What are the elements of photography?

Answer 1

5 elements of Photography composition:

lines, rule of thirds, framing, simplicity, and balance are the 5 I've learned and I'm in a college level class. It could also be argued that there are no rules or guidelines at all when it comes to photography seeing as it is an individualized form of expression.

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Disagree. First of all, it could be argued that there are more than five, assuming the question is about compositional technique and not some other "element" since it does not specify it is about composition. Photographic composition involves the arrangement of subject matter in a way that communicates something about the subject. Usually we think of this as being successful if it is done in a pleasing manner, but that is not always necessary. Sometimes it is enough to invoke a viewer response or emotional connection.

As a former photography instructor, I rate the following as the five major compositional techniques:

- rule of thirds

- leading lines

- framing

- balance

- center of interest

To those I might add motion, but not depth of field, symmetry or pattern as belonging to the major five. Many successful photographs do not contain symmetry or pattern, thus I would relegate them to a lesser degree of importance. Depth of field can be used to limit the viewer's attention to a specific portion of the subject matter, but that was already defined...center of interest.