Gradation and Rhythm: 2 Principles of Art that Help Your Photos Stand Apart

Photo of a colony of coral in Maldives to illustrate the 6th principle of art: the rythm. Photo by Amar Guillen.

The rhythm in this photo is given by the repetition of the patterns of hard corals: it is the 6th principle of art.

Principle #4: Accentuation

One definition of accentuation is as follows:

Action, manner of using graphic accents in writing or printing.

Accentuation implies augmentation. When applied to art, accentuation is a way of combining different elements to create tension between them.

When further applied to photography, accentuation is the process of creating differences between photographic elements so that they stand out from one another.

To accentuate your photographic compositions, you have tonal contrast at your disposal. The more contrast a scene has, the more attention it will draw from a viewer. Tonal contrast is when you accentuate the differences between the lighter and darker tones in a photo.

Tonal contrast is the one you are most likely to be familiar with and that naturally comes to mind when accentuation is mentioned. But you can also create color contrasts by playing with complementary colors.

Accentuation in a photo is also about creating size contrasts with a small element contrasting with a large element.

You also have the contrast of opacity with a transparent element that is in opposition with an opaque element.

Anything that can help accentuate the differences between the photographic elements of a scene is interesting to attract the eye.

As you can see, the accentuation is in contradiction or better the opposite of the principle of harmony. You are right. They are two opposing principles. That is why you must use them wisely.

The purpose of photography is to express yourself, to convey messages, to provoke introspection and to convey feelings and emotions. You must attract attention to meet this purpose. And to accomplish this, you must use means. Harmony and emphasis are two means at your disposal.

Principle #5: Gradation

One definition of gradation is as follows:

It is a progression by successive degrees and mostly upward.

Applied to art in general, gradation is the principle of combining a series of elements by making progressive changes. For example, show small items and then large items.

If I apply this principle of gradation to photography, it is a matter of combining the different photographic elements in a progressive way. In a photograph, the idea is not to create brutal borders in the changes of form, in the lights, the contrasts, or the tones.

The principle of gradation in photography is to not create abrupt changes in your compositions.

When you have an area with a light tone, avoid juxtaposing a very dark tone. It is certain that you will create contrast and attract the eye of the viewer, but ultimately this sudden change will shock him. It will not hold his attention for long on your photo.

When photographing two shapes, make sure they complement each other. A rounded shape and a triangle shape do not mix well.

Likewise with the colors, make sure that they are gradual and progressive. You will attract and maintain the attention of the viewer longer.

This principle of gradation avoids having a dominant element that draws the eye to the detriment of other elements or the story you want to tell.

You will probably think that this principle is valid for photos with wide shots because you have several photographic elements. This is not true. For close-up photography, this principle also applies perfectly. Think about tones and shapes. Even if you are doing a close-up, you want to tell a story and your photographic elements are parts of a larger element. You need to think in gradations so that the whole composition is harmonious.

Principle #6: Rhythm

One definition of rhythm is as follows:

Order, [and] balance of a plastic or architectural work resulting from the proportion and arrangement of its parts.

But rhythm is also the return at regular intervals in time of a fact, of a phenomenon.

In art, the principle of rhythm designates the placement of elements that are repeated to give the illusion of movement. It thus becomes the tempo of a work.

In photography, rhythm is often evoked by patterns. Properly arranged in a photograph, they can create movement and direct a person's gaze in a given direction.

An example of this is the repetition of pebbles on a beach.

Generally speaking, rhythm in photography is obtained by repeating the same shape or figure. Often these forms are geometric.

But there are also forms of rhythm that are not geometric. They are for example clouds or waves on the surface of the water.

Rhythm can also be suggested by the repetition of a color or a tone. It is sometimes interesting to break the rhythm to avoid monotony. This way you can attract and hold the viewer's attention.

Principle #7: Variety

A definition of variety is as follows:

Character of something whose elements are diverse, [and] different.

Applied to art, variety is about the diversity of elements and contrast.

Variety is achieved by using different figures, shapes, sizes, tones, and colors.

If we apply this principle of variety to photography, it implies placing different photographic elements in a composition.

