Street Photography: Post 3
Techniques used in this image:
- Contrast: There is contrast in the light and dark of the sky/ground and the trees, but there is also contrast in the scene itself. At the back, there are industrial symbols such as antennae, cables, and buildings; at the front, there is the epitome of innocence and youth: a playground.
- Unexpected framing: You would expect the subject of the photo to be in the middle of the composition, but instead, she is standing off to the side, seemingly trying to photograph something that is off-frame. This makes the image more interesting to look at and consider, and gives us space for imagination.
- Composition: The playground is at the very center of the frame. The number of elements happening off the each side of the playground is relatively balanced, so at first glance, we are drawn immediately to the playground itself. This then enhances the intrigue that the off-center subject piques, once we actually notice her.
Techniques used in this image:
- Contrast: I love the contrast in lighting on her hair because it gives us so much detail and intensity. The rest of the image is fairly simple in terms of color/lighting—there are blocks of grey and simple strips of black—but this area in the middle has a lot of patterns and nuances; it gives the image a clear focus point.
- Composition: Another thing that makes me really like this photo is the balance in elements. On the right side, there is a metallic clasp holding together the ropes that grabs our attention. On the left side, there are the lines of wires running across the sky. With these combined, we find that 1) the framing feels comfortable and stable, and that 2) the theme of “industrial” motifs present in the first image is continued.
- Low angle
- Subject is at the very center
Techniques used in this image:
- Reflection: One of the things I noted in my artist study was how much I loved the use of reflective surfaces, especially in images with more intense lighting/coloring. Here, the reflections on the plastic of the slide are blurred, but still give us a lot of detail in the photo overall.
- Contrast: Whereas the subject is almost entirely in shadows, the backdrop is the brightest part of the photo. This creates a feeling of tension and severe emotions.
- Composition: The camera was moved a bit to the right, so there is more empty space on that side than on the left. However, the subject is still very much centered (horizontally speaking), so there is a sense of disorientation. On the vertical axis, however, the subject is above the centerline, and using the rule of thirds to separate the image, you might see that her face is around the first line on the top.
Techniques used in this image:
- Contrast: The floor is very bright, but the ropes are dark. There is also a lot of contrast on the subject, because her hair and clothes are all shaded black, but her hands—along with the leaf they hold—are lighter.
- Composition: We do not see the edges of the ropes, so it seems like it expands infinitely. The subject’s face is peeking out from directly behind one of the blocks in the grid, so the focus point is obvious.
- Subject is centered
- Direct eye-contact
Techniques used in this image:
- Contrast: The subject’s clothing and the rest of the image form a stark contrast, as the former is almost completely dark and the latter almost completely white.
- Composition: The frame is significantly tilted, so there is an obvious feeling of disorientating and instability.
- Geometric shapes: The side of the bench, the slabs beneath it, as well as the lamp in the back, come together to form many intersections and straight angles. Furthermore, because of the monotony of the subject’s clothes, they also resemble simple and well-defined shapes.
Techniques used in this image:
See image 3, as the framing are very similar.
Techniques used in this image:
See image 2, as the techniques used are very similar.
Techniques used in this image:
See image 4, as the techniques used are very similar.
Techniques used in this image:
- Composition: You’ll notice that the frame is slightly tilted, and with the subject being in the process of stepping down from the bench, it feels as if we are experiencing the same off-balance, disoriented sensation that she is experiencing. Separating the image using the rule of thirds, we can also see that the pillar that is blocking her is around the line on the right side.
- Contrast: There is a lot going on in this photo, so when we see the block of brightness that is the pillar and the splotch of black on the subject’s pants, they seem refreshing.
Techniques used in this image:
See image 2, as the techniques used are very similar.