Writing Assignment #5

1. What things interest you about the subject you photographed?

• my subject was trees
• they all have different shapes and textures
• they cast different shadows
• looking at a tree as a whole, it differs so much within itself (trunk vs small, thin branches at the very top)

2. Evaluate how well your compositions help the viewer to see what interested you

• I tried to take pictures of both tree trunks and small branches
• I love the way the branches look against the bright blue sky
• with the trees and branches against the blue sky, it makes the trees look taller than they seem
• the sun adds shadows that create interesting photos on their own

Photo Assignment #4

Writing Assignment #4

What areas is the photo strong/weak? What would you do to improve the photo?

1. composition: the arrangement of subjects in the frame

• scale of 1-10: 5
• a little boring
• the straight contrasts nicely with the curved bracelet

2. lighting: direction of light (and other qualities)

• scale of 1-10: 6
• the bottom right corner is the darkest and it fades to the top left corner being the lightest
• the viewer can see the shadows underneath the objects

3. clear focal point (focus, color, contrast. etc)

• scale of 1-10: 6
• the face of the watch could be a focal point because it is bright and has light reflecting off of it
• the bracelet could also be a focal point because of the shape it is in (curved, overlapping itself)

4. there is a clear purpose: the photo conveys the goal/message of the photographer

• scale from 1-10: 1
• the photo has no message
• I wasn't trying to convey any specific message or purpose

5. the subject is interesting

• scale from 1-10: 4
• interesting shapes
• not just straight lines
• the 2 objects are set in different lines and shapes making them contrast with each other

6. unique perspective

• scale from 1-10: 2
• the lighting makes it interesting
• the angle is boring and cliche

7. creativity

• scale from 1-10: 2
• the lighting and shapes help make it slightly unique
• the placement of the bracelet overlapping itself next to the watch which is just straight

8. depth of image, multiple layers

• scale from 1-10: 2
• the objects are clearly on top of a background (rug)
• the rug and the lighting gives the photo nice shadows and textures that add some depth

9. emotional response

• scale from 1-10: 1
• no emotional response at all
• objects are boring

10. technical skill

• scale from 1-10: 1
• no technical skill was needed

To improve the photo:

• try a different angle on the objects
• find different objects that aren't so normal and boring
• play with what is in focus and out of focus

Photo Assignment #3

Close and Far:

Far: not really any detail, hard to see, hidden by rug

Close: easy to see detail, very clear, stands out on top of rug

High and Low:

Low: perspective from underneath the chair, it's hanging down towards the viewer, the viewer can see underneath the chair

High: bird's eye view, the hanging ends are away from the viewer, the viewer can see the floor underneath the chair and bracelet

Disorder and Balance:

Disorder: out of focus, the objects are kind of chaotic, strewn about randomly

Balance: the objects are neat, nicely lined up, organized, everything is in focus

Choice: Sharp and Blurry

Sharp: clear, in focus, the objects are clearly defined

Blurry: everything is fuzzy, objects kind of get lost in the background, harder to tell what the objects are

Photo Assignment #2 continued

Photograph pieces of fruit

Writing Assignment #3

One way to focus attention to the main subject of your photo is using aperture to control the depth of field.  Other ways to draw the viewers attention are to have the object be a very bright color, or a unique shape.  This will make the viewer look at the object more closely and examine it more than if it was something more boring or dull. You ca also have the object against a plain background (ex. a white wall) so whatever the object looks like, it will be more interesting than what is behind it and the viewer will want to look at it more.

Photo Assignment #2

Photograph pieces of fruit

Photo Assignment #1

1. Photo of partner's body

2. Photograph your partner in motion

3. Take a posed portrait of your partner

4. Take an unposed documentary photo of your partner doing whatever he/she feels like doing

5. Photograph your subject in any way you want

Writing Assignment #2

1. I felt a little uncomfortable being photographed.  I was just being moved and posed by my partner, I found it a little awkward.  It may have been less awkward if I was being photographed by a family member or someone I knew better.  But, as time went on and she took more photos of me we got into it more and loosened up a little and had fun.

2. To make someone feel more comfortable while being photographed, you can ask them for ideas of how they’d like to look in your photos.  Don’t make them to anything too drastic or silly and they will probably be more willing to help you and work with you.  I tried to make my partner feel at ease while I was photographing her; we were talking and laughing.

Writing Assignment #1

1. The photographer’s name is Lou Stoumen.  The book is called “Ordinary Miracles: The Photography of Lou Stoumen” and was published in 1981.

2. “Fantasy Car,” Sausalito 1977, pg 64

• all the things just look like junk, but someone put them altogether on a car to create something interesting and unique
• I love the shoe soles on the side of the car, it looks so cool.  The buttons right above them add different textures
• The fact that there is a “person” in the car makes this photo even better.  It looks like there is someone driving, like they are just going right past you, but it’s just a cardboard cutout.

3. “Times Square in the Rain,” pg 23

• I love the bird’s eye view of this photo, it gives a different perspective of the city
• the rain gives the photo an interesting effect, it makes it look like the cars and buildings are floating
• The buildings are the biggest part of the photograph, but it’s what’s on the ground in the spaces between the buildings that makes this photo interesting and brings your eye all around

4. I chose this book because I enjoyed the photos while just skimming through the book.  My sister took this class and had a similar assignment, and she recommended the book to me.  I’m glad she did, I liked several of the photos in this book.  It was difficult to pick just two to talk about.

5. Three strengths of Lou Stoumen:

• Lou Stoumen is very good at capturing candid moments.  Many of the photos in this book are not people posing for his camera, they are random shots in places he has been.
• Even though all the photos are black and white, they are still as interesting and as expressive as a photo in color
• I like the variety of the subjects of his photos.  There are many of people, but also several of places he’s been or objects he sees.

6. What makes a good photograph?

• different lighting
• different views of objects, not just straight on
• color vs black and white, the color (or lack thereof) of the photo can define the mood of it
• candid vs posed, sometimes candid photos tell more of a story than a posed photo