Elements and Principles of Design in Digital Imaging

Visual Elements

• Horizontal lines emphasize width, stability, and security
• Diagonal lines have a more dramatic, dynamic effect than vertical and horizontal
• Curved lines reflect nature, relaxation, sensuality
• Vertical lines emphasize strength, power, and height

Types of Photography

• Aerial photography: captured from above
• Architectural Photography: interiors & exteriors; two challenges: lighting & image distortion
• Candid photography: taken by chance, in a split second, without the subject's awareness
• Fashion photography: uses high-end cameras, typically used to sell something
• Food photography: used in restaurants, websites, and blogs; utilizes natural light
• Landscape photography: one of the most popular types of photography
• Night/Long Exposure Photography: requires skillful use of light, shutter speed, and aperture
• Portrait photography: captures people's moods and expressions; includes close-up shots or full-body portraits
• Sports Photography: involves getting up-close to the action in a fast-paced environment
• Street Photography: captures everyday life in public spaces or urban environments
• Wildlife Photography: one of the most challenging types, due to capturing animals in their natural habitat

Composition

• The rule of thirds: a balancing technique that lines up main points of interest
• Simplify the background: use a sheet or wall to minimize distractions
• Framing a scene: draws attention to the subject
• Less is more: keep the composition simple
• Using lines: directs the viewer's eyes and helps balance the composition
• Contrast: uses light and color to create visual interest
• Close-ups: attract and hold the viewer's attention
• Alternative viewpoints: uses unusual camera angles

The Exposure Triangle

• Aperture: the size of the lens opening; controls the amount of light entering the camera
• Shutter Speed: the amount of exposure time; controls the duration of light entering the camera
• ISO: the camera's sensitivity to light; a high ISO means more sensitivity, while a low ISO means less sensitivity

Digital Imaging

• Raster: small images lose quality when enlarged; uses pixels
• Vector: images can be made any size without losing quality; uses mathematical equations
• Cropping: changes the size, shape, or focus of an image
• Resizing: ensures the image is the perfect fit for a project
• Cosmetic adjustments: enhances image qualities, such as brightness, contrast, saturation, and color

Design Elements

• Line: connects two or more points; can be fat, thin, wavy, or jagged
• Shape: a two-dimensional area; can be geometric or organic
• Form: a three-dimensional shape
• Texture: the physical quality of a surface
• Balance: the equal distribution of visual weight; affected by color, size, number, and negative space

Color Basics

• Primary colors: cannot be created by combining other colors
• Secondary colors: created by combining two primary colors
• Hue: another word for color
• Saturation: the intensity of a color; can be subtle or vibrant
• Value: the lightness or darkness of a color
• Monochromatic: uses one color or hue
• Analogous: uses colors that are next to each other on the color wheel
• Complementary: uses colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel
• Split-complementary: uses colors on either side of the complement
• Tetradic: forms a rectangle on the color wheel using two complementary color pairs

Explore the fundamental elements of design in digital imaging including lines, shapes, forms, and textures. Learn about principles like balance and symmetry that contribute to creating visually appealing compositions.