Project 52, Week 44, Triangles and Squares

This is a lot like last week's project except the object is to compose pictures with triangles, squares, rectangles, cones, cubes, cuboids, boxes, pyramids, and etc (any geometric shape except circles).

Things to Consider:

• The shape or form can be the main focus or take a supporting role.
• The object/element can be an actual shape/form or it can be implied.
• Search magazines or online for photos and paintings and try to identify shapes used by the artists. (See Power of the Triangle, comment # 10)

Suggested Readings and Examples:

1. Power of the Triangle at Jake Garn.com; illustrated article on how the simple triangle can improve your photography; also read comment # 1 by Steven Rose. 
2. Photography and Triangles by Coastline Studios at Sickles Insight 
3. How to Photograph a Box by Tinnesee at Squidoo
4. The Triangles of Photography by Rolando Gomez at Lens Diary; illustrated article; warning - skimpy bikinis.
5. Triangles stock photos and images at Fotosearch; over 10,000 images (you can search here for other geometric shapes and forms)

Other stuff:

1. Retired postman and 115,000 post boxes by Lyle Brennan at Mail Online; illustrated article
2. 7 Wonders Photography Series: The Pyramids by Nina Krimly at junkie.net; pictures of pyramids

Project 52, Week 43, Circles

We're not doing anything different this week than the first two weeks of the months, except concentrating on circles.  The object is to compose pictures with circles, spheres, and/or cylinders. 

Things to consider:

• The "circle" can be the main focus or take a supporting role.
• The object/element can be an actual shape or form or the circle can be implied.
• Practice the other compositional guidelines.

Suggested Readings and Examples:

1. Improve your photography: Shoot in circles at Josh Larkin Photography; illustrated article on how shooting circles can improve your photography. 
2. Circle Photography at Redbubble; just photos
3. Circles stock photos and images at Fotosearch; over 120,000 images (you can search here for other geometric shapes and forms)
4. Giant Spheres Created with Light Painting by Michael Zang at PetaPixel and Photo Gallery Ball of Light at Denis Smith photography; cool photos
5. Breathtaking Photos Using Clear Marble by Oliver Pickup at Mail Online; photos taken through a marble (clear glass sphere) by Caleb Tenenbaum

Project 52, Week 42, Form

Form refers to the three-dimensional quality of an object. 
Forms are lines and shapes with volume.
Circles and squares are shapes. Spheres and cubes are forms

"Form has four basic components: line, shape, texture, and perspective. All of these are made visible by differences in the intensity of tones. But their appearance is modified by the quality of light and its direction. When the intensity, direction, or quality of light changes - lines, shapes, texture, and perspective change and the appearance of form is altered." Garry Black Photography Workshop Notes

Things to Consider:

• Form is created through light, color, tones, contrasts, and shadows.
• Side lighting helps create a sense of form by creating deeper shadows and emphazing texture.
• Always remember the other compositional techniques.  The Five Minute Photography Course from Garry Black Photography Workshop Notes; briefly lists and explains basic principles of composition. 

Suggested Readings and Examples:

1. Discovering Form in Photography by Juergen Roth at Apogee Photo; well illustrated article defining line, shape, and form and how to communicate a sense of form through composition.
2. Shape and Form in Composition by Aamir Shazhad at PictureSocial; explanatory article comparing shape and form
3. The Best Way to Learn about Composition by Andrew Gibson at phototuts+; a good article on composition - the illustrations accompanying the paragraphs on form demonstrates the difference between shape and form and how light is used to show the form.

Project 52, Week 41, Shapes

This week we look for a fundamental composition element: shapes - circles, rectangles, squares, triangles, pentagons, etc.  A shape is a space outlined by elements such as lines, color, and value. It may be an actual solid object (such as a wall or window or traffic sign) or may be more of a perceived shape (such as a group of people arranged in a circle or triangle or a mountain range or the space between two converging lines).

Things to consider:

• Be creative.  Look for shapes everywhere.  A horse race track is a circle/oval; the starting gate and stands are rectangles. 
• A shape should be distinctive, but does not necessarily have to be a geometric shape. A photograph of a horse and jockey taken in silhouette shows a distinct shape.
• The S-curve is a shape.  The eye completes the lines to see circles, one on top of another.
• Composing a group of people by arranging them in a triangle can create a more interesting picture than having them all in a row at the same height.
• The American Heart Association publishes calendars that feature a picture with a heart shape subject each month (flora, fauna, islands, birds, hands, etc.)

Suggested Readings and Examples:

1. Visual Design Elements: Shapes at Ultimate Photo Tips; illustrated article - illustrates perceived shapes
2. The Tuesday Composition: Circles by Joe Decker at Photocrati; illustrated article
3. Circular Compositions by John Suler's PhotoPsychology at Flickr; illustrated article
4. Hearts, Triangles, and Circles at FotoSearch; just pictures
5. Examples of Shape Photography by kelsibrenna; 5 examples

Project 12, Month 10, Shapes & Forms

Shape is a 2-dimensional element while Form is viewed as a 3-dimensional object.

A shape is a space outlined by elements such as lines, color, and value.  It may be an actual solid object (such as a traffic sign) or may be more of a perceived shape (such as a group of people arranged in a circle).

"In the two dimensional world, there are three simple geometric shapes. [ circle, rectangle, and triangle]. ... Shape is to form as a square is to a cube.  In the three dimensional world, the basic geometric forms are cube, sphere, pyramid, cylinder and cones."  (Aamir Shahzed )

"Forms are defined by their lines, shapes, and volume ... Photographing form can be capturing an overall contour of a three-dimensional object - say, a flower - or composing an image from an unusual perspective and capturing its shape in an abstract way." (Juergen Roth)


Things to consider:

• Everything has a shape of some kind.  It may be one simple geometric shape or it may be a combination of the basic shapes.  It may be an actual solid object or an implied/abstract shape or form.
• Repeated shapes make a pattern. 
• A silhouette is a shape whether it's of a person, a cat, a tree, or a street sign.  
• Camera angle/position is important. An element viewed from the side will usually have a different shape and form than when viewed from the front.
• Use of light and shadow is very important when photographing a form. Side light usually works best to add shadows and depth.

Suggested Readings and Examples:

1. Discovering Form in Photography by Juergen Roth at Apogee Photo
2. Use of Structures in Photo Composition by Kim Rormark at Digital Photography Tips Online; very short article 
3. Advanced Composition: Using Geometry by Christina N. Dickson at Digital Photography School; well illustrated article
4. Use a triangle as a composition technique by Jim Harmer at Improve Photography; tip # 9
5. Photography Composition: The Golden Triangle Rule by Mira Crisp at Crisp Photoworks; well illustrated article
6. Shape and Form in Composition by Aamir Shahzed at Picture Social; illustrated short article
7. Capturing Shapes and Patterns in Outdoor Photos by Layne Kennedy at Photoguide; 90 second YouTube video
8. Emphasize Shape and Form in Macro Photography by Thomas Clark at Dummies.com Macro & Close-up Photography; a short illustrated article
9. Form, Shape and Space by Charlotte Jirousek at Cornell University from the Art, Design, and Visual Thinking course;
10. Shape and Form, Reflections, and Combining Multiple Elements by Andy Long at First Light; 5 paragraphs on Shape and Form
11. Elements of Design Shape & Form 1 by CanadaDadProduction; a 1:49 minute YouTube video
12. Image composition, stable, instable, diagonal, powerful and spiral composition at artmediaphotography.com; more illustrations than words; uses art to show compositional elements - look for square, triangle, circle, and spiral.  (Tip: read down in columns instead of across)