Photography and Media Composition & Visual Design 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'bokeh' in photography?
- A sharpening technique in post-processing
- The aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus blur in a photograph, especially in the background (Correct answer)
- A Japanese camera brand
- A type of HDR processing
Correct answer: The aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus blur in a photograph, especially in the background
Bokeh (from the Japanese 'boke') refers to the visual quality of the out-of-focus areas in an image, particularly how smoothly and pleasingly blur is rendered.
Question 2: What does 'shooting at eye level' with a subject typically convey?
- A sense of power or dominance over the subject
- Equality and a neutral, natural perspective (Correct answer)
- A feeling of vulnerability in the subject
- A wide-angle distortion effect
Correct answer: Equality and a neutral, natural perspective
Photographing a subject at their eye level creates a sense of equality and intimacy, presenting a natural, non-distorted perspective.
Question 3: What is 'symmetry' as a compositional element in photography?
- Using identical lenses on both sides of a twin-lens reflex camera
- Placing the subject so one half of the image mirrors the other (Correct answer)
- Shooting with a level horizon
- Equal exposure on both sides of the frame
Correct answer: Placing the subject so one half of the image mirrors the other
Symmetrical composition places the subject or divides the frame so that one side mirrors the other, creating a sense of balance, order, and visual harmony.
Question 4: What is a 'worm's eye view' shot in photography?
- A macro photograph of a worm
- A photo taken from a very low angle, looking upward (Correct answer)
- A wide-angle landscape photograph
- An overhead aerial photograph
Correct answer: A photo taken from a very low angle, looking upward
A worm's eye view is captured from a very low vantage point looking upward, which exaggerates height and can make subjects appear imposing or heroic.
Question 5: In photography, what does 'cropping' achieve in composition?
- Adjusting the exposure of an image
- Removing unwanted areas from the edges of an image to improve framing (Correct answer)
- Adjusting the white balance
- Adding a vignette effect
Correct answer: Removing unwanted areas from the edges of an image to improve framing
Cropping removes distracting or unnecessary elements from the edges of a photograph, tightening the composition and better directing the viewer's attention.
Question 6: What is 'visual weight' in photographic composition?
- The file size of a high-resolution photograph
- The perceived heaviness or importance of elements in a frame that affects balance (Correct answer)
- The physical weight of camera equipment
- The exposure value of the brightest area
Correct answer: The perceived heaviness or importance of elements in a frame that affects balance
Visual weight describes how strongly an element in the frame attracts the viewer's attention; bright, large, sharp, or contrasty elements carry more visual weight.
Photography and Media Composition & Visual Design 2
What is 'bokeh' in photography?