Photo Idea 5

November
© Christophe Kiciak

Christophe Kiciak: "I took 3 bracketed photos (0, -2EV, +2EV). Processing the picture was as follows:
- The background comes from the +2EV photo exclusively
- The foreground, trunk and branches comes from a first tonemapped HDR
- The leaves come from another tonemapped HDR, with different settings (higher exposure, more saturation).
Then I blended everything together manually (yes, masking the leaves was a nightmare). I also spent much time finalizing the mood and tones, until I reached what I had in mind."

Writing Assignment 5

One of the things that interested me about the subject I photographed is the fact that trees are asymmetrical. An asymmetrical photo can be really interesting to look at, and the branches can lead the eye in different directions. The bark on the trees is also interesting to focus on in a photograph. Different trees have different bark, some smooth and others rough and peeled. The type of tree being photographed can determine the atmosphere of the photo. My compositions all have a tree being shown in the image, so the viewer can easily see the focus of this set of images is trees.

Photo Assignment 5

Photo Idea Assignment 4

Image by ronsho.

I love how the photographer chose an unexpected viewpoint to create a unique photo that isn't just focusing on a person looking out at sea, but the person, sea, and sand.

Writing Assignment 4

1. composition: the arrangement of subjects in the frame
2. lighting: direction of light (and other qualities)
3. clear focal point (this can be done with focus, color, contrast, etc)
4. there is a clear purpose: the photo conveys the goal/message of the photographer
5. the subject is interesting
6. unique perspective
7. creativity
8. depth of the image, multiple layers
9. emotional response
10. technical skill

This photo is focused solely on the crystal, one of the four objects we had to use. My primary focus was to play with how different light sources affect the look of the crystal. I suppose its strength is in that it has a clear purpose and focus which is the crystal. It lacks depth since its an image of a crystal and a soft pink background, and there is no strong emotional response when I look at this picture. If I could change it I think I would like to play with the source light color to make the crystal not so white, and have a more interesting background.

Photo Assignment 3

These photos illustrate close and far. I kept the crystal in focus and made the items take up the whole image in the close up. To make the items feel even further away in the second photo I kept the focus on the macro setting.

This pair of photos illustrates high and low. I used the ribbon in each to convey the feeling of being higher or lower then the objects.

These photos illustrate disorder and balance. I wanted the disordered photo to not only be asymmetrical but also have the pull of gravity in an unexpected direction to add to the disordered feel.

The last pair is transparent and opaque. I thought this would be fun to try since I had a crystal as one of my objects.

Photo Idea Assignment 3

Winner
Steve Winter
Freelance 

"A CRY FOR THE TIGER"


I chose this image because it's s striking. Even without knowing the story behind it, you know the tiger is terrified. His fear is exentuated by his fur patterns under and above his round eyes. The veiwer is drawn to the tigers face first, then the viewer sees the missing leg.

Photo Assignment 2

Writing Assignment 3

Besides using aperture to control depth of field a photographer can use eyes, or what looks like eyes, within a photo to intentionally draw the viewers focus to what the photographer wished. Humans are hard wired to focus on what others are looking at, if a person or animal in a photo is looking at something then the viewer of the photo will look at that portion of the photo the person, or animal in the photo is looking at. This technique can be used creativity to make a main focus of the picture something unexpected, like a blurry, and uncentered background object. Another creative way to move a viewers focus point away from the obvious is to photograph things that are unexpected. An item placed or used in a way that is not common place will draw the viewers eye.

Photo Idea Assignment 2

Bubble Catcher by Jeff Kubina on flickr 

Marguerite dewdrop refraction by Brian Valentine

Photo Assignment 1

Writing Assignment 2

1.       Did if feel uncomfortable to be photographed? If so, why? Describe if there was a moment when the mood, your relationship or your comfort being photographed shifted.

   I didn’t feel any discomfort while being photographed by my partner. She has been my friend before entering this class, so if she wanted to move my arm or my head I didn’t feel weird. However, in the beginning of the assignment we were timid with how we were taking our photos and positioning each other, but by the end of the assignment we were having a lot of fun.

2.       How can you help someone feel more comfortable when you are photographing?

   I suppose you could act casual, and explain things to them so they know what’s going on. If the person knows why you are doing things and photographing them in a certain way they would be more comfortable doing so.