Exercise: Horizontal and vertical

This exercise seemed straight forward but was actually quite tricky. Not repeating examples was difficult and also ensuring that the picture was subordinate to the line was also not easy.

These are my examples of horizontal lines:

I think that with all 4 photographs that the eye is drawn intially to the horizontal line with the possible exception of the photograph with the of the water mill. Although there are horizontal lines in the building there are other more powerful distractions such as the wheel.

These are my vertical lines:

I think that there are several verticals in this photo, the rope the wall are the main eye grabbers

A photo of person standing is a good example of a vertical line. This shot is taken from a low perspective and enhances the vertical perspective.

There are other things in this photo but the vertical pole stands out the most.

This is an obvious vertical image- a tall building stretching into a blue sky.

Exercise multiple points

For this exercise I chose an unfussy part of the beach with attractive ripples in the sand. I thought that it would make an excellent back drop.

I then added pebbles of similar but varying sizes and colours one at a time.

with the first pebble I tried to place it on the thirds line, however I can see that on review it is probably too near the centre.

For the second pebble I wanted a bit of an offset but not too much and also a colour contrast.


The third pebble was placed again in a random position but still forming the inevitable triangle.


I then placed the fourth pebble in a position that I thought did not create an obvious geometric shape. However on review I can see that the shape of a square is clearly evident.

The fifth pebble was a brighter colour and I was trying to break up the obvious square shape.

When I added the final pebble it was clear that my positioning could have been better I was too near the centre of the shot with the stones and the shape was a little too geometric.


The blue lines show the relationship between the pebbles and displays a couple of clear squares, the red line is the outer shape and is a clear rectangle. Within the shapes the green lines show several triangles.

Exercise: the relationship between points

I found this exercise quite difficult as natural scenes with two points are quite hard to discover. I eventually settled on three pictures.

The shoes on the beach shot has two shoes that are equal in size so it is not easy to decide which one dominates and thus draws more attention. I think that the the one that draws the eye most is the shoe on the left as it contains more detail, colour laces etc.


The houses in this shot are also very similar so again it is hard to decide on which is the most eye catching. I would go for the one on the right as it is better lit.

In this picture of two conkers lying on the ground there is a clearer draw to one over the other. The conker that is still partially in it's shell is more eye catching as it is larger and more interesting.

As described in the task text it is almost impossible to resolve between the two eyes. I do quite like the composition though as it is slightly unusual.

Part 2. Points project Exercise postioning a point

For this exercise I am going to use 3 of the photographs that I have picked as my working examples. Although these photos were taken in colour I have converted them to black and white in order to remove colour from the equation as recommended in the text.

These are the three photographs:

In this photo I placed the seal in the top right segment of the frame. I believed that it was a good position as it made the deal appear as if it was swimming away from the frame and although the body is not visible in the picture you can imagine it is below the water in the shot.

In this second photo I placed the bird in the bottom right of the shot as it seemed appropriate for the way the bird is facing and also the angle of the shadow. The stone shelf also provides an uncomplicated backdrop.

In this third photograph I placed the castle to the middle right, this was so that I could also get the feeling of isolation as the sea is all to the left and the cliffs are also to the left. It also helps draw the eye across the sea and up to the castle over the cliffs.

Part 2 project: Points

In the first part of this project we have been asked to jot down as many examples of types of situation when there is a clear photographic example of a point.

The boat in the sea is a good example

More would be

The moon in the sky
A combine harvester in a large field.
A singular poppy in a field of grass.
A singular person in a field.
An isolated building such as a castle or hut.
A pea on an empty plate.
A seagull on a beach
A coin on the floor.
An aircraft in the sky.
a bird in the sky.
A duck on a pond.
Something hanging on a wall.
A runner at the front of a cross country race, on his own.
A key on a mat.
A letter on the floor.


I have picked several images that I have taken with the single point. As suggested I have converted them to black and white.

Part two intro

I have had long break prior to starting this part of the course. Having read the first parts of part two I have found it slightly confusing. However I am going to crack on with the projects and hopre that things become clearer as I get on.

Assignment 1 Contrast With Tutors Comments

Photograph with both Black and White


Sweet

Sour

Smooth

Rough

Moving

Still

Solid

Liquid

Few

Many

Small

Large

Intermittent

Continuous

Rounded

Diagonal

I found this assignment quite difficult as you had to firstly picture the contrasts that you want to use and then identify the appropriate shots. It didn't work for me just taking photos and then deciding on contrasts.

Tutor Report Form

Student name:	Nicholas Beck
Student number:	504014
Course/Module title:	The Art of Photography
Assignment number:	1

Overall Comments

This is a good 1^st assignment with well communicated themes and simple graphic compositions.

I like the sunny feel to the assignment and the way that bold shapes and colours dominate the frames. 

This is a successful first step on the module showing good technical and compositional skills.  If there is one criticism of this work it’s that some of it is just too simple and too graphic.

Feedback on assignment

Continuous

This long, smooth stretch of motorway does express its theme well.  I like the way you’ve removed (or is this for real?) the white lines from the road to eradicate any intermittent trace.  It emphasizes the smooth continuity of the road well.  

