing attention to the point of interest. Harsh
shadows can also be excellent for emphasizing texture
and form, for creating interesting patterns, and for
directing attention to the main point of interest;
however, the same elements can also obscure detail
and reduce form. When the lighting is harsh, such as
on a clear, sunny day, shadows have sharply defined
edges and are probably very dark, sometimes to the
point that they appear stronger than the primary
subject and attract attention to themselves.

TEXTURE

Texture helps to emphasize the features and details

in a photograph. By capturing "texture" of objects being

photographed, you can create form.

When people observe a soft, furry object or a

smooth, shining surface, they have a strong urge to
touch it. You can provide much of the pleasure people

get from the feel of touching such objects by rendering
texture in your pictures. Texture can be used to give
realism and character to a picture and may in itself be
the subject of a photograph. When texture is used as

a subordinate element within the picture, it lends
strength to the main idea in the photograph. It usually
takes just a little different lighting or a slight change

in camera position to improve the rendering of texture
in a picture. When an area in a photograph shows rich
texture, the textured area usually creates a form or
shape; therefore, it should be considered in planning
the photograph (fig. 5-16).

TONE

Tone is probably the most intangible element of

composition. Tone may consist of shadings from

white-to-gray-to-black, or it may consist of darks
against lights with little or no grays. The use of dark
areas against light areas is a common method of adding
the feeling of a third dimension to a two-dimensional
black-and-white picture. The interaction of light against

dark shades in varying degrees helps to set the mood of

a composition. A picture consisting of dark or somber
shades conveys mystery, intrigue, or sadness. When the
tones are mostly light and airy, the picture portrays
lightness, joy, or airiness.

CONTRAST

Contrast in photographic composition is an

effective means of directing the viewer's attention to the
center of interest. Positioning of subject elements to
create contrast gives them added emphasis and directs
the viewer's attention.

When we speak of contrast as it relates to

composition, we are referring to both tonal contrast, as
in black-and-white photography, and color contrast as it
relates to color photography. In black-and-white
photography, contrast is the difference in subject tones

from white-to-gray-to-black or from the lightest tone to
the darkest tone. In color photography different colors
create contrast.

5-18

contents

Basic Photography Course

<- previous page

next page ->


DOFMaster for Windows On-line Depth of Field Calculator DOFMaster for Mobile Devices On-line Depth of Field Table Hyperfocal Distance Chart Articles FAQ Recommended Books Support Contact Links Home As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.	contents <- previous page next page -> of the machine shop to sidelight the machines, shadows are cast at their sides and occupied or positive space appears three-dimensional; however, since all the machines, both near and far, are now lighted the same, you do not create a sense of depth, and empty or negative space appears flat. For the best picture of the machine shop, you should light the machines in a way that the three-dimensional form is represented, while creating a sense of depth by reducing the intensity of illumination toward the back of the shop. LIGHTING Lighting is also an important creative element of composition. By controlling the light and directing it where you want it, you can subdue objects or distracting elements in the scene to give more emphasis to the main point of interest. For good picture composition, you must develop an awareness of how changes in lighting can affect the appearance of things around you. Light and shadows can be used in composition to create mood, to draw attention to an area, to modify or distort shape, or to bring out form and texture in the subject. Shadows are a key to apparent form in photographs. Without shadows, the subject records without form, curvature, or texture, appearing flat and lifeless. This does not mean that shadows must be harsh and black to achieve the effects of form, curvature, and texture. They may be soft, yet of sufficient density to show the most delicate roundness and form. Generally, harsh, black shadows are undesirable in a photograph due to the loss of detail in them. From a compositional standpoint, black shadows can be very useful in balancing a scene and directing attention to the point of interest. Harsh shadows can also be excellent for emphasizing texture and form, for creating interesting patterns, and for directing attention to the main point of interest; however, the same elements can also obscure detail and reduce form. When the lighting is harsh, such as on a clear, sunny day, shadows have sharply defined edges and are probably very dark, sometimes to the point that they appear stronger than the primary subject and attract attention to themselves. TEXTURE Texture helps to emphasize the features and details in a photograph. By capturing "texture" of objects being photographed, you can create form. When people observe a soft, furry object or a smooth, shining surface, they have a strong urge to touch it. You can provide much of the pleasure people get from the feel of touching such objects by rendering texture in your pictures. Texture can be used to give realism and character to a picture and may in itself be the subject of a photograph. When texture is used as a subordinate element within the picture, it lends strength to the main idea in the photograph. It usually takes just a little different lighting or a slight change in camera position to improve the rendering of texture in a picture. When an area in a photograph shows rich texture, the textured area usually creates a form or shape; therefore, it should be considered in planning the photograph (fig. 5-16). TONE Tone is probably the most intangible element of composition. Tone may consist of shadings from white-to-gray-to-black, or it may consist of darks against lights with little or no grays. The use of dark areas against light areas is a common method of adding the feeling of a third dimension to a two-dimensional black-and-white picture. The interaction of light against dark shades in varying degrees helps to set the mood of a composition. A picture consisting of dark or somber shades conveys mystery, intrigue, or sadness. When the tones are mostly light and airy, the picture portrays lightness, joy, or airiness. CONTRAST Contrast in photographic composition is an effective means of directing the viewer's attention to the center of interest. Positioning of subject elements to create contrast gives them added emphasis and directs the viewer's attention. When we speak of contrast as it relates to composition, we are referring to both tonal contrast, as in black-and-white photography, and color contrast as it relates to color photography. In black-and-white photography, contrast is the difference in subject tones from white-to-gray-to-black or from the lightest tone to the darkest tone. In color photography different colors create contrast. 5-18 contents Basic Photography Course <- previous page next page ->	As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
	WWW.DOFMASTER.COM © 2006 Don Fleming. All rights reserved.