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Rule of Thirds

Photographer: Jimmy Chin, National Geographic

Original Image

This picture perfectly follows the Rule of Thirds. We see that the climber is in perfect alignment with the farthest vertical line. We also see that the toe of the climber is in sync with the bottom horizontal line. This effective use of the rule of thirds principles draws our eyes immediately to the climber  and keeps are eyes from deviating from him.

Photographer: Ashlyn Rich

This photo also demonstrates the rule of thirds. We are able to see that her dominate eye is precisely at the top right intersecting lines. This also draws the viewers eyes into her face.

Leading Lines

Photographer: John H. Moore

Original Image

These leading lines work together, causing our eyes to follow and be drawn to the focal point of the picture.

Photographer: Ashlyn Rich

In this image, the leading lines are leading us to the destination of the ride, to the top. This allows us to visualize what is going to happen once the ride is launched.

Depth of Field

Photographer: N/A

Original Image

 

In this photo we the object in focus is the hanging phone amd the background is ut of focus. The use of the principle depth of field draws our eyes into the phone, which is our maian focus.

Photographer: Ashlyn Rich

This is another example of how the depth of field principle is applied. Here we see that the ice cream cone is in focus, where as the background, the street lights are not in focus. This use is able to grab your viewers eyes and force them to look at the main image, which in this case is the ice cream cone.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we can see that as these three principles are applied to photography, our pictures will be able to stand out more. We will also be able to hold our viewers eyes and hopefully allow them to see our world and view from behind the lens.

A is for…Amazingly Outdated Apple Ads?

Introduction 

Original Design

First and foremost, I chose this particular Apple design because of how different it is from anything we see from Apple nowadays. It is fun to seee how designs have changed, but they still follow the same design principles we use today. I found this advertisement in an article with several other vintage looking designs. I would assume that at the time, this ad was designed by a team of Apple employees, with the target of urging viewers to get to the computer store and purchase a computer.

Analysis

Category #1

Focusing first on the title of the design, we notice the typeface is very large and very bold. This category could definitely be two different types of serifs. An element of the typeface that tells us  what category it is from is the serifs at the edges of each character. Going even further, we can recognize that the serifs are rather thick on each character, we can also place this into the slab serif category, even though the thickness of the serif doesn’t exactly match the rest of the character. This category is definitely tricky to name, but I do think the use of a slab serif category is very beneficial when it comes down to the affectiveness of the design. For one being, the time the design was made and then how it also smoothly draws your eye away from the colored apple.

Category #2

Now we move onto the body of this design. This typeface is very simple. Like the title, the typeface does have serifs on each of the characters. What puts this typeface in a different category from the title is the slants and the curvatures of the serifs. This detail on the typeeface confirms to us that this category is oldstyle. It is not really surprising that oldstyle is being used in this design, given the age of the design. I also think that the simplicity of the typeface and the use of the Times New Roman font is very beneficial, especially since the rest of the design is so chaotic, with the several different colors.

Contrast

The two typefaces of this design are contrasting in a few different aspects. One element is the difference of sizes between the two. The larger typeface, because of its size clearly identifies it as the title of the design. Another element is the “boldness” of the title, in contrast to the regular times new roman font in the body. Contrast is especially important, if contrast didn’t exist in this design, we would not be able to distinguish the main parts of the design.

Conclusion

In conclusion, although this design is not what we typically see or would design today. However, we can still identify key points and principles that pertain to what we design today.  Overall, I definitely think this design was affective for its time and the contrasting elements of the type, I really think makes the whole design a lot cleaner.

 

 

Jeep Take on

Introduction

This advertisement was found from another blog. I could not however, find where the original blog poster found the ad. I would assume that this specific advertisement was worked on by Jeep’s team of designers. This design challenges the audience to take on anything nature throws our way. With that invitation, here we go!

Original Advertisement Post

Contrast

There are several different uses of contrast in this design. Lets start off with the most noticable, the yellow Jeep. The bright color of the Jeep, makes the Jeep the first thing that stands out. The use of the color yellow, against the white snow, again draws in the eyes of the viewer. Next, the contrast in the text. The first two lines of the text is in bold and is larger when compared to the next two lines, which are in contrast, a thinner and smaller text. It then goes on to finish the words with the Jeep logo in a larger text and in bold. This use of contrast in the text, draws our eyes in. The contrast forces us to read, “Take on anything nature throws your way…Jeep” and if we are really interested we can focue our eyes to the middle of the text. We also see the Winter X Games logo in the corner, using blue and black, which strongly contrasts against the white of the snow. That contrast, pulls our eyes and we are able to recognize that Jeep is a sponsor of the games. Lastly, in regards to contrast, the left corner of the design is significantly darker, compared to the right corner of the design. Now this could be to exemplify how the Jeep is the one monster who really brings the storm, which is very ironic because the Jeep is heading straight towards the avalanche, which is the actual storm. The contrast of light and dark connects to the challenge, Jeep can take on anything.

Repetition

The repetition of the white snow and the white words work together to make the whole design have a clean and organized feel to it, even though the concept of an avalanche ia a bit chaotic. The repetition of the bold text makes the design unified and more visual appealing. Another example of repetition in this piece is the shadows being cast on the snow, I think the shadows show us that the Jeep is going uphill, bringing the “storm” with him.

Alignment

The alignment of this piece is spot on. The text in the top left corner is perfectly left flushed. The Winter X Games logo is perfectly aligned as well. Another interesting point of alignment is the alignment of the side of the hill, to the top of the Jeep, to the second shadow on the hill, to the tire indentations behind the Jeep as well as the bottom of the Jeep. These elements of alignment groups the design together, extends the proximity of the piece, and adds to the viual appeal and effectiveness.

Proximity

The Proximity of the text groups the slogan to the Jeep logo. From looking at it, we have no doubt that they are supposed to be connected and therefore read together. The other huge element of proximity in this piece is how close the front end of the Jeep is to the avalanche. The closeness of the two show us that they are connected. It also makes sense because the text says that Jeep can face anything nature throws our way, in this case that is a huge avalanche. When I first looked at the add I thought to myself, “Is the Avalanche going towards the Jeep or is the Jeep going towards the Avalanche”. Obviously, because of the proximity of the front end to the avalanche, it is the later option. If it was the other way around, and the back was in proximity to the avanlanche, I would say the Jeep was driving away from the avalanche. However, because of this specific use of proximity we have no doubt that the Jeep has the power to take on the avalanche.

Color

The use of the white creates a very immense, clean, and organized feeling. The use of the yellow Jeep was a perfct way to point out our point of interest. Not only was yellow a pop out color, but yellow is a color of happiness, joy, and optimism. I think the designers used yellow to show and simulate the joy and fun that can come from owning a Jeep. The use of the white text against the dark grey sky and mountains creates contrast and draws our eyes in. Lastly, the use of the black and blue Winter X Games logo is really the only other use of a bright color, besides the white. Again, I think this is so that the logo is able to stand out against the white.

Conclusion

Every single one of these principles work togther to successfullyand effectively relay the overall design and message of the piece. The principles were able to complement each other quite perfectly. However, I do think that the contrast of this piece was the most effective. Without it, I feel like certain aspects of the design would be lost. I feel like the visul appeal and the organization of all the different principles screams that owning a Jeep is a blast and it can do things that no other vehicle can do!