Tag: color photography

Reflections: SET 2 Contact Sheet

Posted on by Josh

This is my contact sheet for my set 2 on reflections. In this set, there is a total of 47 photos. Some of these photos were inspired by the photos of Craig Whitehead. Similarly to set 1, I have decided to categorize photos based on how much they relate to my statement of intent and their aesthetic appeal. Photos might be very related to my statement of intent, but if their aesthetic appeal isn’t the best, it wouldn’t be considered a red photo. For the set as a whole, a portion of the photos was taken at ISB, a portion was taken at home, and a large portion was taken in Shanghai. At ISB, the photos were mostly of mundane objects that emitted light or had a glassy surface since they were capable of reflection. The photos taken at home are similar to the ones taken at ISB. The best quality photos were taken in the Pudong business district in Shanghai. They consist of reflections on modern architecture, which are made of glass and have LED lights, making them a great source of reflections when the lighting is dark (night hours). In this set, the categories of yellow, green, and red still apply. The yellow selection consists of photos that have little relation to my statement of intent and do not show interesting reflections. There might be some photos that show reflection, but they lack quality in other aspects, such as focus, angle, or clarity. There are 19 yellow photos in total. The green selection consists of solid photos related to my statement of intent. Some photos might qualify for the red selection but might not be that interesting to the audience. There are 16 green photos in total. Finally, the red selection consists of photos that fit my statement of intent and have excellent aesthetic appeal. These photos were all taken in Shanghai. We can see the majority of the photos in the red selection have a dark backdrop, as they were taken at night. There are 12 red photos in total. I will analyze these photos in a subsequent post.

Photo 2 Initial Thoughts

Posted on by Josh

Possible Project Ideas:

1.

Close shots of small objects. I will attempt to create a scene from real life in the smallest scale possible. I will adjust the aperture of the camera to make the focus clear. I will use objects such as lego and figurines as subjects. The subjects in the photo will interact with an everyday object. For example, from the photo below, there are lego stormtroopers pushing a camera lens. For special effects I will use clay, paper, and glass.

2.

Photos of objects in colored latex coverings. I will use latex of a certain color and put objects associated with that color behind the latex. The only thing that shows in the photo is the color of the latex and shape of the object. I might use people as subjects for this project.

3.

Photos of objects in motion. This project will focus on capturing objects in motion using sports mode on the camera. Sports mode will ensure that the photos do not blur like they do on the iPhone. In addition, I will adjust the shutter speed of the camera to achieve the desired effect. I will use people as subjects and let them use props and equipment.

The three projects above will be done in sequence. Throughout the process, I might change a few ideas if the setting of a photo is different or if materials are unavailable.

Set 2 “Modern” Red Selection

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Higher quality PDF: Modern Set 2

The above photos are the red selection of my second set. All of the photos are taken within my house due to the Covid pandemic. Therefore, the background/setting of the photos isn’t the most important part. The most important aspect is the facial expression of the subject. This is contrary to the intent of Set 1, where the silhouettes had hidden expressions and facial features. Since these photos are all brightly colored and obnoxious, I decided to call this set “Modern” since it reflects the current situation in the modern day. These photos are based on street photographer Eric Kim’s colored street portraits. These photos focus less on the background and more on the subject’s expression. He does this by getting extremely close to the subject while using an assortment of lighting effects. The photo below shows a shocked-looking woman with fizzy hair and excessive makeup. I can’t really distinguish what is in the background because the aperture is focused on only capturing the subject, who is closest to the camera.

The first photo I will analyze is the one on the very left of the contact sheet. It shows a boy with his mouth wide open. The photo is extremely bright due to the fact that it was taken facing the sun. The brightness was further increased by adjusting the exposure. The background is just white space and virtually shows nothing. Parts of the subject’s face are combined with the background, making him look like a part of the background. Apart from that, the other colored parts of the photo are flamboyantly illustrated as the sunlight reflects upon them. For example, the originally black hair of the subject is made multicolored. Other parts of the subject’s face, such as the forehead and lips, are exemplified. The clothing of the subject is also shown quite distinctly. The sudden appearance of bright colors in a seemingly white space illustrates the intent of this photo, the element of surprise. Formal elements include Color, Tone, and Space.

The second photo (middle) features the subject of a screaming human wearing a bear mask. The environment within the photo is dark and green. It seems both eerie and toxic. The effect of the environment is supposed to symbolize the claustrophobia that people experience during the pandemic as they are trapped in their homes. Since the subject is screaming in an eerie and toxic environment, it shows that they are overwhelmed by their current situation. The tilt and lopsidedness of the subject and the camera angle are to emphasize the feeling of instability. Moreover, the mask that the subject is wearing symbolizes an anonymous identity. It implies that nobody knows of the subject’s current situation. My guess is that this might be the situation for everyone at some point during the pandemic. Formal elements include Color, Texture.

The third photo (right) features a person who wears a huge pink robe, green sunglasses, and a blue headband. In general, the photo is quite eye-catching as it features flamboyant colors. A black gradient surrounds the perimeters of the photo and juxtaposes the bright colors. The gradient also emphasizes that the subject is the center of attention. The photo itself is quite self-explanatory. However, since it was taken during online learning, it communicates the message of trying new/unconventional things to enlighten everyone’s mood and break free of the monotonous cycle. Formal elements include Color, Tone.