Photojournal 8 - Textures

White on White - Black on Black

Journal Six.

A First Lesson in Photoshop

Journal #3 At Home Light Painting

Journal Number Five, Rule of Thirds, Framing, and Lead in Lines

  

Lead in Lines  f 6.4     shutter speed 1/320

    

Rule of Thirds f3.2    shutter speed 1/42

                                                             Framing  f4.2       shutter speed 1/28

Photojournal # 4 Playing With Aperture

                                                 An aperture of f11 was used for this photo

                                                              f3.5 was used for this one

                                                           I used an aperture f2.8 for this photo

Photography with a Message

Part A - Answer the following questions:

1.What did Zana describe as the reason for giving the cameras to the children in the beginning of the documentary, i.e.: why didn't she just take the photographs herself?

She wanted to see the world through the eyes of the children. She wanted to understand what they go through and see every day because taking the photos herself wouldn't let her into their lives in the intimate way them capturing their own photos would.

2.Why is the photographer's point of view or unique voice part of what we consider when we talk about pictures? Can't we simply judge all pictures by the same criteria of good and bad regardless of who took them?

No, each photographer has their own style, so each person might have different ideas as to what makes a good photo, or what composition suits the message we want to send. There are certain guidelines we can follow for creating good composition, but sometimes even the most hectic and turbulent photos are the most emotionally impacting.

3. Reflect on what Avijit first says about painting: “I like to draw pictures because I want to express what’s on my mind…I want to put my thoughts into colors.” What does this tell us about him?

He's a born artist. He's emotional and has passion for creating things.

4. Throughout this lesson, the term ‘personal expression’ is used to refer to art, sports, writing, and other activities. How would you define personal expression? How are photography, painting and writing forms of personal expression?

I think personal expression is any way a person expresses the thoughts and ideas burning around in their head and puts them into some form for other people to appreciate and see.

5. How can art (personal expression) serve as a means of educating others about a

particular issue.

It helps give more personal meaning to something as opposed to a government dealt poster or something. Art comes from a person's thoughts, so when they create art about a certain issue, it's them putting their own effort and thoughts into it to speak their opinion.

Part B- Critique

In the first critique I had you complete I encouraged you to only look at the physical qualities of the

pictures. This time I would like you to do a TWO part critique.

Visit this Kids with Cameras Gallery and look at the pictures, notice the links at the bottom of the page

are for locations other than India where this project has taken place.

i) Select what you believe are the 2 most beautiful images based on traditional photography standards

(Nice contrast, appealing colours and textures, clear focal point etc...) And in a sentence for each explain why you like them.

I think “Girl on a Roof” is one of the most beautiful ones I've ever seen. I love the bright colors, and I love how even though it's so simple, but it expresses the prettiness of the girl in the sweetest way. She's the main focal point, but there's the block of color and things going on on the right which I think adds interesting texture to the photo.

I also like “Silhouette” because of the contrast between the black and the yellow light, and the fact that, yeah, it's a silhouette so it makes for a nice focal point. I love how you can kind of see other things going on in the room because of the lights reflection, and I enjoy the fact that it's all really simple, and yet effective.

ii) Select what you believe to be the most effective pictures at conveying a message or educating you about the issue of human rights abuses. And in a sentence for each explain why you chose them.

I think “Babai”, “Stove”, and “Up the Stairs” show a lot about the real life conditions they go through each day and paint a picture of what their life is actually like, as opposed to the fun, happy pictures. It makes everything more real. Each picture depicts some of the mundane tasks they have to do in order to just survive, and I love how raw and just plain THERE they all are. They don't gloss over things, and they make you feel empathy because of the sadness that's in them.

iii) Does a picture need to be beautiful to be effective? Does it help?

No, definitely not. In my opinion some of the least beautiful pictures can be the most effective. They create an uncensored version of every day trauma people have to live with. Look at wartime pictures and disaster journalism. It's the content, not always the perfect lighting or composition.

Photojournal Week Three

Regrettably I wasn't able to get a panning shot, which I apologize profusely for. I did try, I swear, I just never came out with a half decent one. Anyways, here are the rest or the ones I DID get.

Picture 1: Light Painting

Picture 2: Action Shot

                                   

Picture 3: Strobe Light

Photojournal Week 2: Pinhole Photos

 This photo was of the water heater tank thingy out back of the school. The problems with the photo was that the day was cloudy and we underexposed it a bit by not leaving the shutter open enough. I think it also got a little blurry from trying to hold it on because it was a magically windy day.

This one was of the houses across the way on Kidd St. We over exposed it by leaving the shutter open too long on a sunny day. There's also some streaking accross the picture which might be from handling it too much or from light being let in.

Photo Journal

Getting to Know Your Style

I don't think I could ever pick just one photographer as a favorite. It'd be like trying to pick a favorite mythological creature, or a favorite ice cream. There are so many and each one is different but each one is ever so magical in its own way, it'd make a cave man blush. Every photographer has their own crazy way of expression. There are things that I take from them and hold onto; which inspires me to create a whole new explosion of creativity and nonsense. Ah well. As I have to rip my arm of and pick just one, I'd have to say Michal Giedrojc fasincates me quite greatly.    

http://121clicks.com/inspirations/great-examples-of-fine-art-photography

    I love this picture because of the way he captures the lonely emotion and solitude in a desolate city. It's so peculiar and it keeps your eyes wandering around in an aimless strut over the page. I also love how the hobo is the only human in the photo, but he's more of a background creature than the buildings, when normally it's the other way around.