We've all gone on vacation and asked the family to pose for a picture and for everyone to smile, right? Well, that's not always a bad thing, but the key to making any good photo lies in the content of the photo itself. Good photos are comprised of good angles, lighting, aesthetics, and above all, the use of the Art Elements and Design Principles!
Elements of Art
Texture - Texture is the quality (both real or implied) and feeling of any surface in a photo.
Example From a viewer's standpoint, when you look at the photo, it makes you want to feel and touch it.
Form - Form is the portrayal of any/all 3-Dimensional objects in a photo. Special attention should be paid to the tone, color, and texture.
Example Basically, you want to portray the objects in the photo as something that pops out, rather than something that is just "there."
Space - Space is the usage of all space in the photo. Positive space represents the space of the shape(s) in a photo, while negative space represents the space of the foreground, background, middle ground, and all "other" space(s) around the photo.
Example Both positive and negative space enhance the beauty of photos.
Line - Lines are crucial to catching the viewer's eye and guiding them to all portions of a picture.
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