YHS Art Blog

Goal: To create successful photographs, paying close attention to the Elements of Design.

As you are photographing, purposefully select two elements of design to communicate in each shot you make. You should have 4 strong examples.

In addition, you should continue to pay attention to compostional strategies.

Elements of Design:
perspective, light, line, texture, motion, shape/form

You should have demonstrated at least 6 different strong compositional strategies in your photographs. Please name/identify each strategy.

Using a word document, answer the following questions, using, at least 3 thoughtful and complete sentences. Save to the documents folder on your hard drive.

1. After looking at your final 6 compositions, which strategy do you think helps to create the strongest photograph? In other words, which photograph do you believe is the best image? Please explain.

2. What was the most challenging part of this assignment? How did you deal with this challenge?

Goal: To create successful digital photographs, using thoughtful and well-planned compositions.

1. Log onto this web site:

to view tips for successful photographs.

As you are photographing, purposefully select a compositional strategy to demonstrate in each shot you make.

Shoot any subject you wish, as long as you pay attention to the composition.

Avoid central placement of your subject.

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Compositional Strategies: vertical, horizontal, diagonal, triangular, repetition of elements, s-curve, radial

Additional Compositional Tips: framing, leading/implied lines, rule of thirds

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Be prepared to explain and discuss your results!

Please finish and print the answers to the web quest questions:

and bring to class on Friday, September 13th (p3) or Monday, September 17th(p4 & p5).

Your first quiz will be on Monday, September 17th (p3) and Wednesday, September 19th(p4 & p5). In your binder for the open notes quiz, you should have three handouts, along with the “Composition and Elements of Design” worksheet (completed), and your answers to the “Basic Mechanisms and Features of a 35mm Camera” web quest (completed).

First Homework assignment, due Thursday, Sept. 20 – Positive-negative design
All homework assignments are to be done in your personal FIA-issued sketchbook. Please allow yourself at least 45 minutes to complete this assignment.

• Find a simple but interesting household tool.
Suggestions: scissors, spatula, whisk, fork, pliers – something that challenges your personal ability.
• On a piece of black construction paper, draw the OUTLINE of the tool you have chosen. Before you start, try looking at the tool from different angles and at different positions. You want your outline to be visually interesting. If you need to practice sketching, feel free to use a page or two of your sketchbook for this. Simplifying the outline is fine.
• Now cut out along the outline you have drawn, and also those negative shapes within the contour of the tool, and carefully decide where to place your cutout on the page of your sketchbook. It has to touch at least three edges of the page. (You guessed it, you have to make it pretty big!)
• When you are finished, your page will be a positive-negative composition. The tool should be recognizable.