Visual Elements

Question 1

Depth of Field

Answer 1

Depth of field is the area of acceptable sharpness in front of and behind the subject which the lens is focused. Put simply, it refers to how blurry or sharp the area is around your subject.

Shallow depth of field: Little distance between nearest and farthest sharp areas.

Extensive depth of field: Considerable distance between nearest and farthest sharp area.

Question 2

Focus

Answer 2

Focusing is the moving of the lens elements until the sharpest possible image is achieved.

Sharp overall
soft focus overall
Selective Focus (shallow depth of field)

Question 3

Motion

Answer 3

Frozen Sharp: moving subject

Blurred: moving camera or subject blurred, part or all of the image.

Question 4

Light

Answer 4

Front Light: Light comes from camera position. shadows not prominent.

Back Light: Light comes toward camera, front of subject is shaded.

Side Light: Light comes from side, shadows cast to side

Direct Light: Hard-edged often dark shadows

Directional Diffused light: Distinct but soft-edged shadows

Diffused light: No or almost no shadows

Silhouette: subject very dark against light background

Glowing Light: Subject glows with its own or reflected light

Question 5

Contrast and Tone

Answer 5

Full Scale: Black, white, and many tones in between

High Contrast: Very dark and very light tones

Low contrast: mostly gray tones

High Key: Mostly Light tones

Low key: Mostly dark tones

Question 6

Texture

Answer 6

Emphasized: Usually results from light striking an image from an angle

Minimized: Usually results from light coming from camera position or from all sides

Question 7

Viewpoint and Framing

Answer 7

Viewpoint:  
High
low
eye level
or unusual viewpoint

Framing:
the way the edges of the photograph meet the shape in it.

Question 8

Perspective

Answer 8

Compressed Perspective:
Objects seem crowded together, closer than they really are

Expanded Perspective:
Parts of the scene seem stretched or positioned unusually far from each other.

Question 9

Line

Answer 9

Curved
Straight
Horizontal
vertical
Diagonal
Position of horizontal line

Question 10

Balance

Answer 10

An internal physical response. Does the image feel balanced or does it tilt and feel heavier in one part than another.