Jill Hopke
@jillhopke
Be#er Digital Storytelling with a Smartphone: Core Design Elements
Workshop Overview
Core design elements
In-the-Field Exercise: PracBce Concepts at Millennium Park
Photo ediBng in Snapseed
PerspecBve and Depth
Linear PerspecBve
Strong percepBve effect
Diagonal lines suggest depth
Adds visual tension and sense of movement
Viewpoint determines degree of convergence
Lens focal length (wide-angle vs. telephoto) changes perspecBve HADRIAN'S WALL
Hadrian's Wall at Housesteads, Cumbria. Stretching 73 miles across Northern England from the Solway to the Tyne, it was built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, who arrived in Britain in AD 122, as protecBon from marauding tribesmen from the north. Michael Freeman
Source: Freeman, M. (n.d.). Hadrian's wall. Retrieved from h^p://goo.gl/TAuI29
Diminishing PerspecBve
Perspec:ve and Depth
Form of linear perspecBve
Works with similar objects, e.g. line of trees
Objects appear to be geang smaller
Establish perspecBve with familiar object giving standard of scale
Works with placement and overlap
equitus
Source: Bray, S. (2011, Dec. 8). Maximizing perspecBve and depth in your photography. Retrieved from h^p://photography.tutsplus.com/arBcles/maximizing-perspecBve-and-depth-in-your-photography--photo-8302
Contrast
RevoluBon in design theory (ca. 1920s)
School of design and architecture
Founded by Walter Gropius in 1919 in Dessau, Germany
Linkages to Chicagos New Bauhaus schools
Bauhaus and Design Theory
Bauhaus Dessau Workshop by Thomas Lehmann 4 February 1987 Source: German Federal Archive. (1987, Feb. 4). Dessau, Bauhaus. Retrieved from h^ps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-1987-0204-305,_Dessau,_Bauhaus.jpg
Johannes I^ens Theory of ComposiBon
Paul Stockmar, Portrait of Johannes I^en, no date Kunstmuseum Bern, I^en-SBlung Source: ___. (n.d.). Johannes I^en. Retrieved from h^p://bauhaus-online.de/en/atlas/personen/johannes-i^en
Johannes I^en (1888-1967) taught at Bauhaus in the early
1920s, in the Basic Course
His Theory of ComposiBon is based on concept of contrasts
Basic way to compose an image or photograph
I#ens Contrasts
Point / line Area / line
Plane / volume Area / body
Large / small Line / body
High / low Smooth / rough
Long / short Hard / sol
Broad / narrow SBll / moving
Thick / thin Light / heavy
Light / dark Transparent / opaque
Black / white ConBnuous / intermi^ent
Much / li^le Liquid / solid
Straight / curved Sweet / sour
Pointed / blunt Strong / weak
Horizontal / verBcal Loud / sol
Diagonal / circular
I^ens Contrasts Applied to Photography
Freeman (2007), Page 34
Many vs. One
Freeman (2007), Page 34
Figure and Ground
Your brain looks for a subject and background
First, decide on point of interest (e.g. person, object)
Second, choose background
Use ambiguity to your advantage (e.g. silhoue^es)
Adds tension and interest
Figure and Ground
Henri CarBer-Bresson/Magnum Photos FRANCE. The Var department. Hyres (1932). Source: Magnum Photos. (n.d.). Henri CarBer-Bresson. Retrieved from h^p://goo.gl/i9ZVLv
Figure-Ground RelaBonship
Henri CarBer-Bresson/Magnum Photos FRANCE. The Var department. Hyres (1932). Source: Magnum Photos. (n.d.). Henri CarBer-Bresson. Retrieved from h^p://goo.gl/i9ZVLv
Source: Leaf Glover, T. (2016, Jan. 30). 10 myths about the rule of thirds. PetaPixel. Retrieved from h^p://petapixel.com/2016/01/30/10-myths-about-the-rule-of-thirds/
Balance
Which image do you like be^er? Why?
