Rhythm and Pattern

Part 2 Elements of Design
Project: Rhythm and Pattern
Exercise 1
Aim: Take at least 2 pictures, one showing rhythm and one with pattern.

It took some time for me to acctually distinguish between pattern and rhythm as they are so similar. They both include repetition but where rhythm is often dyanmic and flowing so the eye follows an "optical beat" through the picture, pattern is more static and less flowing. I think the lines between rhythm and pattern are not set and mostly depend of the subject and/or picture at the time.

1.

These tiles provide a good example of pattern. They fill the frame so it is easy to imagine them continuing beyond what we can see. The slight variation with each of the tiles adds interest but does not disrupt the overall pattern.
2.

 Material showing pattern, an obvious choice but I've still included it.

3.

Rhythm was much harder to find. The line of trees provides rhythm as each trunk stands out well from the background. The leaves between the trees help to break it up slightly so it does not become too much of an exact repetition and more of a pattern.

I found this exercise enjoyable is it was a challenge to find suitable pictures, especially for rhythm. This helped me become more familiar with pattern and rhythm and by the end of the exercise, helped me to distinguish between the two.

Real and implied triangles

Part 2 Elements of Design
Project: Shapes
Exercise 1
Aim: Take 6 pictures showing both real and implied triangles.
         Create triangles in different ways for example by using perspective.

1. Triangular subject- real

2. Triangle by perspective- real

I used a wide angle lens and positioned close to the window to create a triangle by perspective that converged towards the top of the frame. Similarly, if I stood above the window looking down, the triangle would converge at the bottom of the frame.

3. Triangle by perspective- real

It was, as the course materials suggested, slightly harder to find a triangle that converged towards the bottom of the frame. By taking the picture from above this table, the corner created the apex of an inverted triangle.

4. Still life with apex at top- implied

I decided to use safety pins for the still life shots. The open pin forms the apex which is a the top of the frame.

5. Still life with apex at bottom- implied

Again, I used safety pins, this time with the apex at the bottom of the frame.

6. Triangle from people- implied

The triangle is formed by the faces of the three people. It could be improved by having the two lower people the same height with the person at the top, slightly taller. The same for an inverted triangle with two people positioned behind the shorter one in front to form the apex. Also, the triangle could have been made by changing the perspective or angle.

In conclusion, this exercise showed me the effect triangles have of a picture and how important they can be to the overall composition. They give a sense of stability while still keeping the effect dynamic and interesting. That's not to say they are more important than the subject (or vice versa) but should defiantly be considered when composing a shot. After completing this exercise, I looked back through my pictures and it was surprising to find how many triangles (mostly implied) I had subconsciously included in them.

Using lines in composition

Part 2 Elements of Design
Project: Using lines in composition
Exercise 1: Implied Lines
Aim: Find and sketch the implied lines on the two course images.
           Repeat the first section of the exercise with 3 of my own pictures .
          Take two photo's that use specific types of implied lines: eye lines and extension of lines or points.

1. The first of the images from the course notes shows a strong sense of movement through the use of implied lines. I found it harder to sketch the implied lines on this picture, possibly because both of the main points are close together in the centre unlike in the second picture.

2. In the second image, I found 3 implied lines. There is a clear eye line between the man and the horses. The horses eye line and body position both suggest movement and direction in a clear and effective way. I think the separation between the man and horses creates a more pleasing dynamic and also makes it easier to pick out the implied lines.


For the second part of the exercise, I picked three of my own images to sketch the implied lines like in part 1

1.

This picture is similar to the course images in the way that the implied lines show the movement in the picture.

2.

 The paw-prints in the snow create a straight implied line that leads into the frame.

3.

The trees create a curving  "S" shape through the picture. The line is emphasised by the contrastingly bare landscape on either side.

In part 3 of the exercise, I had to plan two images that showed eye lines and an extension of lines or points.

1.

 This picture of water droplets shows an implied vertical line using a series of points.

2.

The use of eye lines in the picture is shown by the little girl looking at the dog. The position of her arms and the lead as well as the returned eye contact also helps strengthen the implied line.










         

Lines: Curves

Part 2 Elements of Design
Project: Curves
Exercise 3
Aim: To take 4 pictures showing curves to emphasise direction and movement.

1.

This picture of bollards in a car park has a curved pattern that is emphasized by the contrast in colour.

2.

The seeds on this plant show repeated curves from both the shape of the seeds and the curved pattern on them.

3.

These paper clips show multiple curves in a simple yet very clear way.

4.

The curves in this road are emphasized by both the markings and the verges on either side.


In conclusion, I think that curved lines create a very different impression on the photo than straight lines. Where straight lines are rather harsh and sharp, curved lines are much more flowing add more movement to the image. I think it's harder to find curved lines than straight lines, though I found some curves are more subtle, so making them harder to notice.