This document defines key design principles for photography including shape, lines, texture, color, balance, gradient, repetition, pattern, contrast, dominance, proportion, unity, negative space, rule of thirds, and visual center. Each principle is defined in one sentence. The document provides essential definitions of common photographic composition and design elements.

1. DESIGN PRINCIPLES
ALEXANDRIA MISTHOS – OCTOBER 2011 – PHOTO 1

2. SHAPE / FORM
• Definition: an area that stands out from the spaces
around it due to differences of value, color, or
texture.

3. LEADING LINES
• Definition: used to draw the viewer’s eye through
the photo; intentional/unintentional, natural lines

4. TEXTURE
• Definition: perceived surface quality

5. COLOR
• Definition: used to draw attention to a particular
part of the image.

6. SYMMETRICAL BALANCE
• Definition: having equal “weight” on both sides of a
picture.

7. ASYMMETRICAL BALANCE
• Definition: objects in a photo are placed so that the
viewer’s sense of balance comes into play

8. GRADIENT
• Definition: a color or grey tone that changes in
density.

9. REPETITION
• Definition: the appearance of a given element in
the same frame more than once.

10. PATTERN
• Definition: the repetition of an element in a work

11. CONTRAST
• Definition: the difference in visual properties that
makes an object distinguishable from other objects
and the background.

12. DOMINANCE
• Definition: when certain elements take on more
importance than others in the same picture

13. PROPORTION
• Definition: lends a sense of balance and harmony
to the picture

14. UNITY
• Definition: a feeling of completeness is created by
the use of elements in artwork

15. NEGATIVE SPACE
• Definition: neutral space used to emphasize and
isolate the subject

16. RULE OF THIRDS
• Definition: explains what part of an image the
human eye is most strongly drawn to first

17. VISUAL CENTER
• Definition: where the focal or center point of each
picture falls