Assignment 2 - Dozen Photo Challenge

  • Explain why you think this is your most successful image:

This is the most successful image of Assignment 2 as it strongly displays the element of background control. I photographed in a field of grass resembling wheat and it was hard to not get the background elements in the photo, changing the perspective and feel of the photo. I got as close as I could to the subject, trying to eliminate the possible background noise. With the settings of my camera, I was able to take this beautiful shot that I'm so proud of! I think the sun as shining at a good angle on the grass, giving the background a slight glow as well. Because the background is blurred and isolated, the subject stands out clearly.

 

  • Tell us what was the most challenging aspect of this assignment:

The most challenging aspect of this assignment was working with lighting for the Lighting section. I struggled a little with manipulating the light for each category, but was able to take some photos successfully. I enjoyed shooting in side lighting, but I could not really find any natural examples of it outside, so I set up my photo to be taken in my bedroom. This assignment definitely opened up my eyes to the importance of different kinds of lighting. One of my goals for this class was to get better with utilizing light, so this challenge definitely got me out of my comfort zone.

 

  • Explain what you will do in the future to create stronger images:

In the future, I plan to take more pictures and give myself a better selection to work with. For this particular assignment, I was trying to find things that applied to each category. I had ideas in my mind for what to do for Bull's Eye and the Rule of Odds, for example, but in the future I would like to keep more of an open mind while taking my photos. I also will keep working with lighting and different kinds of lighting to give my images a stronger appearance.

 

 

I was immediately drawn to this image when I looked on your page. I love photos that have to do with water, and the focus on the three boats makes for a great image. I find the perspective you took on this image to be so pleasing to look at, and the colors in the water and sky meshing together make me feel peaceful. The sun hitting the side of the boats is so beautiful; you really captured this moment and setting wonderfully! The sun hitting on the side is a good approach on side lighting, and draws a viewer's gaze to the right side of the boats. I also think the exposure along with the colors in this image make it look very concise. You nailed this image, I don't have any suggestions for you. Great job on your photos, especially this one! 

Assignment 3 - Critiquing Photo Challenge

  • Explain why you think this is your most successful image:

This image is my most successful image because of the strong composition and lighting. Of course I'm biased because this is the photo I chose for the aesthetically evaluative category, but I feel that this image is so beautiful to look at. The lighting peeking in through the side as the sun sets gives the image a golden glow. The lighter, yellow colored grass up against the darker forest landscape shows analogous colors working well together. The subject walking into the distance, visibly standing out. All of these elements make this image successful, and I'm proud of my ability to capture it amongst the mundane.

 

  • Tell us what was the most challenging aspect of this assignment:

The most challenging aspect of this assignment was figuring out how to be creative while also displaying explanatory and descriptive images. I was trying to plan out what I wanted to take pictures of so I went into it with a plan, but that's not always how photography is meant to be. It's nice to go out with an open mind and let subjects find you, so I think I was most challenged by being constrained by my own plans. I also struggled with finding an example for theoretical photography, but after some thought I found examples I was moved by!

 

  • Explain what you will do in the future to create stronger images:

In the future, I plan to try to find more exciting and captivating subjects. Like I mentioned above, I'm a planner and like to have an idea of what I'll be capturing. My goal for the next assignment is to let my subjects find me, and to seek out more opportunities to find fascinating subjects.

 

 

Hi Jessica! I love your explanatory image of the dog painting and its corresponding paint colors. I think it is very clear at explaining that the colors on the palette are the ones used in the painting. The background is neutral, clearly leading the viewer's eyes to the painting and palette. I also like how you arranged the two subjects into the frame, giving the viewer multiple places to look at, but not in an overwhelming fashion. By the way, your painting is amazing and I love the dog's eyes. Great job on this project!!

Assignment 4 - Multimodal Presentation

Hi Emma! I love the detail you put into your presentation and the research you did on Walker Evans. His passion for photographer and the reason behind that was interesting. I enjoyed how you explained and analyzed each of his strong photographs; it is clear that his photographs are very strong and influential, especially as you are able to examine the images so clearly. I find Evans' work to be very important, covering a very important era in our American history. Great job!

Assignment 5 - Emulating a Professional Photographer

  • Explain why you think this is your most successful image:

This image is my most successful image because it best fits into the artist I chose to emulate, Nigel Shafran. and his collection titled Bookshelves. The collection consisted of multiple different bookshelves he found and displayed through his lens. I took this photo originally just because I loved the angle I had while sitting in the library. When I was doing my research on Shafran and going through his work, I saw his Bookshelves collection and it felt right. I like the way I edited the photo to be a dark, slightly washed out vibe, while also approaching it from a side angle.

 

  • Tell us what was the most challenging aspect of this assignment:

The most challenging aspect of this assignment was dealing with difficulty with my camera. The day before I planned to take the photos for this assignment, my SD card was wiped and all of my 1,300 pictures from over the years were all gone. I spent the day trying to retrieve my images, but it was overall pretty unsuccessful, so I was scared to use the SD card again, leaving me camera-less for the time being. I instead used my iPhone to take this assignment's photos which was not what I expected to use, leaving me with less means to focus the images' backgrounds, for example. I'm glad I was still able to take nice pictures, but it was disappointing to not be able to produce the best images I could have with my usual resources.

 

  • Explain what you will do in the future to create stronger images:

In the future, I will try to minimize background distractions better. This was something that proved to be a little difficult while I was taking photos around my house to emulate Nigel Shafran for this assignment. I'm looking for ward to continuing to grow my photography skills in the future.

 

 

Hi Jessica, I love the work you have done for this assignment! You definitely did a great job at emulating the work of Viviane Sassen while also putting your own spin on things. I particularly enjoy the creativity you had for this image, as it is similar to the original you are emulating, but also original in its own way. The vibrancy of the colors makes viewers drawn to the image, especially with colors of similar tones. The muted blue color that is abundant in the image and also on your finger is my favorite color in the picture. Overall, great job. (sent as message on website, I do not have a Wix account)

 

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