In the first two photos, I intentionally captured the model’s face from a perspective that is not directly facing my camera, which I positioned the camera typically to the side. Shooting from the side can add a layer of depth and dimension to the image. It allows the audience to see different planes and angles of the face. Furthermore, the side angle can highlight the shape and structure of her face. The nose, mouth, and lips become more pronounced, enhancing its visual impact on the entire image. Compared to the other two, these are way more closed up to the face. This allows us to capture the intricate details, the freckles, and the texture that may not be visible from a distance to the camera. It reveals the characteristics of the face and highlights the unique aspects. Additionally, this close-up photography involves macro photography. Especially using a camera, it helps reveal the beauty of everything that is not easily visible to the naked eye. You are able to visualize the bits and pieces on the face, either the texture of the skin or even the eyebrows. This then has a stronger visual impact due to the emphasis on such detail, grabbing the viewer’s attention, and furthermore making the photo overall aesthetically pleasing.

 

 

In the next two photos, I positioned my model in the center of the frame, and the primary focus was on utilizing effective lighting techniques. Lighting was crucial in ensuring that the details in the images were clearly visible and well-defined. To achieve this, I employed soft and diffused lighting, which was well-blended in with the colors and created a visually appealing aesthetic for viewers. Furthermore, it also helped create depth and dimension as there were shadows and highlights. The presence of shadows added visual interest and a sense of three-dimensionality to the overall composition. This technique effectively enhanced the overall depth of the images while still ensuring that the model’s face remained prominently illuminated, and could see her freckles.

My experimental photos primarily focused on the distance between the camera and the person. The closer the camera is positioned, the better it can capture the texture and structure of each individual’s face.

 

 

Societal and Cultural Issues + Statement of Intent- The unit for this is called “Identity”, and which I immediately thought of my older sister. She has freckles on her face which makes her unique as an individual and moreover makes each person truly one-of-a-kind. It is essential to appreciate and celebrate this kind of diversity, as it extends beyond physical appearances, no matter what race you have, religion, personal experiences, etc. By doing this, we can create a society where everyone feels a sense of belonging and acceptance. My main message is that no matter what, everyone is unique and special as human beings, and I would like to express this message through my photo sets.”

Photographers-

Steve McCurry

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Julia Margaret Cameron

Mark Mann

Mood Board-

 

5 elements I see in her artworks:

1. Color

2. Tone

3. Space

4. Composition

5. Shadow

Sarah Moon is a renowned French photographer whose artistic vision has captivated audiences for decades. Her distinctive style combines elements of fashion and fine art photography, creating ethereal and poetic images that evoke a sense of beauty and mystery. She often shows soft focus, muted colors, and dreamlike compositions, blurring the boundaries between reality and fantasy. Her images have a timeless quality, capturing a sense of emotion and introspection, the blur conveys an atmosphere adding a layer of abstraction to the image allowing viewers to interpret the photo in a more subjective and emotional manner- evoking a sense of nostalgia.

One of Moon’s notable contributions to photography is her use of light and shadow which clearly shows it in her 5th photo. She manipulates lighting techniques to create a sense of depth in her photographs. The use of light and shadow adds to the dreamy and enigmatic quality of her work. Moon often employs soft and diffused lighting, which-as I mentioned earlier lends gentle and ethereal quality to her photographs. The softness of the light creates subtle transitions between light and shadow, blurring boundaries and allowing for a more clear representation of the subject. Additionally, the interplay of light and shadow in Moon’s photographs often accentuates the textures and contours of her subjects. The subtle variations in brightness and darkness create a three-dimensional quality, enhancing the sense of depth and bringing the subjects to life, creating a sense of realism.

Contact sheet:

3 best ones in my set-

I have chosen these three photos as my best ones in the set because they capture beautiful moments of everyday life in the Hutong. They exemplify the essence of street photography by showcasing candid and unposed moments, providing an authentic glimpse into the lives of people in the community, which is also the beauty and fun of this type of photography. By choosing to add vibrant colors to these images, it creates visual impact and draw the viewer’s attention. The colors help to make the main subjects, particularly the elderly adults in the images, stand out and emphasize their significance within the frame at the same time clearly highlighting and focuses on their facial expressions. Through these photographs, I hope to evoke a sense of  connection, allowing viewers to empathize with the subjects and feel a deeper appreciation for the beauty of everyday life captured.

During our class, we explored various techniques utilizes in street photography, with a particular emphasis on capturing motion, creating layers, and composing the shots effectively. I experimented with different types of motion in my photos, such as capturing people moving around in the frame, as seen in the third, fifth, seventh, and eighth photos. Furthermore, by incorporating elements like low ISO, vibrant colors, and  compositions, the images appeared more polished with sharp edges, shapes and lines that added to their overall clarity.