Intermittent

The railway tracks offer a good visual symbol of intermittent rhythm. It’s a pity you didn’t find a section of track that was clear of obstructions – here the overhead cable supports, and the buildings on the left are a bit too distracting.  Once you’ve settled on an idea – either because you stumble upon it or because you recall it in memory – try then to find a good example that strongly emphasizes the subject as well as the theme. 

Diagonal

This road sign offers a strong diagonal pattern in red and white.  The composition looks a little too high, but it’s reasonably uncluttered and direct in impact.

Rounded

Another road sign like a round disk against the sky.  Blue against blue works quite well here.  Try framing tighter to reduce background distractions like the trees when shooting purely for information.

Few

A lovely macro shot of these daisies with the primary graphic point well placed on the left in sharp focus and face-on.  This leads well to the defocused daisy and the white spots in the background.   Once again, you have photographed in a lovely summery light.

Many

This multiple shot of daisies filling the frame works ok, but a higher viewpoint over the flowers would have given you a bit more impact.  This side viewpoint tends to feel like a background that needs something in it – like someone lying in the grass etc – as all the ‘faces’ of the flowers are pointing up.  You can resolve this issue by framing a single or few daisies in the foreground facing the camera. 

Small/Large

This pair work very well together with the connection being the little boy.  It’s a pairing about ‘boy dreams’ typically of cars etc, and the impact of the overwhelming Jeep in comparison with the toy is strong. 

The small photo is simple and graphic, like much of the work here – clean, central composition, full sunlight, no distracting shadows and a clear plain background. 

The large photo doesn’t manage the clear background as well, some shallow depth of field could have helped you by defocusing the houses in behind the Jeep.  But you have managed to make this Jeep look like it’s ‘holding’ the boy as the boy’s hand was holding the toy car.  It’s a very nice touch that the boy is covering his eyes – eluding to dreams – as if the Jeep just suddenly appeared!

The lighting is interesting.  Obviously these photos were taken during a period of sunny days and normally the deep shadow of the Jeep would seem an unusual choice because it de-emphasizes the car.  But here you’ve placed the boy in the light against the Jeep’s shadow to make him stand out well.  And the dark shape of the Jeep appears large and looming.   

Liquid

This is a good attempt at trying to photograph the ‘liquidity’ of water.  I think the problem with this is the overwhelming green background is very hard and flat.  It’s an interesting and very striking graphic choice – the green.  But it does detract from the subtle forms of fluidity.  Blue and white would seem the obvious choice for images of water.  And black does allow you to bring out the highlights and edges of reflections well.  

On another note, you have done well to capture the flow of water and the bubbles, as well as these forms in the shadow.  And it’s nicely composed in the frame: glass on the left, with the diagonal shadow leaning to the right.

Solid

As above about the green.  The ice here does look solid in connection to the liquid image.  That green background is well worth saving for something more pertinent. 

It’s a good idea to think around a subject when you’ve decided on one.  Briefly brainstorm about the colours, forms, shapes, concepts that come to mind when you think of ‘liquid’ or ‘solid’.  This may bring up ideas that you can combine. 

Moving

Another very clean, graphic composition with the boy on the right, his shadow leaning in a V shape to the left.  Good colour and light control here, the blue T-shirt goes well against the green.  His smile comes out well as a primary graphic point. 

The boy’s face is too much in shadow – a little fill flash could have filled the shadow and added to the summery atmosphere. 

There is a line top of frame.  Try to avoid such lines and other distractions by checking your shooting environment. 

Still

The boy at rest, once again with his hands over his eyes – adding a sense of a game to this photo. 

It’s a simple, central composition with a clear all round grass background, showing again your good eye for visual clarity.  Perhaps this is another photo that is too simple, too clean, with too little happening.

Rough/Smooth

These two fruits clearly belong together.  Although here the smooth peach is against a very textured grassy background. 

Be aware that whatever background you choose will affect the reading of the central subject.  So here, why have you chosen grass?  It’s not really about grass, it’s about fruit.  You needed a clear background like a smooth white or black to say nothing so that the fruit’s texture and smoothness could be emphasized. 

Sweet/Sour

I like this ‘studio’ set up, which shows good all-round even lighting and strong simple graphic composition.  Even the diagonal line in the background doesn’t detract from the effect.

I like the economical way you’ve used the same set-up and just changed the lemon to sugar – which is very communicative in itself.

Black & White

A well chosen, once again very intrinsically graphic subject, of chess pieces on a board.  Good use of shallow depth of field here to single out the foreground pieces in a ‘check-mate’ stance I guess, with lovely soft focus in the background. 

About composition: when you place two graphic points of equal strength side by side, you need to equalize the frame around them.  Here you have these two pieces on the left side.  It would’ve been better to have the white piece a little closer to camera, creating a line that continued to the other pieces, rather than sort of see-saws from one to the other. 

In a double portrait you want this sort of ‘seesaw’ action, but here you’re trying to include the background shapes.   

Learning logs/critical essays

If your blog is your learning log, then it is lacking in any written material.  Try to reflect on your working process: why you chose a subject, what you did technically that was interesting, what worked visually and what failed. 

Also, look at other photographers and try to respond to their work.

Suggested reading/viewing

Have a look at the photography on photo.net and make notes about what you like there and how you could make similar images. 

Good luck with the next assignment.

Tutor name:	ROBERT ENOCH
Date	11th June 2010
Next assignment due	30th August 2010