Variety is the opposite of uniqueness. Yet it is uniqueness that comes to mind when we talk about photography. It is indeed about placing a main subject within a composition to express oneself and impact the consciousness of a viewer.

You may have learned that if you put too many elements in a photo, you'll complicate the image and make it hard to read. Variety in photography is not about adding elements in a haphazard way just to fill the frame. It's about adding photographic elements to reinforce the message and accentuate the main subject.

By creating variety in a photo, you will create movement and tempo. Variety in a photographic composition allows you to break the rhythm.

A photo can very well respect the principle of variety while showing uniqueness. This is for example the case of a group of birds. The uniqueness is given by the group of birds. The variety is given by the different species.

Sometimes it is interesting to apply this principle of variety in a composition, because you need secondary elements to reinforce the main element. For example, you photograph a tree that is majestic. You can reinforce it with clouds or rocks to show its power and its strength.

If you are creating minimalist photos, this notion of variety will not be useful, because you will want to focus a viewer's attention on the main photographic element.

The principle of variety will depend on your style and your photographic vision.

You should especially remember that you should not add unnecessary photographic elements to your compositions. They will become disruptive, and they prevent the reading of your photos.

Principle #8: Movement

One of the definitions of the movement is the following:

Rhythm is an artistic work, a narrative, an intonation.

The principle of movement in art is to create the illusion and feeling of action.

Photography consists in reproducing a world in three “dynamic” dimensions, which is dynamic, on a support of two “static” dimensions.

The movement in photography can only be suggested. It cannot be real.

We can only give the impression of movement. It is the imagination and awareness of the viewer that will create the real movement.

In photography, to create movement, you have different techniques at your disposal:

Motion blur.
Position of the subject against the background.

These effects can be obtained directly at the shooting with low speeds. But they can be created in post-processing with software. It is necessary that the subject is clearly detached from the background.

Finally

I hope this article on the 8 Principles of Art and how to apply them to photography has opened some new creative avenues for you to explore in your future photos.

This article must be associated with the article on the 7 Elements of Art.

Each photographic creation does not necessarily apply to these 8 Principles. They are the foundations on which they are built and constructed. It is all a question of dosage and balance.

The artistic photos of interest were made by applying one or more principles.

For me, knowing these 8 Principles of Art is essential. Every photographer should know them by heart to build his pictures. Indeed, why reinvent the wheel when other people have already thought about it and created a foundation that is reliable and strong.

I am aware that I have not gone into all these concepts in great depth. I have given you the basics and the most important ones. Now that you have read the basics, all that is left for you to do is research and choose the concepts that you wish to apply to your photographic process. I wish you all the best on this next chapter in your photographic journey.

Be humble, patient, constant, persevering, and persistent because the road to excellence is long.

Balance and Proportion: 2 Principles of Art to Apply in Photography

This photo taken in Dombes on a foggy and sunny morning is balanced. The left and right sides attract the viewer in the same way.

Principle #2: Balance

By definition, balance is: "A just proportion of the elements of a whole."

This is not a very explicit definition for our artistic activity, because we have to define what is implied by 'right'.

If we apply this definition to art, balance is a way to give a sense of stability to a work of art. The two main concepts of balance in art are symmetry and asymmetry.

These two concepts may seem obvious, or easy to understand and imagine. However, they are not so easy to implement in photography, especially in nature photography.

Toute qui va dans Castle Valley dans l'Utah aux Etats-Unis.

This road leading to Castle Valley in Utah cuts the picture in half. It makes it balanced.

Balance in photography influences the composition of your photos. A good balance management creates harmonious photos (see previous paragraph).

A photo is said to be balanced when the left and right sides of a photo attract the viewer's attention in the same way. Neither side is dominant over the other.

To see if a photo is balanced, all you have to do is mentally draw a vertical line in the middle of the photo. Then, you check that there is a symmetry of masses, colors, tones, shapes, lines, and figures.

This is a fairly simple exercise to do. You just need a little practice.