Freeman (2007), Pages 40-41
StaBc Balance
Freeman (2007), Page 40
ResoluBon of tension
Sense of Harmony Equilibrium
An expressive picture is by no means always
harmonious Michael Freeman (2007, p. 41)
Adds tension Dynamic balance
is more visually interesBng
Eye searches for balance
Imbalance
Freeman (2007), Page 41
Where to place point of interest is a design choice
Placement
Rule of Thirds
Adds visual interest
Basic composiBon technique Divides frame into nine
secBons Place objects along gridlines
Source: CreaBve Market. (2014, Aug. 4). Photography: 15 great examples of the rule of thirds in acBon. Retrieved from h^ps://creaBvemarket.com/blog/2014/08/04/photography-15-great-examples-of-the-rule-of-thirds-in-acBon
Breaking the Rule of Thirds
Centered movement enhances visual interest
Boy on Trampoline by James Nachtwey, NaBonal Geographic
Source: NaBonal Geographic. (n.d.). Photo gallery: Breaking the rules. Retrieved from h^p://photography.naBonalgeographic.com/photography/photo-Bps/breaking-the-rules/#/boy-jump-trampoline_37471_600x450.jpg
Horizon
Low placement increases feeling of stability
Works with sky / ground and other concepts from today (e.g. balance)
Experiment!
Horizon
Freeman (2007), Page 29
VerBcal Lines
Uses force of gravity Can show power and strength
Alignment is key Can work with horizontal lines to create sense of balance
VerBcal Lines
Rights Angles (Bankia Tower) by Shemsu.Hor (2014)
Source: h^ps://www.flickr.com/photos/shemsu_hor/14042149196/in/photostream/
Photography Master Ansel Adams and Ligh:ng
Born in San Francisco Known for nature photography and landscapes
Lifelong member of the Sierra Club
Master of lighBng, using shadows and creaBng texture in photographs
Ansel Adams (1902-1984)
AP This Dec. 2, 1980 file photo showing late photographer, Ansel Adams posing in front of his photograph of one the views of Yosemite NaBonal Park Btled "Monolith: The Face of Half Dome, 1927," in his home in Carmel Highlands, Calif. Source: h^p://www.nbcnews.com/id/33693291/?q=Fresno,%20California
Ansel Adams and Fred Archers Zone System
Good photographs are planned
Adds Texture to images When exposure was
not automa:c
Source: Paul's Photo. (2013, Aug. 8). What is the new digital zone system? Retrieved from h^p://paulsphoto.com/blog/2013/08/08/what-is-the-new-digital-zone-system/
Ansel Adams Photography
Moon and Half Dome Ansel Adams (1960)
Source: h^p://www.ansel-adams.org/moon-and-half-dome.jsp#pre^yPhoto
Ansel Adams Photography
Church in Taos Pueblo, New Mexico (1941) Ansel Adams
Source: h^p://www.ansel-adams.org/church-in-taos-pueblo-new-mexico.jsp
Ansel Adams Photography
El Capitan Winter Sunrise Ansel Adams (1968)
Source: h^p://www.ansel-adams.org/el-captain-winter-sunrise.jsp
Shoot Early, Shoot Late sun at angle colors saturate shadows form: textures more contrast
Avoid high noon because few shadows light & color are flat
Try Backlit LighBng sun behind subject you face the sun adjust exposures
Color Composi:on
Hue = quality, essence, measured in degrees
SaturaBon = intensity, purity
Brightness = dark / lightness
Color Value = Contrast / Luminance
Freeman (2007), Pages 114-15 Color Wheel
Colors always working in relaBon to each other
Complementary vs. similarity harmony
Look for contrasts
Color RelaBonships
Freeman (2007), Page 118
Pa#ern, Texture and Many
What do your eyes do looking at this picture?
Everyday Pa#ern Showing Gestalt Laws of Simplicity and Good ConBnuaBon
UnBtled by JP Theberge (2011). Source: h^ps://goo.gl/M99nrv
How about now?
A break in pa#ern = emphasizes the pa#ern
Freeman (2007), Page 51
A pa^ern of many = texture
Texture as structure in image = tactual sense of touch. Ligh:ng is key.
Freeman (2007), Page 50
There is one moment at which the elements in moBon are in balance. Photography must seize upon this
moment. ~Henri CarBer-Bresson
Goal: Capture the life of a summer alernoon
Develop a strategy for the acBvity Whats the story here?
What and who might you focus on?
PracBcing workshop concepts
Source Material: Photographers Eye
Michael Freeman website: h^p://www.michaelfreemanphoto.com/
QuesBons?
Jill Hopke [email protected]