The Formal Elements
Josef Sudek - “Still Life With Bread and Egg”
In class we studied the formal elements of a photograph, these include: Focus, Light, Line, Repetition, Shape, Space, Texture and Tone (Value).
We were then assigned a photo to each group and asked to annotate considering the formal elements. My group was given Josef Sudek’s “Sill Life With Bread and Egg”.
The bread and egg are the focus points of the image as they are the most detailed and central points within the photo. The only points of the photo not in focus are the wooden table and the wall in the background. This could be due to the use of a shallow depth of field on the camera. There is a natural light source with which the photo has been taken which allows for the highlights and shadows to be clearly separated. It appears to be entering from the left side of the photo from possibly a window.
The lines of the photo all contrast as the egg has rounded and smooth lines whereas the bread is the opposite with hard, jagged and a variety of lengths and shapes. The geometric lines of the table contrast with the organic and circular texture of the egg and bread. There is no repetition within the image as each object is different and contrasting to the next. Although all the objects are organic, (bread egg and table) the position, tones, highlights and shadows are all different for each object. As there is a simple subject matter, the shapes are also limited. Only the main points of focus show a form of shape, however within the bread many other smaller shapes and geometrical figures can be seen and are often emphasized by the shadows.
The space within the photo is fairly compressed as the bread and egg take up the majority of the image. On top of this, there is a limit to what we can see in the background, Sudek has restricted our view of the rest of the room or space where the photo was taken to help us focus on the foreground. The photo is mainly texture orientated as texture is what brings the element of contrast into the picture. The angle of the photo also helps to highlight the difference in texture as well as the monochromatic approach taken by the photographer. The texture helps the viewer of the photo to determine the focus point of the image due to the difference in texture. The tones used are very monochromatic and basic which in turn highlights the texture. There are a range of black, gray and white tones created which again add to the contrast of the photo.
In class we studied the formal elements of a photograph, these include: Focus, Light, Line, Repetition, Shape, Space, Texture and Tone (Value).
We were then assigned a photo to each group and asked to annotate considering the formal elements. My group was given Josef Sudek’s “Sill Life With Bread and Egg”.
The bread and egg are the focus points of the image as they are the most detailed and central points within the photo. The only points of the photo not in focus are the wooden table and the wall in the background. This could be due to the use of a shallow depth of field on the camera. There is a natural light source with which the photo has been taken which allows for the highlights and shadows to be clearly separated. It appears to be entering from the left side of the photo from possibly a window.
The lines of the photo all contrast as the egg has rounded and smooth lines whereas the bread is the opposite with hard, jagged and a variety of lengths and shapes. The geometric lines of the table contrast with the organic and circular texture of the egg and bread. There is no repetition within the image as each object is different and contrasting to the next. Although all the objects are organic, (bread egg and table) the position, tones, highlights and shadows are all different for each object. As there is a simple subject matter, the shapes are also limited. Only the main points of focus show a form of shape, however within the bread many other smaller shapes and geometrical figures can be seen and are often emphasized by the shadows.
The space within the photo is fairly compressed as the bread and egg take up the majority of the image. On top of this, there is a limit to what we can see in the background, Sudek has restricted our view of the rest of the room or space where the photo was taken to help us focus on the foreground. The photo is mainly texture orientated as texture is what brings the element of contrast into the picture. The angle of the photo also helps to highlight the difference in texture as well as the monochromatic approach taken by the photographer. The texture helps the viewer of the photo to determine the focus point of the image due to the difference in texture. The tones used are very monochromatic and basic which in turn highlights the texture. There are a range of black, gray and white tones created which again add to the contrast of the photo.