Visual Literacy Concepts
Photographic Composition
Make the photograph interesting
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Composition
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Balance
Subject Placement
Pattern
Tone
Light
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Direction
Quality
Composition is
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the arrangement of items in an image
where the subject is, in relation to the
borders of the image
the key to successful images
Composition is
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Balance
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Subject Placement
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Symmetry
Asymmetry
Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds
Pattern
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Radial Design
Repetition
Make the photograph interesting
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Be Sure to Balance
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Symmetrical
Asymmetrical
Balance
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Equality of the left
& right sides of the
image
Balance
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Symmetry
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Both sides of an imaginary
central line are the same
Asymmetry
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Both sides of an imaginary
central line ARE NOT the
same
Symmetry
Both sides of an
imaginary central
line are the same
• Karl Blossfeldt
Asymmetry
Both sides of an
imaginary central line
ARE NOT the same
• Karl Blossfeldt
Symmetry
Both sides of an
imaginary central
line are the same
• Diane Arbus
Asymmetry
Both sides of an
imaginary central line
ARE NOT the same
• Diane Arbus
Symmetry
Both sides of an
imaginary central
line are the same
• Walker Evans
Asymmetry
Both sides of an
imaginary central line
ARE NOT the same
• Walker Evans
Which? Symmetry or Asymmetry?
Both sides of an
imaginary central line
ARE NOT the same
• Ansel Adams
Which? Symmetry or Asymmetry?
Both sides of an
imaginary central line
ARE NOT the same
• Bill Brandt
Which? Symmetry or Asymmetry?
Both sides of an
imaginary central line
ARE NOT the same
• Jerry Uelsmann
Balance
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Equality of the left & right
sides of the image
Symmetrical Balance 
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Both sides of an imaginary
central line are the same
Asymmetrical Balance 
Both sides of an imaginary
central line ARE NOT the
same
Make the photograph interesting
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Draw Attention to Your Subject
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Leading Lines
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Framing
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Rule of Thirds
Draw Attention to Your Subject
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Leading Lines
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Lines that lead
in a path to the
subject
• Ansel Adams
Leading Lines
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Lines that lead
in a path to the
subject
• Lewis Hine
Leading Lines
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Lines that lead
in a path to the
subject
• Dorothea Lange
Make the photograph interesting
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Draw Attention to Your Subject
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Leading Lines
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Framing
Framing
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Rule of Thirds
Draw attention to the subject
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Framing
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Objects within the
borders of the image
frame the subject
• Arnold Newman
Framing
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Objects within the
borders of the image
frame the subject
• Manuel Alvarez-Bravo
Framing
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Objects within the
borders of the image
frame the subject
• Anne Geddes
Make the photograph interesting
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Draw Attention to Your Subject
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Leading Lines
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Framing
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Rule of Thirds
Rule of Thirds
Rule of Thirds
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Place the subject in
a junction of an
imaginary “tic-tactoe” grid over the
image.
Rule of Thirds
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Place the subject in
a junction of an
imaginary “tic-tactoe” grid over the
image.
• Dorothea Lange
Rule of Thirds
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Place the subject in
a junction of an
imaginary “tic-tactoe” grid over the
image.
• Imogen Cunningham
Rule of Thirds
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Place the subject in
a junction of an
imaginary “tic-tactoe” grid over the
image.
• Steve Ludlum
Make the photograph interesting
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Look for patterns
Radial Design
Design
Radial
 Repetition
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Radial Design
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Objects, shapes,
lines, and/or colors
radiate out from a
central point in a
circular pattern.
• Alfred Eisenstaedt
Radial Design
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Objects, shapes,
lines, and/or colors
radiate out from a
central point in a
circular pattern.
• James Nachtwey
Make the photograph interesting
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Look for patterns
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Radial Design
Repetition
Repetition
Repetition
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Same shape, line,
pattern, and/or
color is repeated
throughout the
image.
• Harry Callahan
Repetition
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Same shape, line,
pattern, and/or
color is repeated
throughout the
image.
• Margaret Bourke-White
Elements of Composition
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Draw Attention to Your Subject
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Convey a Clear Message
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Make Your Photograph Interesting
Elements of Composition
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Balance
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Symmetry
Asymmetry
Subject Placement
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Leading Lines
Framing
Rule of Thirds
Pattern
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Radial Design
Repetition