Digital Photography (WK2) - Seeing the Elements of Design

Hey everyone! I can't believe we're already about to start Week 3. Time really does fly when you're having fun! 

For Week 2's assignment, we were told to take a series of 10 photos for each of the elements of design: Format, Line, Shape, Value, Texture, and Color. I was restricted to my house this weekend (seasonal allergies, am I right?), and then upload the best of those images for critique. You'll notice a lot of my images have a blur around the edges - this is because of my camera lens...I'm working on fixing it, though I do like how it captured in some of the photos. Let's get started! 

Color: 

• I wanted to try to maintain a limited color palette, so I chose a mug that was pink inside and a tea bag that had a red tag. I was trying to get up high enough to make the mug a perfect circle, but alas, I am too short even on a step-stool. However, I think I accomplished the color aspect, especially given that the countertop and the tea inside the bag are very similar shades as well. 

Texture: 

• Let's just get this out of the way: we hate our carpets. However, they're pretty ideal for texture shots, so they can stay a little while longer. I wanted to create some contrast with the bright colors of the beads against the tan-ish color of the carpet. The close-up angle of the carpet shows the roughness of the material, while the small shadows throughout highlight its dimensions. 

Line: 

• The lines of the hallway floor lead the viewer’s eye directly toward the horizontal line of tiles on the bathtub. I liked how the repetition of the boards created a sense of movement and depth, guiding attention naturally to the lines leading up and "into" the bathtub.

Value:

• This image focuses on light and shadow from the flameless candles I have next to the bathtub. The difference between the bright "flame" and the dark colors of the unlit bathroom and black candles and stands adds depth and makes the image feel more dramatic. The blueish background color is natural light coming through the window. 

Shape:

• This photo focuses on the silhouette of my dress form against our sliding glass door, which has rainbow privacy film attached. The strong backlighting turns the subject into a solid dark shape, making its outline stand out clearly against the patterned window. The contrast between the black form and the geometric stained-glass design emphasizes both positive and negative space, drawing attention to the simplicity of the shape itself. Unfortunately, our doorframe itself is crooked, hence why the black lines at the edges aren't as straight as they should be.

Format:

• Meet our little doorway guardian! I used a vertical format for this photo to emphasize the small ghost figure and its position on the edge of the shelf. Shooting from a low angle adds depth and makes the figure appear larger and more prominent in the frame. The open space above it balances the composition and draws attention to the subject’s simple shape and placement within the frame. While I was choosing photos, this one made me giggle because it reminded me of that iconic scene in Titanic, on the bow of the ship.

Final thoughts: This assignment made me slow down and really notice the design elements that I usually overlook when taking photos. I was surprised by how much things like light, shape, and framing can completely change the mood of an image. The most challenging part was finding ways to show these ideas using everyday objects around my house, but that also ended up being the most rewarding. It taught me that good composition doesn’t depend on fancy subjects; it’s about how you see and frame what’s already there. The element I had the most difficulty with was Format for several reasons, one of which being that I'm normally shooting things that I felt only had a handful of appropriate angles (people, plants). However, as we learned when we had to take 30 pictures of the same item, we're only limited by ourselves.