Composition
Composition is the arrangement of shapes in a photo - where they are placed, how the coordinate with one another and the photo itself
Composition is commonly used by all artists, for photography this is used to organise subjects within the shot, good composition will leave the photo looking professional and leave a greater effect on the viewer.
Composition is commonly used by all artists, for photography this is used to organise subjects within the shot, good composition will leave the photo looking professional and leave a greater effect on the viewer.
Rule of Thirds
Balance
Placing the main subject off center creates a better photo, but there is a large void left in the unfilled space, this makes the image feel empty.
Balancing the image by filling the void with an object that takes up a similar amount of space without being symmetrical will fix this issue. to balance an image, the 'visual weight' of the subjects must be balanced. |
Layers
Changing a 3D world into a 2D image can often leave the photo seem flat and simple, so photographers use layers to help maintain the 3D aspects of the photo, adding depth to the image and making it more complex.
If the subject is positioned between layers this further enhances the 3D effect. This makes the viewer feel as if they were there when the photo was taken. |
Triangles
Triangles found in images suggests stability amongst the key subjects, as triangles have a wide base and narrow top this fortifies the image.
However, by using inverted triangles this can create an unstable feeling in the image, as the triangle snow being supported by the narrow top rather than the solid, wide base. |
Framing the environment
Sebastian Magnani
Steve Magnani is a Swiss photographer who enjoys taking pictures of nature. His series 'reflection' comprises of a mirror placed on the floor which reflects nature above. This way the viewer can see both the top and bottom of the scene.
Magnani uses mirrors to show us two perspectives in one photo. This makes us consider the contrast between the background and the reflection.
In these photos, Magnani wants us to consider the differences in the environment, between whats above and below. he does this by showing both the ground and the sky.
Magnani uses mirrors to show us two perspectives in one photo. This makes us consider the contrast between the background and the reflection.
In these photos, Magnani wants us to consider the differences in the environment, between whats above and below. he does this by showing both the ground and the sky.
This is my interpretation of Magnani's work. In these photos I have placed the mirror so that it contrasts with its background. I also used a low ISO as it was outside and a shutter speed of 60 because it was a still image.
This project didn't turn out as well as I had intended, as the camera was struggling to focus on the reflected image, In addition I should've used a more interesting subject to place in the reflection.
Andy Yeung
Andy Yeung is a landscape and architectural photographer who, in these photos, has framed the sky with buildings. This makes us consider how we can change the way the sky looks with artificial structures.
Yeung wants us to consider how we can almost trap ourselves with buildings.This is shown by the small portion of the sky that is visible in comparison to the large buildings that dominate the frame.
Yeung contrasts the building with the sky to make us think about how buildings are slowly taking away our environment, and the way the image is framed make you think that the structures we build are taking away our sky.
Yeung wants us to consider how we can almost trap ourselves with buildings.This is shown by the small portion of the sky that is visible in comparison to the large buildings that dominate the frame.
Yeung contrasts the building with the sky to make us think about how buildings are slowly taking away our environment, and the way the image is framed make you think that the structures we build are taking away our sky.
In these photos I have taking pictures of the corner and edges of buildings, and then edited them together to make them look like one structure. This also meant that the negative space was taken up by a pattern of clouds as the sky was also edited with the buildings.
This project went well as I managed to frame the sky using symmetrical patterns, however some of the buildings I have used come out as a plain grey and make the image less interesting.
Romain Jacquet-Lagreze
Lagreze is a French photographer based in Hong Kong. His collection 'Wild Concrete' features trees sprouting from the concrete of Hong Kong houses, comparing the difference of the living conditions between plants and animals.
Lagreze wants us to consider how nature is taking back its land in these photos. He does this by framing the shots so that it captures the overgrown plants climbing the sides of buildings and even damaging them.
In these photos, Lagreze has edited it so that the buildings look plain, and the plants are vivid and stand out. This could've been done by boosting the greens and decreasing other colours such as blue and red.
Lagreze wants us to consider how nature is taking back its land in these photos. He does this by framing the shots so that it captures the overgrown plants climbing the sides of buildings and even damaging them.
In these photos, Lagreze has edited it so that the buildings look plain, and the plants are vivid and stand out. This could've been done by boosting the greens and decreasing other colours such as blue and red.
This is my response to Lagreze's photos. They show small spaces that nature has 'taken over' by becoming overgrown and taking the shape of its artificial environment, almost in an attempt to reclaim its territory. In these photos I used the rule of thirds in order to make the image more interesting, in addition I have altered the colours in order to show the colour of the nature rather than the man made surroundings.
Independent development
Sato Tokihiro
In the photo on the left, there is a staircase with light rising from the stairs, almost like grass.
Tokihiro has intended to make light imitate other objects, such as grass or seaweed. This is shown by many long strips of light rising from the ground upwards. He wants us to think about how light can be interpreted in different ways, and manipulated to create something else.
Tokihiro is considering depth on the photo on the right. This is shown by the layers of trees and light following the closest one. He wanted to explore how the lights could be used in the background to add depth to the image.
Tokihiro has used a long exposure all of the images. This creates 'light paintings' as the long exposure allows him to draw using a light source. This helps to not only add multiple and unusual light sources but also adds to the subject of the image.