You will probably think that you should consider the balance of the top and bottom half of your photos. You are right, but it is not very important. You can have for example a lot of elements at the bottom of a photo like mountains, trees, or rocks, and few elements at the top like a blue sky.

However, when you look at it, the photo is balanced. The human eye makes an analysis from the left to the right or from the right to the left. It all depends on the culture. The important thing is that the scan is done laterally.

The balance of a photo results in a harmonious photo.

Symmetry is the way to get a perfectly balanced photo.

In a symmetrical photo, the left and right sides have the same visual weight. You can fold the photo in half. The two parts overlap. This is also called formal balance.

Asymmetry is the second concept of photographic balance. It allows you to create more dynamic photos than symmetry. This is why the rule of thirds, the golden ratio, or the golden spiral was invented.

Let's say you frame a photo using the rule of thirds. For example, you place your main element on one of the highlights on the left. To create an asymmetrical photo, you simply highlight elements on the right as well.

They can be of different sizes, colors, and shapes. But they create a certain kind of balance.

At this point in the article, you may be wondering why it is important to create balanced or unbalanced photos.

A balanced photo creates visual harmony, stability, and tranquility. But it can also be static. Many photos that are balanced one after the other can become boring.

Creating unbalanced pictures creates the opportunity to include dynamism, tension, and action.

As always, in an artistic and expressive activity such as photography, everything will depend on the meaning you want to give whether it is through messages or studies. To balance your photo and reinforce its reading, you combine:

Colors.
Masses.
Shapes.
Tones.
Photographic attributes.
Elements.
Shades.

Whatever elements you use in your compositions, remember that the closer an element is to one side of the frame, the more visible it is and the more weight it has. I am not implying to place them very close to the edges, but you should strive to respect the rule of thirds, the golden ratio, and the golden spiral.

When you are in the field, you will visually arrange the elements of the scene to try to achieve photographic balance. You will use the grid of your viewfinder or your screen. But often, and especially in nature photography, it is not possible to control the elements.

This is where the development of your photos comes in. With a computer and retouching and correction software, you will crop or modify the saturation of certain colors, change the value of certain tones. You will improve and reinforce the balance of your photos.

This is an essential step in the creation of a photo.

To conclude this paragraph concerning the balance which is the second element of art to use in your photos, I will recommend you not to take everything at face value as always.

The balance can be symmetrical (formal) or asymmetrical (informal). A balanced photo gives stability. An unbalanced photo creates tension.

This principle of balance is a great way to make your photos interesting. But first you have to think about the meaning you want to convey. Then you think about balance. It is a tool and a means, not an end in itself.

Principle #3: Proportion

A definition of proportion is:

[An] Aesthetically satisfying relationship between two elements of a whole: balance of surfaces, masses, dimensions.

In art, proportion refers to the relationship of certain elements to each other and to the whole.

In photography, the principle of proportion consists in highlighting the subject of a photo by considering its size and its relationship with the rest of the image.

For example, proportion is used to show the size of a main element. For example, if you are photographing a small bird, you can place it next to a large animal to show its actual size.

The main subject does not always have to take up all the space in a photo. Proportion also helps to give an idea of distances. For example, everyone knows that a mountain is a natural formation that is very large. By creating a photo with a foreground and a mountain in the background, you give the impression that it is small. The viewer will interpret this fact as a great distance.

The principle of proportion in photography allows us to give a scale of values for both sizes and distances.

Proportion in photography establishes a relationship between the size of a photographic element when compared to another.

If the proportions are incorrect, the resulting image will not be realistic or abstract.

The Perfect Proportion

A photograph is often a rectangle.

I am using the case of most cameras that have a rectangular sensor. If you want to place your main subject in this rectangle to have a perfect proportion, you must place it on a strong point.

You have several techniques at your disposal: the rule of thirds, the golden spiral, etc.

But there is a so-called perfect proportion: the golden ratio.

By placing the most important point of your photo on this point, you will get the perfect proportion. That is, the ratio between the frame of the photo and the most important point in the image is perfect.

The golden ratio is also called the number of beauty. In the development tools, you have at your disposal different ways to crop. Take advantage of this to get images with perfect proportions.