There are seven basic elements to photographic art known as:

• Line
• Shape
• Form
• Texture
• Colour
• Size
• Depth

LINE:

Definition:  A straight or curved geometric element that is generated by a moving point and that has extension only along the path of the point

Lines can be straight, curved or a combination of both. They can go in any direction such as vertical or horizontal and can become solid, dashed or implied.

Vertical or horizontal lines can convey/suggest a sense of stability or a static feel in a photograph.

Horizontal lines can indicate distance (e.g. a horizon line) whilst vertical lines can indicate height, balance or strength.

Diagonal lines create a more dynamic and dramatic image.

SHAPE:

Definitions:

Sometimes a familiar shape can transform into an unfamiliar or unrecognizable shape based on the viewpoint of the photographer. For example, a lightbulb can have an image taken of it from the top, and appear to be a circle.

The two main types of shapes in an image are:

• Geometric: simple and can be labelled (for example, circles squares or triangles)

• Organic: shapes that can’t be permanently defined. these can be created by fluids for example. This makes the image more complex.

FORM:

Definition: the shape and structure of something as distinguished from its material

Form is three-dimensional. Form has overall height, width, and depth.

Form can be geometric or organic, just like shape.

Form creates positive and negative space. Positive is the space that is occupied by forms, but negative space is the empty part that remains.

It captures tonality changes and cast shadows of an object, the direction and intensity of the light relative to that object can change how we perceive the depth of the object in a photograph.

TEXTURE:

Definition: the visual or tactile surface characteristics and appearance of something

Texture in an image is shown through tone variations. this shows us whether the object would feel smooth, rough, bumpy, shiny, slimy, etc.

• Smooth objects might have reflections or specular highlights.
• Rough objects might have aggressive areas of light and shadow without reflections.

Patterns also indicate texture, and we imply the texture and associate it with the familiar. Depending on the angle of the lighting, the appearance of texture can change.

COLOUR:

Definitions:

•  a phenomenon of light (such as red, brown, pink, or gray) or visual perception that enables one to differentiate otherwise identical objects
•  the aspect of the appearance of objects and light sources that may be described in terms of hue, lightness, and saturation for objects and hue, brightness, and saturation for light.
• a specific combination of hue, saturation, and lightness or brightness
•  a color other than and as contrasted with black, white, or gray

Colour has three properties: hue, value, and saturation.

• Hue is simply the description of the color (e.g., blue, red, yellow, etc.).
• Value is the relative brightness or darkness of a color.
• Saturation is the intensity or purity of a color. The purest color is a hue with no white, black, or gray added to it.

Colours in an image can be bold and bright which are eye-catching and stand out more.

However, muted colours that are dulled down can also make a powerful image because it makes the image seem more sentimental.

Harmonic colours (colours which complement each other) can create distinct feelings that the photographer wants to express.

We live in a world of colour. The light from the sun, and from artificial sources, is absorbed and reflected by different objects, and it is this reflected light that we see as colour.

SIZE:

Definition: physical magnitude, extent, or bulk : relative or proportionate dimensions

Size in a photograph is relative and can be an illusion.

When a familiar object appears in the frame of a photograph (car, basketball, streetlamp, etc.) we immediately get a feel for the scope of the entire scene. Without a familiar object in the image, we struggle to determine the scale shown in the photograph.

The camera, lens, and print can render large objects small, or small objects large. Even objects familiar to our eyes that are usually small can be rendered in a photograph to become huge and show more detail that we don’t usually see, while things we know to be enormous are rendered small.

 With a casual snapshot, size might not be something one even considers in the composition. Paying attention to size can create unique images.

This emphasizes the object in the image.

My image^

DEPTH:

Definition: the direct linear measurement from front to back

Depth is one of the most compelling elements in a photograph.

Unless you are photographing perpendicular to a blank and smooth wall, your image will have depth. Depth is provided by our visual cues.

Leading lines create a linear perspective. this means when lines lead away from the camera, they converge at the end to create depth. An example of this is taking an image of train tracks.

Texture gradient shows depth. For example, if you took an image of a brick road. The closer the bricks are, the more details they will have whereas the ones with less details will give us the sense that they are further away.

Also size diminution. This means the smaller an object is in a photograph, the more distant it appears, assuming the viewer is familiar with the size of the object in question.

  

  

My understanding of the settings used manually is that the aperture (will affect the shutter speed and the depth of field). As the aperture increases the background comes more into focus.

ISO (increasing it makes the camera sensor more sensitive to the light). Enables the photographer to use a faster shutter speed/ higher aperture. In low light you can increase the ISO too make the low light photograph more visible/ good exposure.

Exposure Settings:

The final check before you snap a picture. At a glance the exposure setting will tell you how our picture will turn out (based on the aperture, shutter speed settings and ISO settings. It works as a guide and exposure is a matter of personal preference.

Flower basket-  Jan van den Hecke

Nick Church Photography

Pieter Claesz, Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill 

Still-Life Painting in Northern Europe, 1600–1800

Still Life Metaphors and Meanings

Formalism describes that the most important aspect of a work of art is its form, the way its made and its visual aspects, Formalism includes line, shape, form, texture, colour, size and depth.

Line – The lines on an image or whether the photo has leading lines or lines that guide your eye to the focal point.

Shape – How interesting the shape of the image is, has the photograph been taken at a specific angle to make it look more interesting.

Form – Is the photography 3 dimensional, how is the object displayed or positioned.

Texture – The surface of an object is it smooth shiny, rough. How can that be photographed to make it look as interesting as it can.

Colour – The composition of the photograph is one of the most important things of a photograph, it guides the viewer to wear you want them to look on the photograph and where the main focus of the photograph is.

Size – How do you take pictures of the object to make it look larger than it is or smaller than it is or making it look like the same size it is in real life.

Depth – How much of the photograph is in focus and how much of it is in detail. Is the main focal point of the image in focus and the background blurred to make the focal point standout .