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