1. Name:
16th October 2013
Demonstrate a developed understanding of compositional elements by selecting an
interesting example for each of the the eight elements and explaining why you believe this
screenshot is an effective example of it.
Demonstrate an advanced understanding of compositional elements by suggesting how
each of the eight pictures you have selected could be improves, this should aim to include
your knowledge and understanding of other elements.
Element Picture from folder
Balancing
elements
The rule
of 3
Symmetry
and
patterns
Leading
lines
Explanation and suggestion for
improvement
This shot is effective because you have the focus of the
shot which is the bird, but so it doesn’t stand out too
much, there is a rock next to the bird making it blend
in quite nicely. However, the shot could be improved
by moving the rock a little bit closer to the camera and
making it soft focused with the main focus on the bird
further away, behind the rock. As a result, this would
add more depth to the image & improve effectiveness.
This shot is highly effective because the flower lines up
perfectly with the proportions of the furthest vertical
line making the flower stand out as the subject of the
image. The shot could be improved very simply by
moving the camera further away from the flower so
that there is more of the scenery or wildlife around the
flower involved in the image to gain a better
understanding of the surrounding area. The flower also
shows us that the sun is lurking behind it by the high
key lighting that is portrayed in the flower itself. This
then creates a sense of mystery.
The shot works fantastically as a symmetrical shot
because if you fold the image in half you would get
pretty much the same image on both sides. You also
have the patterns of the building and architecture to
accompany the symmetry. This could be improved by
moving to a specific part of the room so that there is
more detail on the architecture.
This is a perfect example of a leading lines shot
because your eyes automatically follow the road down
to the main focus of the image. The shot could be
improved by maybe making the subject of the image a
little bit closer so that it isn’t so difficult to see and it
would probably make it more effective at the same
time.

2. Element
Background
Viewpoint
Framing
Picture from folder
Explanation and suggestion for
improvement
Again, this is exactly what a background shot should
look like, it should have a black muted out background
and a feature/subject of the image should be standing
out. So, as an example, this works very well. However
it could be improved by making the man’s face a bit
less shadowed so that it is more defined and standing
out to the viewer rather than kind of lurking like it is at
the moment.
I personally, don’t think that this viewpoint shot is very
effective. It’s looking up at the building so because the
building is so big you don’t really see much detail. I
think the shot could be improved by the shot being
taken from the top looking down to the ground
because then you will have the same image, just the
other way round whilst allowing the detail of the old
building to be captured in the shot much better than it
is being captured at the moment from the ground. I
would also get rid of the Dutch angle and make the
photo level so that it’s more clear and remove the
double focus of the ruin on the left over the top of the
camera.
This shot is highly successful because it does exactly
what a framing shot is supposed to do. The camera is
inside a cave and is looking out to the subject of the
image which is the old temple. It makes the temple
stand out and adds to the dramatic effect that is being
aimed for because it’s as though you’ve just walked
through the cave and have found this amazing temple.
The shot could be improved by being a little bit closer
so that the temple itself has more depth or put people
in the shot going towards the temple.
Depth
This shot gives us a great amount of depth due to the
layers that are created by the trees and the different
colours they are. Some are green, some are yellow and
this breaks the image up to make it seem as though it’s
all getting further away creating new dimensions to an
otherwise rather plain image. This shot could be
improved by maybe having people walking alongside
the trees to add even more depth and show just how
far back down the path the trees go!