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Composition Light Texture Framing Movement

Composition
Looking at a garden can be overwhelming, especially if you are trying to make a composition that will incorporate all of the art elements appropriately. What are the basic art elements? Line, shape, value, texture and color. These elements are what can make your composition succeed. Also, the subjects of your photograph can stimulate feelings, intellectual stimulation and moods to your viewer. Balance refers to the equal distribution of objects either by their visual importance or weight (tone, shape and size). Usually this is done symmetrically, but asymmetrical balance can be done. When exploring gardens, you will usually find that they already follow these composition elements (movement, balance and pattern). Thus, most of your work has already been done for you! The challenge is to now create artworks that are unique. Try excentuating or exaggerating some of these effects. Creating unity is another way of 'pulling together' your photographs theme.
Texture
Nature is wonderful in creating fabulous surface textures, which can be communicated visually. These textures can create moods, feelings and repetition too. If your going to have elements that emphasize texture you will find that having it in focus is crucial for definition. Stachys byzantina or lamb's ear has a wonderful soft touch. Being able to bring that softness to your photo will help the viewer sense this texture and help them appreciate it as if they were there to feel it theirself.
Framing
Within the photo only include the necessities. To do this think about your subject matter and its relationship to its environment. For example, suppose that we want to focus on the inside of a single flower. The other neighboring flowers are not needed in your picture. However, if you would like to show the repetitiveness inside of a group of neighboring flowers or a bee approaching the center of a flower it may be essential to include these parts of the environment.

Line
When observing lines look at their direction, convergence and dominance. All of these factors can greatly influence the photographs ending results. For example, radiating lines may lead the viewers eye around the photo. Lines can also give feeling. For example, parallel lines tend to be formal compared to whimsical curving lines. Lines and shapes can also lead into more abstract compositions. Usually these can fall into two categories: ones that call overall rhythmic pattern that are not dependent to any individual elements and those that depend on bold shapes or extreme contrasts in color and light.

Movement
Having movement within a photograph is ideal because it keeps your viewer's interest. However, be careful to not have too much choaticness. Also, keep in mind that objects near the edge can carry the viewers focus outside of the edges. Movement can be created through repetition or rhythm.

Light
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