Beyond the obvious

As promised here is the first article in the series on using design principles to improve your photography. The primary concepts you need to think about when designing an image in your mind are: Balance - symetrical or more pleasing to the eye, asymetrical. All images need to be in balance to work well Consistency - this applies across a whole range of aspects, whether working on a series of pictures or in the visual treatment of a single image Contrast - this is a wonderful element to play with and an essential part of design Proportion - the relative size of objects but also the relative importance of visual elements Proximity - this is the single most important design concept for creating meaning in an image. Two elements close together will effect each other's meaning in a fundamental way Simplicity - keep it simple. Single concepts work best. Try to say too much and all messages get lost Unity - this can apply to the overall colour tone, to the harmony in shapes ac...