Design+Principles

Design Principles Tina Lee

[ Depth ] The path in this photo extends until the viewer is unable to see where it goes after the horizon. The alignment of the trees on both sides of the path also helps create the depth in the photo.

This photo makes me feel like the weather now in autumn. The path extends straight in the centre of the photo, with two people leaning towards the left side and a line of colorful trees on the right. It seems like the light is coming from the right side of the picture and above those trees. The texture of the photo is pretty soft because of the fog that interferes with the light, and the blended colors of the leaves. The photo focuses on the path that is almost a tunnel made by the trees, lowered branches, and blended colors of leaves. Viewer is able to see that the tunnel or path eventually leads to an opening where the light comes in. This is a photo about morning autumn when fog and sunshine sneak onto the path, with two people strolling down the path.



[ Direction ] In this photo, there are several elements that fulfill the design principle of direction. Viewer would probably notice the blue and white poles first, which are aligned and placed about the same distance between every two poles. These poles along with the black and blue boats, lead the viewer's eyes to the left side of the photo. Not only does the poles and boats direct the viewer's eyes to the left, the river narrows towards the left center of the photo achieved this effect as well.

I really like the bright blue color in contrast of the gloomy sky and building in this photo. There are buildings on each side of the photo. Also, the photo is divided into upper-half and lower-half, with the gloomy color on top, and bright blue color at the bottom. The light is focused slightly on the boats from the right hand side of the photo. The texture is hard and contrasting due to the contrast of bright blue color and the river, ancient building, and gloomy sky background. I believe that this photo is focused on the boats lining along the poles.



[ Balance ] This photo provides a great example of balance in design principles. The subject is symmetrical.

When I first saw this photo, I thought it was interesting because of the symmetrical balance of the photo, and the location of the red liquid in the glasses. There are four identical tall foot glasses facing their opening to each other. Also, the red liquid lying in the glasses on the x-axis of the photo makes the whole object symmetrical. The light is focused in the centre, which makes the light dimmer towards the corners. The texture is transparent, clear and solid due to the stillness of both the glasses and the liquid. Although there are four glasses in the photograph, the focus is on the red liquid at the bottom. The two glasses contained with less liquid seems like they are almost pouring liquid into the glass at the bottom, which draws viewer's eyes to the bottom glass with 70% full of red liquid. The background is just plain and white, which projects the shape of the glasses fairly well with the focus of the light. This photo shows stillness of liquid to an extent, but at the same time, draws viewer's eyes from the top to the bottom with the direction of the liquid.



[ Triangles ] There are three big stones in the middle of the photo that forms a triangle.

This photo makes me feel calm and peaceful because of the sunset and the smoothness of the water. The picture is mainly composed of the three big stones in the middle of the photo that forms a triangle shape and draws attention immediately. The sunset, triangle, and the group of stones at the bottom of the photo forms a straight line which creates a sense of depth to broaden the view of the photo. The light is focused at the bottom of the photo, which is closer to the photographer. The texture is indeed soft and smooth due to the colour tone in the sky and the smooth water flow. The focus of the photo is extended from the group of stones at the bottom of the photo, to the triangle in the middle of the photo, and eventually to the sunset. The background is a blend of color in wine red and orange, with layers of wine red clouds on top of the orange sky. The photo captures the beautiful sunset above the ocean.



[ Planes and Depth Levels ] The strips of lands that lie across the photo horizontally creates depth levels by layering on top of another. And as the distance moves further away, the outline and the colour of the lands become lighter, which also creates a sense of depth.

This photo is successful because of the layer of planes that lie above each other, and the black and white color tone of the photo also helps in showing the distance and the depth of the objects. The planes are all horizontally positioned to each other, and the sky and land divide the photo into half approximately. The light is weak and directed from the left to the right, since the corners on the right are dimmer than the left, and the sun is on the left. The texture is soft for the most part, but hard in little due to the sharp outline and the dark colored strip of land at the very bottom of the photo. The focus of the photo moves from the bottom to top, following from the pair of geese on the layered planes, and then eventually towards the sun. The background is light and pale in contrast to the bright light around the sun and the dark colored lands. This photo creates a lovely story with the two geese facing each other that forms a heart shape on the land in the middle of the water.



[ Element Relationship ] The two creatures interact by facing and touching each other.

I think this photo looks somewhat funny to me because the bird on the right looks startled, and it seems like it is trying to resist the bird on the left, so it uses its neck to push away itself from the fright. The picture is balanced by placing one bird on left and right side of the photo, and the log standing in between and behind them acts as the centre line of the photo. It is hard to tell where the light comes from, but the light is bright and strong enough to show the colours of the birds well. The texture is sharp and rough due to the sharp beaks, pointy feathers, and the branches below the birds. The focus of the photo obviously is at the centre and around their beaks, where the two birds interact and where it seems like they are about to collide. The background is plain light blue, which I assume is the sky, that helps in showing the bright colours on the two creatures. This is a photo about animal interaction and to raise awareness of protecting the animals.



[ Framing ] The focus of this photo is framed within the little block of square on the ground.

I really like this photo because the photographer fits a large scene into a little square block of still water, and the brick road around the square adds texture to the photo and also helps direct the focus in the photo. The square in the photo is placed in a diagonal line with respect to the photographer. The bricks on the road are pointing towards the square. The light is coming from the top left corner, as the left hand side of the photo is brighter and lighter than the other side. The texture is rough and hard, but reflective in the square where reflection shows. The focus of the photo is absolutely in the square block of water where reflection of the buildings is shown and presented well. The photo talks about brick road, old buildings, and town. With the help of the black and white tone, the whole photo presents an ancient feel that goes well with the subject in the photo.