Poem based on Location: Be Creative

The sun-drenched sky
Is bright and blue
The sun shines on Church Street
And the Daily Star too

Nestled in a bush
Sits a butterfly
I was lucky to get a picture
Before it fluttered by

And out in front of the Daily Star
Our stars and stripes fly high
The white stars shine bright against a blue back
Which is almost as bright as the sun-drenched sky

Portrait Assignment

1. Street Portraits: take portraits anonymously, get as close as you can without people noticing
~ I was afraid to get too close because I didn't want them to notice me
~ I zoomed in so I could get a closer picture
~ My sister helped me and stood in front of so it looked like I was taking a picture of her
~  I didn't really pay attention to the composition

2. Documentary Portraits: find subjects who are doing something interesting, they know they are being photographed but they just continue what they are doing
~ I didn't take any photos like this

3. Environmental Portraits: you control the scene
~ I didn't take any photos like this where I put the person in a specific spot

4. Studio Portraits: you control everything to create an interesting photo
~ I went up to some of my friends and asked if I could take their picture; I explained it was for a photo class and they willingly let me photograph them

5. Focus on facial expressions
~ When my friends were looking at the camera when I took their picture, they knew what was going on and when I was done.  They seemed a little confused at first as to why I wanted to take their picture but they went along with it
~ When I asked to take pictures they all smiled for the camera

6. After you are done: are you comfortable photographing new people?
~ I still have not photographed strangers where they knew I was taking their picture
~ I still feel like it would be awkward and creepy if I asked a stranger to take their picture
~ I felt a little awkward going up to my friends and asking them too, so I can try to do this more than move on to people I don't know

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

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

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.

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