Natural forms in photography
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can review the range of ways photographers have been inspired by natural forms in photography.
Key learning points
- The inherent beauty of natural forms provides photographers with endless inspiration.
- The diversity of colours, textures, and shapes found in nature can lead to visually striking photographs.
- Natural forms often use flowing, asymmetrical elements that contrast geometric rigidity, enabling dynamic compositions.
Keywords
Natural forms - shapes, patterns, and structures found in nature (e.g. leaves, shells, plants)
Asymmetry - a lack of symmetry; when two sides of something are not identical but still balanced visually
Common misconception
Natural forms are always perfectly symmetrical, like leaves or flowers.
While some natural forms show symmetry, most have irregular, flowing shapes. Even symmetrical forms often have variations, this is part of what makes nature interesting to photographers.
Teacher tip
Greater contextual information on the artists' work can be found in the additional materials. You may wish to alter the imagery to better fit your project themes.
Equipment
Access to the internet or a library of art books. Sketchbook or paper for recording ideas, pencils, pens.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.True or false? Natural forms are shapes, patterns, and structures that can be found in the natural world.
Q2.Which of these is an example of a natural form?
Q3.Match the word to its definition:
Q4.Which of the following might a photographer look for when capturing natural forms?
Q5.True or false? Natural forms can have symbolic meanings in different cultures.
Q6.Match the natural form to its cultural meaning:
To help you plan your 10 art and design lesson on: Natural forms in photography, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 art and design lesson on: Natural forms in photography, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 art and design lessons from the Themes within photography unit, dive into the full secondary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.