Design+Principle

= Design Principle = = Angela =

**Design Principle #1: Planes and Depth Levels**

This picture uses the design principle of planes and depth levels, a technique that makes the picture more 3D and uses planes and depth to create more impact. This is shown by the different layers of elements in the picture: the field of flowers, the mountains in the middle, the mountains in the back, and the sky with the clouds and the rays of sunlight. This effect draws our attention into the picture, as we look at each of the layers.



I enjoy this picture since I'm fond of scenery pictures. I especially like the element of the sunlight, as it creates a peaceful and softer atmosphere to the picture. This technique of planes and depth level is good for scenery pictures, and really shows how magnificent nature is. I think the colours of this image is balanced, and also the placement of the mountains. The field and the mountains all come from the sides of the picture and descend into the middle. This allow the sunlight, the light source of this image, to come through the valley from the back. We can observe texture from the field, created by the flowers and plants, as well as the mountains, where the trees create an irregular surface.The focus of this photo seems to be the field with the flowers and the plants. The red flowers, especially, draw our attention. The rule of third is also used in here to make the focus of the picture more visually appealing. The background is the furthest back layer: the sky with sunlight piercing through the clouds. The story of this picture is about a bright and early morning. The sunlight lights up the mountains, the field, and the plants, as if it is giving birth to mother nature. **Design Principle #2: Colour Space** This picture clearly uses the technique of colour space. The bright red leaves on the only tree in the field immediately attract one's attention and adds a dramatic effect to the image. Especially when the colour contrasts with the plain, dull sky and field. The photographer also used the rule of thirds to make us focus on the tree. This picture gives me a sense of loneliness. The brightly coloured leaves of a beautifully grown tree stands firmly, but alone, in a dull field and under the gray sky. This contrast makes me feel the tree deserves a better place to be. The photographer placed the tree in that area of the picture to satisfy the rule of thirds. However, he or she also broke the rule as the horizon is placed more in the middle of the picture. This is to create a sense of balance in the picture, and also because the background isn't the focus of the image. The wheat-like plants in the field create texture for the field. Also, there seems to be wind blowing on the leaves and the plants in the field. The focus of the photo is definitely the tree as the photographer has used many techniques to draw our attention towards it. The background, as mentioned before, is the sky and the field, which contrast greatly with the tree. I think this picture is taken to illustrate the feelings we might get in the cold autumn days. We might feel lonely like the tree, with nothing around it but things that don't fit with it. **Design Principle #3: Framing** Framing is the design principle that is demonstrated in this picture. This technique use other objects to frame the main focus of the image, allowing the audience to immediately notice it. In this picture, the main focus is the Space Needle, and it is framed by the circular window.

