Table of Visual Elements

The Table of Visual Elements includes nine terms that relate to the overall composition of an image. Although these terms usually apply to photography, they are excellent guidelines for the composition of a painting. I've listed the definitions of the Visual Elements and I highly recommend my source: PHOTOGRAPHY, 4th edition, by Barbara London Upton with John Upton, HarperCollins, publishers. This book, or others by the Uptons, may be found at Amazon.com: PHOTOGRAPHY

The elements include:

Frame

The way the borders of the image isolate the contents of the image.

Balance

The response one gets looking at an image. Does the image feel in balance?

Line

Line can be defined as curved, straight, broken, horizontal, and vertical.

Viewpoint

Overhead, Low Level, Unusual Point of View, or Eye Level. These are the viewpoints of prospective.

Space and Perspective

Shallow or compressed space using a longer lens.
Deep or expanded space using a wide-angle lens.
Positive space is usually the main subject in a photograph.
Negative space is usually the background. (You can reverse these spaces to create an interesting composition.)

Light

Front light has few or no shadows in image.
Sidelight, deep shadows in any contours.
Back light--the subject is in full shade.
Diffused Light creates very soft shadows.
Silhouette light--the subject is dark and background is well lit.

Texture

To emphasize texture make light source hit the subject at an angle.
To minimize texture make light source come straight at subject.

Tone and Contrast

High Key light is well lit even light.
Low Key light is dark and only your subject can be lighted for composition.
High Contrast light is extreme and there are very light and dark areas within the image.
Low Contrast light is soft and evenly lit with a lot of middle grays.

Focus and Depth of Field

Sharp and Extensive Depth of field all things from foreground though distance background is in sharp focus.
Selective or Shallow Depth of field is where a narrow or specific subject is in focus.

The Table of Visual Elements are some of the tools a photographer or artist can choose from to help make and organize the composition within their image. I hope you’ll find this helpful as you compose your overall image.

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