Exercise: Contrasts

This is taken from The Photographer’s Eye by Michael Freeman.

Bauhaus

The Basic Course at the Bauhaus was taught by Johannes Itten. One of the first exercises that Itten set the students was to go out and identify contrasts.

Contrasts:

Two part exercise:

1. Pair of photographs illustrating contrast.
2. Contrast within a single image.

Examples of contrasts:

1. Light and dark (chiaroscuro).
2. One (or few) and many.
3. Large and small.
4. Long and short.
5. Smooth and rough.
6. Transparent and opaque.
7. Empty and full.
8. Loud and quiet.
9. Colour and monochrome.
10. Natural and man-made.
11. Order and disorder.
12. Old and new/young.
13. Solid and liquid.
14. Delicate and brash.
15. Soft and hard.