The AESTHETIC NUCLEUS of a photograph is created by the fusion of three dynamics: the Moment, Visual Weight, and Visual Depth.

THE MOMENT is the instance captured by the photographer. It is the most important dynamic in photography because its realization is governed by forces that can’t be controlled by the photographer. Such forces are supernatural, metaphysical, existential, or psychological.

A photograph’s VISUAL WEIGHT (heaviness vs. lightness) is determined by the aesthetic density created by composition, environmentalism, lighting, and body/facial language. The aesthetic density determines whether an image is “heavy” or “light.” Visual Weight is often inspired by the forces responsible for the impending Moment.

A photograph’s VISUAL DEPTH (depth vs. shallowness, texture vs. flatness) is realized through the depth-of-field created by the use of natural and artificial matter. Natural and artificial matter (or lack thereof) can make an image “deep” or “shallow,” “textured” or “flat.” Examples of natural matter: water, fire, wind, snow, grass, fog, mist, rain, trees, flowers, clouds, sun, skin, hair. Examples of artificial matter: clothing, make-up, architecture, furniture, interior design, jewelry. Visual Depth is subordinate to Visual Weight because, by definition, it is not directly inspired by the forces responsible for the Moment. Visual Depth can compensate for the “weight” an image lacks given that it is created by the use of matter.

All photography is vulnerable to the passing of time (AGING) regardless of where it is contemporarily rooted with respect to the left and right elements (heaviness, depth, texture; lightness, shallowness, flatness). Aging will either secure an image in place or uproot it and move it left or right. Because photography is perceived and the mind-set of the viewer is subject to the influences of contemporaneous socio-cultural mores, aging reveals the aesthetic integrity and complexity of a photograph's nucleus.

A photographer who recognizes the ELEMENTAL CONTINUUMS with respect to their genre of photography will be consistent in maintaining a desired balance among the six elements. A desired balance is effectively achieved by utilizing the dynamics of Visual Weight and Visual Depth. Although a photographer may shoot in more than one genre, he/she will likely create unbalanced, inconsistent, and unoriginal imagery if their genre orientation is too broad or varied.

Photography that roots on the extreme left side of the Elemental Continuum is described as powerful, arresting, poignant, insightful, dramatic, and revealing. It is deemed original & unique; it is viewed as heavy, deep, and texturalized. A photographer whose images consistently root on the left is motivated by artistic integrity rather than commercial relevancy. The photographer will become a noted influence on the medium and his/her artistic style will move influentially toward the right with the passing of time. The resulting photography ages gracefully and dignifiedly.

Photography that roots on the extreme right side of the Elemental Continuum is described as simplistic, derivative, gratuitous, commoditized, sensationalistic, hyperbolic, crass, objectifying, and cliché. It is deemed unoriginal and typical; it is viewed as light, shallow, and flat. A photographer whose images consistently root on the right is motivated by commercial relevancy rather than artistic integrity. The photographer will experience limited or random success in his/her artistic and commercial endeavors and his/her career will usually expire due to a lack of creativity. The resulting photography ages poorly and trivially.

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