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Foreground and Background
Forms

Journalist 3 & 2 - Introduction to Journalism and other reporting practices
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Lighting Lighting is  one  of  the  important  creative  elements of composition. When you control the light and direct it where it is wanted, minor objects or distracting elements in  the  scene  can  be  subdued  and  thereby  give  more prominence  to  the  main  point  of  interest.  The  type  of lighting best suited for a subject depends on the type of subject and the purpose of the photograph. If maximum detail is desired in the shadows, the illumination should be  soft  and  diffused.  Sidelighting  is  most  effective  in showing  texture.  However,  light  falling  diagonally  on the subject from above and to one side of the camera is the    most    natural    form    of    illumination.    We    are accustomed to seeing most subjects under this condition in which the shadows are castoff to one side and slanted away  from  us,  creating the  greatest  apparent  depth  and roundness in the subject. Shadows   are   the   key   to   apparent   depth   in   a photograph.   Without   shadows   the   subject   is   without form,  curvature  or  texture,  appearing  flat  and  lifeless. This  does  not  mean  that  shadows  should  be  harsh  and black to achieve these  effects.  They  maybe soft,  yet  of sufficient density to show the most delicate roundness of form.   As   a   general   rule,   harsh   black   shadows   are undesirable in a photograph due to the complete loss of detail    in    them.    From    a    compositional    standpoint however, black shadows can be very useful in balancing a scene and directing attention to the point of interest. While  viewing  the  scene  from  various  angles  to  select the best camera position, note the effects of illumination. In all probability, the most complimentary lighting on an outdoor  subject  occurs  only  during  one  short  period  of the  day.  For  this  reason,  time  your  photograph  to  take advantage of the most suitable available light or plan to create your own illumination with auxiliary lights. Silhouetting Silhouetting  is  when  a  subject  is  backlighted  and then  underexposed.  A  silhouetted  subject  gives  overall strength   to   a   composition   and   isolates   the   subject through   contrast   of   the   dark   foreground   against   the lighter background (fig. 12- 13). COMPOSITIONAL LINES The    formation    of    lines    in    a    composition    is unavoidable. For example, lines are formed by the Figure 12-13.—Silhouetted subject. horizon, a person’s limbs, the side of a ship, a fence or a winding    road.    These    lines    —    vertical,    horizontal, diagonal   or   curved   —   lend   their   own   element   of emphasis to a composition. Vertical  lines  formed  by  elements  in  composition suggest strength and dignity (a sentry at attention), while horizontal  lines  suggest  tranquility  and  rest  (a  ship  on the horizon at sunset). The diagonal line suggests action (climbing   aircraft)   and   a   variety   of   lines   indicates activity. A feeling of grace and beauty is conveyed to the viewer by the use of curvaceous lines, such as those used in glamour and fashion photography. BALANCE A good composition should have balance. In other words,  your  viewer  should  not  get  the  uneasy  feeling that   the   elements   may   come   tumbling   out   of   your composition. A balanced composition gives a feeling of harmony to the whole setting. Elements of balance are placed in opposing sections of a photograph in such a manner that each section appears to have an equal amount of weight 12-15







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