Statement of Intent:

For our project this unit, I will be focusing on capturing motion, facial expressions, and creating diverse layers in my street photography. Capturing motion can infuse energy and liveliness for the audience. Particularly in street photography, it adds an exciting dimension and establishes a connection between the viewer. Moreover, it enables me to capture genuine emotions and facial expressions of whomever I photograph. Facial expressions are essential in conveying a wide range of emotions, including joy, sadness, anger, surprise, and vulnerability. These expressions can arise from interactions and reactions when photographing, or simply the natural displays of people in their everyday lives. In addition, creating different layers in my compositions will enhance the visual impact and depth for the audience. Layers can be showed and presented through various techniques, such as incorporating reflections or intentional blurring. These layers also contribute by showcasing relationships and interactions between subjects, capturing specific moments of everyday lives.

5 elements I see in his artworks:

1. Reflection

2. Color

3. Texture

4. Composition

5. Space

Saul Leiter was famously known for his significant contributions to the world of photography, particularly in the realm of color photography. Leiter’s photographic style was characterized by its use of color, abstraction and composition. He often captures photographs through windows, showing a variety of reflections and layers of urban life.  His photographs were characterized by their painterly aesthetic and a keen eye for capturing the beauty in the mundane. Leiter’s work was widely recognized for its originality and has had a significant influence on subsequent generations of photographers. To me, his images are extremely unique and has poetic quality, often evoking a sense of mystery and introspection. His use of color makes his work special and stand out as he played a significant role in elevating color photography as an art form when black and white photography was more prevalent at that time period.

I have chosen the third photo from my gallery for evaluation. Leiter’s deliberate use of reflection adds a layer of visual complexity and intrigue to the image. By capturing the raindrops as they fall into the puddle of water, it created a dynamic scene that evokes a sense of depth, texture, and dimensionality. This not only adds visual interest but also draws the viewer into the photograph, as if they were standing right there in the moment. The choice of colors in this photo, specifically the combination of blue and yellow, creates a  striking view. These colors are complementary, meaning they are positioned opposite each other on the color wheel. When utilized together, they create a powerful visual contrast that makes each hue stand out. Leiter blended shades of blue and yellow, resulting in a harmonious and balanced composition. The use of contrasting colors not only adds vibrancy to the image but also elicits a strong emotional response. The combination of blue and yellow can evoke a sense of nostalgia, making it aesthetically pleasing to the audience.

 

 

 

SETS2 photographs

3 best ones in my set-

I have selected these three images to showcase the beauty of nature captured through lenses. Through close-up shots of plant structures, the camera was able to capture the specific details and textures on each plant. By accentuating the vibrant colors and textures present in each plant, it created a visually captivating arrangements that engage the viewer’s senses. Furthermore, the use of negative space in these compositions adds an element of  minimalism. By strategically positioning the plants within the frame and leveraging the surrounding empty spaces, I have created abstract compositions that emphasize the connection and interplay between form and emptiness. The way I have positioned my plants from the left and right sides allows for varied perspectives and angles, further enhancing the abstraction and visual impact of the images. One aspect I chose to do differently from the photographer was changing the background into a more grayer tone. Even though a whiter background may someone make it more aesthetic pleasing as it simples the overall view, however the gray tone worked by evening out the exposure difference between an over bright and over dark areas of the plant, bringing the difference in contrast closer together.

5 elements I see in his artworks:

1. Space

2. Color

3. Contrast

4. Shape (specifically nature-plants)

5. Minimalism

Martin Vorel was known for his photographs in the realm of abstract and minimalist photography. He often focuses on space, abstraction, minimalism, texture, and contrast, resulting in captivating images that engage the viewer’s imagination. One significant element that caught my attention was how he utilizes space in his photography. Even though space in his image is often appeared, his understanding in his use of negative space creates a sense of balance and simplicity, making his image looking even more aesthetically pleasing. By allowing ample breathing room around his subjects, Vorel draws attention to the main focal point and also creates a sense of visual harmony.

I have chosen the sixth photo in my gallery for evaluation. I personally like this image a lot because of how simple it is. The space Vorel utalizes shows balanced composition in a special way, as the empty space below and above the tree branches are equal. Furthermore, his use of color is also limited which make the mage becomes less complex and can convey a sense of minimalism, however, not only does it simplify the visual look of the image but it  greatly influences the mood and atmosphere it conveys to the views . Using a limited color palette can create a specific aesthetic or evoke a particular emotional response, in this case, it makes it look aesthetically pleasing and relaxing to watch at the same time conveys a sense of nostalgia .Vorel’s style influences me and particularly on his use of composition and color. This connects back to my own project as I will be focusing mainly on my composition and  myuse of empty spaces, however, one thing I might change is my use of color but overall still focusing on making the whole image simple.

Contact sheet: 798 photos

3 best ones in my set-

I specifically selected these three images intentionally for their use of space and color to depict abstraction. Increasing the contrast can make the black and white tones more pronounced, creating sharper edges and enhancing the overall composition. This can help create a stronger visual impact and draw attention to the small details within the photos, allowing it to be highlighted to the viewers. The choice of black and white adds more than just compositional strength; it imparts a specific mood and adds a layer of emotions to the audience. Deepening the shadows can add a sense of mystery to the images, which can also further emphasize the abstract nature of the composition, making the shapes and forms more intriguing.