Assignment two: Elements of Design (draft)

The following images were taken for my assessment on elements of design. Although many of the images I captured were intended to show one particular element, on editing I found that there were often other elements involved which I had not originally spotted.

As one of my favourite types of subject is the point where industry and nature meet, I decided to base this project on a tiny beach on the banks of the River Humber which I often visit with my children. The beach is set between a ship yard and a power station so it truly embodies the industry/nature cross over.

In order to complete the project, I visited the site on three separate occasions; a dull, rainy day, an early morning as the sun was rising and a relatively sunny afternoon as the sun was descending in the sky, creating some interesting shadows.

01. The first shot in my set, ‘Tipped’ was taken in order to display a single dominating point in the frame. This is the only staged shot in my set and I added the gravel in order to add some interest. I found the shot worked best with the bottle set on the top left third as the third lines are a classic position for drawing the eye. This also gave to bottle space to ‘look’ into as it was facing downwards and towards the right side of the screen.

As a secondary element, I noticed several diagonal lines in the image; those forming the edges of the rock, almost creating a second frame and also the line which goes from the bottle, through the gravel and down towards the large shadow in the bottom, right hand corner. I feel that this line and shadow balance the shot, yet remain subtle enough for the bottle to remain the obvious subject.

2. My reasons for positioning the subject in ‘Cold’ were quite different. The boy was placed to the edge of the image in order to show the vastness of space around him. If he had been standing mid shot, this would have had the effect of splitting the shot in half and therefore making it seem smaller. Secondary subjects such as the jetty and the Humber Bridge, several miles behind show the outer limits of the space.

3. The two subjects in ‘Sunk’ are fitting examples of my theme, industry and nature. Both elements are manmade, the rock seemingly being from some kind of wall. Over time, they have become so worn and weathered that they have almost become a part of the natural surroundings.

The shot is taken from such a perspective that the boat and the rock become almost the same size. Their positions in the shot balance each other and the leading lines in the mud draw the eye from the rock to the boat.

4. Had the two points of interest, the boy and the grass in ‘Repel’ been facing each other, I might have set them further apart in the shot. However, as they are facing away, I felt that some space was needed for them to look into so placed them closer to the centre. I took care to balance the two subjects in the shot with regards to distance from the centre. The subjects are also positioned in opposite sections of the Z shape created by the jetty, the shoreline and the base of the image.

5. ‘Stepping Stones’ shows multiple points of interest creating a geometric shape. The three clumps of seaweed form a diagonal line leading towards the horizon. Along the horizon is the end of the jetty, echoed by a small grassy island. The horizontal and the diagonal lines create an implied triangle, being joined by the right hand edge of the shot.

6. ‘BlackPaull Illuminations’ shows a definite horizontal line reaching out from the right side of the shot and becoming very faint towards the left. I feel that the grasses, as well as creating foreground interest, add some weight to the left of the shot so make it feel more balanced.

7. Although there are children playing in ‘Three Times Tall’, it is the shapes in the background which stand out the most to me. The repeating pattern of the silver pipes echoes the lower row of silos. The vertical yellow lines on the silos lead the eye up to the pipes, creating upward movement through the shot.

8. ‘Saltend Skyline’ displays a wealth of both vertical and horizontal lines. The lights accentuate the rhythm of the towers moving along the image, with the horizontal smoke giving direction to the movement.

 

9. The focussed piece of rock in ‘Jagged’ creates a definite diagonal line across the shot. This is echoed by a softer line to the lower left and intercepted by a second soft line bearing down from the top left corner. Although simple, the lines created are balanced and pleasing to the eye.

10. The groove in the mudflats in ‘Road to Nowhere’ creates a curved line leading towards the rear of the shot. This follows the idea of an implied line leading into the background; however the curves give much softer, slower movement than a more direct line would. The clump of seaweed in the foreground gives a point of interest as a starting point to the movement.

11. The intention in ‘Hull’ was to show the implied triangle created by the converging parallel lines of the hull. On uploading the photograph, I discovered that the curves of the top and bottom of the boat were more prominent. The two elements combined create a sweeping movement through the image.

12. The subject in ‘Stuck’ is a metal bar which I found jutting out from the pebbles and was unable to move. The angle of my shot shows the triangle which is implied when two parallel lines converge.

13. Triangles can also be created by implied lines between three subjects, for example, three people.  When shooting ‘Grave’, I noticed that the children in this position formed a triangle with the prominent ends of the boat. The boat itself is also made up of several triangles.

14. The tread shown in ‘Tracks’ show rhythm flowing along the circumference of the tyre. In order to add interest, I have shown the hole and the edge of the tyre in order to bring an end to the rhythm.

15. ‘Edible’ displays pattern as the repeating shapes spill over from all edges of the shot. Although the pebbles are not exactly the same shape, they are similar enough to create pattern.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this module and feel I have learned a lot about what design elements work in an image and why. I have visited this site many times over the past few years, yet this exercise has enabled me to create a much more diverse range of images than on previous visits. I feel that setting myself similar challenges on future shoots will enhance my creativity and lead to much more interesting images.