I like this picture, especially the way the photographer framed the Space Needle. This picture shows how lively it is at night in Seattle. The lights from the building light up the whole city, bringing life to the city, even when the sun has set. The sense of balance in this picture is created by the window. The two circles overlap, making three almost equally big ovals, which are placed evenly in the picture. The light seems to be coming from the inside of the window; it is shone onto the window, lighting it up, but also creating shadows. The light helps to see the texture of the window frame: it is smooth and concrete like. The focus of this picture is the Space Needle, as it is the object framed. It is also following the rule of thirds by placing the main object more to the left. The background is the buildings and the mountain behind the Space Needle. I think this picture is telling us that even at night, Seattle is still a lively and exciting city, and it frames the main attraction of Seattle to emphasize its point. **Design Principle #4: Dynamic "S" Arrangement** The design principle demonstrated in this picture is the dynamic S arrangement. This technique forces the audience to follow the S curve with their eyes, at the same time, drawing their focus into the picture. The railway track curves in and out the picture, leading our eyes towards the person in red.  This picture has a sense of adventure to me. This person in red seems to be following the railway in a forest. She looks like a hiker going on a journey, or maybe she's simply just going out for a walk in a typical autumn day. The lighting for this picture is pretty balanced as there are not a lot of dark shadows. The placement of the person and the railway seem equal in the picture too as they are in the center. The source of light is not in the picture, but we know the lighting comes from the sun. That is why the light seems equally distributed in most part of the picture. The fallen leaves on the ground create the texture for this image. The audience may imagine what the ground feels like ; they may even imagine the crunching sound when you walk upon them. The focus of the photo is the railway, with the dynamic S curve. It attracts our eyes into the picture and eventually leads us to the person in the back. The background is the forest, and all the trees and plants within it. The atmosphere is peaceful and calm because of the natural background. I think the picture is about the person going on a kind of adventure in the forest. She seems to be enjoying this walk, and also anticipating to reach something at the end of the railway.  **Design Principle #5: Depth**  The reason why this picture attracts our attention is mainly because the use of the design principle- depth. This technique is famous for drawing the audience’s eyes into the picture as it creates a sense of depth. This picture is taken from an angle that allows the subway station to curve. As the image invites the audience to follow the path, it evokes the audience to wonder what is happening around the curve. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">I think this picture demonstrates the technique of depth well as it did draw my eyes into the image and toward the end of the subway station. The black and white effect creates a sense of mystery and makes me wonder what time it was and what was happening in the picture. I think the colour is pretty balanced since it’s in black and white. However, the placement of the people isn’t really balanced as there are people who are alone and those who are in groups. The light comes from the light fixtures at the top of the subway station. The floor of the subway station seems to be made from little tiles, creating a sense of texture. Also, the wall of the subway station is smooth because it is made of concrete. The focus of the photo is the curved platform that extends into the picture. The man that stood closest to us also draws our attention to follow the curve. This part is the focus because it is the part that tells the story of the picture. The people farther away serve as the background since they are not really focused. However, because this picture is using depth as a design principle, I don’t think there is a real background in this picture. I think this picture is telling a story of a normal day where business men and women is waiting for their train to get to work. The people at the back seem to be carrying baggages, meaning that they are traveling somewhere. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">**Design Principle #6: Diagonals** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">The photographer used the technique of diagonals to make the picture more visually appealing, and to create a sense of direction for the photo. The fence has this element as it leads our eyes from outside to the background of the picture. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">This picture shows us a day in the middle of the winter. The snow has piled up quite a lot, and there are only two elements in the photo: the bare tree and the fence. This image makes me think of Christmas as it reminds me of winter. However, the lack of life in this picture makes the picture emotionless, and coldhearted. The tree stands in a place near the centre of the picture; this creates balance. Also, the colour are pretty balanced too: the brown and the white both have impacts on the picture. I think the light is reflecting upon the snow, and from the look of the sky, sunlight is not the source. Thus, it is only the snow that makes this image look bright. The branches of the tree and the smooth white snow give us a sense of texture. The focus of the picture is the fence that leads us in and out the picture. However, I also think the tree is the focus too because the fence seems to be leading us towards its direction. The background is the gray winter sky, and the snow; both of them are contrasting with the colours of the fence and the tree. I think the photo is about a stormy winter, and that in that kind of weather, there isn't much to see. However, these objects that are still visible to us may be interesting and elegant in a way. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Design Principle #7: Element Relationship** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> Element relationship is a design principle where two separate objects interact with each other to make them look unified. These two birds are separate objects, but creates a sense of unity as the birds seem to be arguing. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">I think this is a funny picture, seeing how the birds are arguing about something. I could just think of stories about what they are quarrelling about. Not only the postures of the birds are funny, they also have expressions on their faces that help us figure out what is going on. The placement of the birds and the branch follows the rule of thirds. The birds are also placed in a balance way for us to see them interacting. The source of lighting should be the sun, however, we can't identify it in this picture. The details of the feathers gives the picture texture. It seems like you can feel the soft feathers just by looking at the picture. The focus of the photo is the two birds, arguing. One of them seems to be blaming the other one for something it has done. The background is blurred out with the technique of short depth of field, but we can still see that they are flowers. I think this photo is to present a funny side of the living creatures around us, and to tell the world that they have stories of their own too.