LO1 - Photographic Techniques

Leading lines

Leading lines are used to normally point to something or someone in the background. They give the perception of continuing forever and only when they reach the end have you reached your goal. It is used for strong emotion and styling in images.

Texture

Texture is used to define a certain section of a photograph. In my example i use the brick wall, where the texture of bricks is different. Due to this the connotations could be endless. It provides visual interest to the image that wouldn't previously be noticed.

Centre of interest.

Centre of interest is used to make the viewer notice the item in the middle of the image rather than its surroundings. In the traffic light image the most prominent feature is the traffic light. For this reason it allows photographers to draw the viewers attention the the most important part of the image, normally positioned in the centre.

Framing

Framing is used to provide a different perspective to a normal photograph. A photograph is normally framed using something available in the shot, and not added in the editing stage. The 'frame' provides a picture in a picture kind of feel making an image more unique, and hence making the photograph stand out a lot more.

Monochromatic.

Monochromatic, meaning of one colour, normally refers to black and white photographs (as shown above). They are used to provide emotion or history to an image which could have a deep meaning to the photograph. It is normally done by photographers wanting to express a powerful meaning to an audience for example a homeless child. This is in the intention of showing the world in a different, and normally more negative perspective. 

Colour

Colour in an image normally uses the 'colour' to portray different emotions or provide different meanings to an image. Each colour has connotations so some photographers use this to provide meaning to their images, whilst others use a multitude of colours to create something abstract like the photograph above.

Composition

Composition is used when a photograph is planned to provide different aspects. For example, the buildings, road and sky in the image are all different, and hence the image has been 'composed' to look like this. Each segment has different meaning and is all added into one final image which brings the different elements together.

Viewpoint (above eye)

The viewpoint of this image is above eye, and hence is looking down on the bush. This is normally used as a perspective. Something in which a normal person cannot achieve. Taking photographs this way can be used to show a wider image, e.g of a farmers field; but mainly is used to create a unique looking image which has different connotations depending on what is photographed.

Rule of thirds.

Rule of thirds is a photographic technique which is used to capture the viewers attention. If a tic-tac-toe board is drawn on the image, the intersection of lines are where a person is more likely to look in an image. For this reason photographers use this natural phenomenon to put interesting or unique sections of a photograph at these points, drawing the viewer to what is there more easily.

Close up (macro)

Close up is normally used to show something that is smaller whilst the background remains out of focus. Normally it is exceptionally detailed which means a viewer can look at it for hours still noticing different details each time they look at it. It sometimes is used to show how big our world is which can portray meaning and emotion into an image.

Viewpoint (below eye)

A below eye viewpoint is used to often give power to a photograph, or increase its perceived size making it seem more important. The photograph above - a mountain dew bottle - uses the below eye viewpoint to make the product seem more important in comparison to its competitors. It can also be used to show significance between two props or creatures in a photograph which can promote meaning. 

Narrative.

Narrative is a technique which is exactly as it sounds. It is used when a photographer wants to portray a single frame story to an audience. Often used to capture the attention of the viewer, a story within a photograph can be used to provide a strong, powerful emotion to an image.

Repetition.

Repetition is used to provide context to an image. In my photograph repetition can be seen twice, once for the lines and again for the windows. It can show the powerfulness of symmetry which makes a photograph different and unique.

Lighting.

If an image uses the shades of light, e.g White (full brightness) and black (shade) it can be powerful and provide a lot of emotion and identity to an image. An example of this would be a persons long shadow in a bright setting. This provides emotion as people feel sadness for the person who's shadow can be seen.