Part 2 - Elements of design - Exercise 1 - Positioning a Point

Part 2 - Elements of Design - Ex 1


Positioning a Point


This exercise is to understand the positioning of a single point in the frame.

Essentially there are 3 classes of position, middle, off-centre and close to the edge with a central point very rarely working although it can always be argued in the right image, especially when claiming to be unconventional.

Image 1

These first 3 images were taken specifically for this exercise, placing single points in different positions in the frame. Image 1 was placed left of centre but still on a central horizon line, to give the child's toy a position of outlook. With it's slight angle I felt it has a position of authority, looking out over the rest of the image. This will generally come from our eyes reading from left to right and with its distance from any edge producing a static feel.

Image 2

Image 2 has the yellow ball in the top right of the frame. With the angle of the shot and the balls position I get the impression of it hanging on to the top of a hill helped by the closeness to both edges. It feels to me the ball could easily roll down the image at any moment towards the far bottom left corner. the sense of movement coming from the close proximity to the frame edge.

Image 3

Image 3 has this spiky ball again hugging the edge although more central to the horizon. This can suggest slight movement but more stability with the horizon being closer to the middle. I feel this time though, the ball is ready to move away from the image and leave the remainder behind it. This is heightened by the light source coming from the same direction and putting the opposite side in darkness.

Images 4 to 6 are previous photographs from my library, that I have looked out for this exercise.

Image 4

Image 4 has 2 boats as a single point in this photograph. I always felt a sense of movement in the sky from the clouds and it is perhaps with the single point being close to the bottom edge along with the low horizon that helps to emphasise this. The left of centre also allows the eye to travel up and along the hilltops and into the clouds.

Image5

In image 5, there is no obvious horizon until it is recognised that it is the sandwich board that creates it. With everything in the image being about vertical lines with a diagonal perception the board creates the contrasting low horizon by being placed in the bottom right hand corner. I find the arrow on the board tries to direct us anticlockwise around the image although I find it more natural to look along the street and up into the buildings behind.

Image 6

Image 6 has the running man as the single point and at a similar position to image 5. This time though, the diagonal lines of perspective are pulling everything in towards him. This is give the feeling of movement away from the camera making us search for his destination.

In conclusion, I have found looking at my images differently, specifically for a single point and its location in the frame has made me much more aware of its importance and hope it will be a regular but subconscious attribute to my shot making process. I had rarely taken centrally positioned shots but did not understand my reasoning, but now as I continue to be educated in the elements of an images design I am finding it fascinating especially when I look at old images and photographs I looked at for years and begin to understand their design and attractions.