Tokihiro has intended to make light imitate other objects, such as grass or seaweed. This is shown by many long strips of light rising from the ground upwards. He wants us to think about how light can be interpreted in different ways, and manipulated to create something else.
Tokihiro is considering depth on the photo on the right. This is shown by the layers of trees and light following the closest one. He wanted to explore how the lights could be used in the background to add depth to the image.
Tokihiro has used a long exposure all of the images. This creates 'light paintings' as the long exposure allows him to draw using a light source. This helps to not only add multiple and unusual light sources but also adds to the subject of the image.
Matthew Barnes
In the photo on the left there is a petrol station in a sandy and pitch black environment. Its lights are vibrant, contrasting with its background.
Barnes has intended to capture the 'coldness' of the station at night. This is shown by the lack of cars or people, and the harsh bright lights. He wants us to think about how places we usually visit during the day look at night in complete darkness.
Barnes is considering isolation in the centre image. This is shown by the lone station, pictured by itself with nothing else but its light reflecting off the ground. He wants to explore the way normally crowded places look when there is no one present.
Barnes has used unusual light sources to show how different places can look at different times. This creates barren images of normally busy places. Also, using the petrol stations harsh white lighting compared to the warmer light from the sun makes the images seem 'cold'. This help him establish a strange perspective of how opposed environments can look.
Barnes has intended to capture the 'coldness' of the station at night. This is shown by the lack of cars or people, and the harsh bright lights. He wants us to think about how places we usually visit during the day look at night in complete darkness.
Barnes is considering isolation in the centre image. This is shown by the lone station, pictured by itself with nothing else but its light reflecting off the ground. He wants to explore the way normally crowded places look when there is no one present.
Barnes has used unusual light sources to show how different places can look at different times. This creates barren images of normally busy places. Also, using the petrol stations harsh white lighting compared to the warmer light from the sun makes the images seem 'cold'. This help him establish a strange perspective of how opposed environments can look.
Ansel Adams
In the photo on the left there is a mountain scape placed behind a lake. There are clouds over the mountains, which have snow on them.
Adams has intended to capture the whole landscape. he has done this by using a very small aperture, allowing a very deep depth of field. He wants us to think about how beautiful a landscape can be when you see the bigger image, or in this case the focused image.
Adams is considering nature in this piece of work. This is shown by the absence of human structure or presence in the photo, and rather the mountains towering over a landscape. He wanted to explore how landscapes form themselves and contrast with each other.
Adams has used the rule of thirds in creating this work. This creates a well balanced effect, as the ground covers two thirds, and the mountains and sky cover the upper third. This helps to support the photographer point about the size of the mountains and how the dominate the landscape.
Adams has intended to capture the whole landscape. he has done this by using a very small aperture, allowing a very deep depth of field. He wants us to think about how beautiful a landscape can be when you see the bigger image, or in this case the focused image.
Adams is considering nature in this piece of work. This is shown by the absence of human structure or presence in the photo, and rather the mountains towering over a landscape. He wanted to explore how landscapes form themselves and contrast with each other.
Adams has used the rule of thirds in creating this work. This creates a well balanced effect, as the ground covers two thirds, and the mountains and sky cover the upper third. This helps to support the photographer point about the size of the mountains and how the dominate the landscape.
In these photos I have attempted to imitate the style of Ansel Adams by taking pictures of landscapes with a deep depth of field. These were taken in Scotland around Edinburgh so the mountains provided good natural landscapes. I edited the images twice, the second time I colour picked interesting looking flowers that stood out to me.
Development
This is my development for Ansel Adams. These were taken using a camera with a shallow depth field and low ISO for the best resolution. I have experimented by placing an object in the foreground with bright colour, but leaving it out of focus. Also, I have colour graded some of the photos to give them a certain look/mood.
In these photos I have placed subjects in the foreground, adding more depth to the photos, in addition I used compositional techniques such as the rule of thirds in order to arrange the shot. However, next time I would shoot a more natural landscape, with less man made structures as Adams' photos had no trace of people. In addition I would adjust the ISO in order to make sure that the image is not overexposed.
Colin Winterbottom
Colin Winterbottom is an American photographer who's collection of close up photos take interest in normally ignored details in everyday life. These photos include a variety of textures and colours.
In these photos I used a shallow depth of field, as I only wanted to capture the closest subject, and provided the photos with lots of detail, allowing you too see the small textures and patterns in the objects. The final edits are also colour graded in order to show off their warmer or cooler colours.
Close Up and Far Away
This is a project that shows how the same subject can appear so different when zoomed in or out. When the image is zoomed in the intricate details in the object are more apparent. In contrast when the image is zoomed out there mis less detail, but more context given to the object and allows for a greater range of compositional techniques.
In these photos is have used a shallow depth of field when taking the closer image, making the focus on the individual object, but when taking the far away photo I used a deep depth of field as it was taken to show off the whole scene. To improve these images, I would've taken them in a more rural environment, as there are less distractions in the frame, in addition I would take them in better lighting as some were overexposed.
Close Up and Far Away Development
This is my development for the previous shoot. In these photos I used different apertures in order to have different focus points in the images, therefore adding variation. Each picture also has vivid colours that stand out and.