Elements and Principles of Design for Cinematography
Elements of design
Leading lines:Leading lines refers to a technique of composition where the viewer of your photos attention is drawn to lines that lead to the main subject of the image.
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Vertical lines:A vertical line is one the goes straight up and down, vertical line has a very strong implied meaning. Vertical lines are strong and dignified. They can represent height or even infinity, especially if you can’t see the top of them. Vertical lines are rigid—they don’t represent movement). A thicker vertical line can suggest stability
Horizontal lines: A horizontal line is one which runs left-to-right across, there’s something about a horizontal line in an image that conveys a message of ‘stability’ or even ‘rest’. Horizons, fallen trees, oceans, sleeping people – all of these subjects have something about them that speaks either of permanency and timelessness or rest. Horizons are the most common horizontal line to be found in photographs and they often act as a dividing point in a photograph
Diagonal lines: Diagonal lines generally work well to draw the eye of an image’s viewer through the photograph. They create points of interest as they intersect with other lines and often give images depth by suggesting perspective.
Curved lines: Curves make an image easy to look at by leading the viewer’s eye through the frame. It is almost as if the photographer takes the viewer by the hand, draws them into the landscape, and points the way. The viewer’s eyes are compelled to follow the line. Curves are graceful, rhythmic, dynamic and add energy to an image. They can separate or connect elements or simply offer a balance.
Principles of Design
Balance: Balance is a composition technique in photography that juxtaposes images within a frame so that the objects are of equal visual weight. When different parts of a photo command your attention equally, perfect balance is achieved
· Symmetrical- While not all balanced photographs are symmetrical, all symmetrical photographs are balanced. Symmetry (also known as formal balance) is achieved when both sides of the image hold equal weight.
· Asymmetrical- when an image is asymmetrically balanced, the viewer has to spend a little more time looking at the image in order to realize that fact. Instead of mirror images or an equal weight on each side of the photograph, the image is balanced by the creative use of size, tone, and form of the subjects within the composition. Each side of the photograph, in turn, becomes equally weighted regardless of their differences.
Unity: all parts of an image equal a whole
Variety: varying elements and objects in your image, to avoid making them boring. Variety can also be varying your angles, exposure, composition, etc., to get a few different looks to the same image.
Emphasis: an area or object within the artwork that draws attention and becomes a focal point.
Proportion / Scale: Scale refers to the size of an object (a whole) in relationship to another object (another whole). In art, the size relationship between an object and the human body is significant. In experiencing the scale of an artwork, we tend to compare its size to the size of our own bodies. Proportion refers to the relative size of parts of a whole (elements within an object). We often think of proportions in terms of size relationships within the human body.
Repetition / Pattern: A way to grab the attention of your audience and draw them into the image. Repeating a shape throughout your photo gives you instant composition and can say a lot about your subject. utilizes elements that are repeated. The repetition of lines, shapes, tones or color can create interesting images. There are photographers who use the pattern as the main subject of an image while others use it to enhance the overall composition and look of the photograph. Photographers can choose to emphasize or break the pattern to capture a great image.
Making Choices
Point of View:
· bird’s eye When photographing a subject from above, it is known as a “bird’s-eye view”. This could be taken from up in the sky, such as when flying in a plane, or could simply be taken by standing on a ladder, slightly above your subject. Photographing from this point of view can make viewers feel as though they are superior to the subject – such as a stern father looking down on his misbehaving child – or protective over the subject. If the subject is an inanimate object, it can sometimes make the viewer feel as though there is a separation between them and the subject. 
· worm’s eye Photographing from below is sometimes referred to as “worm’s-eye view”, as if you were a worm looking up at the world around you. As you can imagine, this makes all subjects look very large, even if they are very small in reality. As opposed to images shot from above, subjects presented in this way look as though they hold power over the viewer, and can seem very intimidating. By photographing a subject from a worm’s eye view, you automatically make the viewer feel vulnerable, even if the subject itself isn’t frightening.
Rule of Thirds: A method of dividing the photograph into thirds vertically and horizontally creating four intersection points. The main subject should usually fall into one of the intersecting points, a little off-center in the photo.
Framing: the technique of drawing attention to the subject of your image by blocking other parts of the image with something in the scene.
Simplicity: A close crop on a quarterback is much more powerful than a wide angle shot of the full field of players, and an isolated tree is more compelling than a busy forest view. The best images have an emotional impact, but if the viewer has to spend time constantly scanning various elements that impact is lessened.
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