Art and Design A comprehensive guide for creative artists - Aaltodoc

• Photography can be used to depict our real-life in
pictures and moving images.
• Artists, politicians and scientists use photography
to represent and also explain their ideologies,
beliefs, ideals, principles, ethics, morals, faith and
teaching as well as to civic matters like elections.
• It is also important for story telling—mainly in
children books and newspapers. On the other
hand, many journalists use photographs to make
or write news.
• Photography helps us to remember important
things or days of our life. For example school life,
fun days and wedding days.
• It has a greater possibility of helping us to learn
about new places, sites and areas far away from
our surroundings by using descriptive pictures of
scenery or landscapes.
• Other photographers go extra miles to take real life
pictures that educate us about the life of animals,
birds and plants in the wilderness.
• Photography assist artists to sketch beyond what
eyes may not be able to see.
• And by exchanging photographs, we can easily
make mutual attachments with friends.
Photography motifs
When photography artists mention motifs they are referring
to learning aspects from themes like landscapes, portraits
and the nude et cetera.
Although nude themes are common in photography
and art, some of their intended aims and objectives are
incompatible with minority learners below minimum age.
“In every era, in every age, portrayals of nudity risk official
condemnation.” (Rasmussen & Amey 1997, 569)
Nonetheless, there are very many new and outstanding
photography themes or motifs from which learners can
find inspirational ideas to make better their acquired
photography skills. According to Rosenblum (1997, 530) “... all
photographers make decisions concerning the selection of
a motif.”
Here are some basic selections of photography motifs:
• Human beings (portraits, group pictures, human
forms, the body or the nude, fashion and style)
• Still-life and nature (arrangements of contrasting
objects, plant life in distinct shapes, colours, textures)
• Landscape (weather, sky, nature, shadows, light,
scenery, sight-seeing)
• Architecture (perspective and angles, outdoors)
• Indoor interior (architectural details, fittings,
furniture)
• Automobile (cars designs, interiors and exteriors)
Elements and principles of design
in photography
As a creative photography artist it is important to take
elements and principles of design into account considering
that composing a photograph will appropriately fit art and
design activities. Leland (2006, 50) looks at “photographers
as designers, a good photographer is a designer who
understands the elements and principles of design and
uses skills and experience to bring them together to make
an expressive picture.” As a result of that, it is necessary for
creative artists to have some clear knowledge of how to
make the most from them.
Here is some of what we can learn about using elements
and principles of design in photography:
Elements of design
Natural light is good for taking photos.
Keeping in mind that, it is challenging to take
photographs of African skin. Zucker (2010) offers
a rational opinion: “When photographing a
black person ... stand against light or a bright
background” because “a resulting image might
create too much contrast. One has to know how
to use the light.”
In photography texture can be used to put
forward depth and character. Rosenblum (1997,
12) offers a rational explanation: “Photographic
prints sometimes display significant difference
and texture, as a result of using different process
and printing on different papers.” In spite of that,
texture in photography can be generated by
taking close up pictures.
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Light
Texture