Mind Map
Top 10 Photos, Reflection
Mirrored Fragments of Reality:
- Dutch Angle
- Depth of Field
- Tone
- Lines
- Dutch angle
- black and white contrast
- depth of field of the use of focus
- Position of the camera (Looking Up)
- Black and White color/tone contrast
- Depth of field and focus of the water droplets
- Black and White color/tone contrast
- Use of mirrors (reflection)
- Positioning of the three people (pure luck)
- Dutch angle
- Black and White color/tone contrast
- Use of mirror (reflection), making it look like the image just appeared into reality
- Use of the convenient color contrast of dark blue and dark red
- Use of mirror (reflection)
- Bit Centered position of the mirror as the contrast in the image
- Use of mirror (reflection), making it look like the person is reading the book
- Positioning, making the book perfectly appear in that specific angle where both the person and the book is visible
- The use of dark color contrast
- Use of mirror (reflection)
- Positioning, making the statue perfectly appear with the background
- Dutch angle
- Use of mirror (reflection)
- The edited black and white background with the colorful center of the reflection
- Mr. Dawson
Tenth Picture, Honorable mention
- Use of mirror (reflection)
- The reflection created an rather “interesting” sight, creating comedic effects
Initial Thoughts
When I think of reflection, I think of mirrors, symmetry, and balance. I enjoy using a 25mm lens Canon camera, for it can be applied when taking a wide shot or close-up. I might use a natural puddle after a slight shower, or any aquatic scene like a swimming pool or a fountain in 798.
Tatsuya Tanaka inspired images
Miniature Market Marvels
Inspiration:
My four photographs are inspired by Tatsuya Tanaka’s Miniature Calendar series and focus on the theme of shopping. The setup features two iPhones placed on top of a laptop, with the iPhones displaying pictures of food while the laptop screen shows a vibrant shopping area as the background. LEGO minifigures are positioned on either side of the iPhones, pretending to shop and browse items on the screens, creating a playful and imaginative scene. Adding to the story, three Apple Mouses are lined up beside the laptop, representing cars that the LEGO figures used to arrive at this digital “marketplace.” Each photograph captures this creative setup from different angles, highlighting the blend of everyday technology and miniature storytelling in a unique and engaging way.
Deeper analyzation:
Photo One features an overhead shot of the computer setup, capturing the entire arrangement of the two iPhones, LEGO figures, and the laptop. This angle provides a clear view of how all elements interact within the scene, allowing viewers to appreciate the overall composition and context.
Photo Two takes a ground-level shot from the right side of the computer. This perspective offers a close-up view of the LEGO figures as they engage with the iPhones. By applying the Rule of Thirds, I positioned key elements along the grid lines to create balance and draw attention to the figures while using depth of field to blur the background slightly, adding focus to the action in the foreground.
Photo Three also utilizes ground-level techniques but zooms in closer on the LEGO figures as they appear to get out of their “cars,” represented by the Apple Mouses. This close-up enhances the storytelling aspect, making it feel like a moment captured in time as they prepare for their shopping adventure.
Finally, photo Four maintains similar techniques but shifts focus to highlight details on the screens of the iPhones and laptop. By emphasizing these elements, viewers can see what the LEGO figures are “shopping” for, creating a more immersive experience. Each angle contributes to a cohesive narrative while showcasing different facets of this playful shopping scene.
Photography 2: Composition Exploration
Translucent Loneliness
*From up to down chronologically:
- In this photograph, I applied the Rule of Third, which distributed/utilized more of the right side of the picture. This creates a more dynamic and balanced competition. I also left open spaces around the main focus and created a sense of isolation and loneliness. As well as the use of the colorful book stack in the center, it contrast with the white two third portion of the background, again provoking that feel of separation from “society”.
- Balance, Negative space, Word use
- Framing, Balance, Color
- Negative space, Color
- Perspective, Framing, Depth of Field
- “Microwave rabbit”: Negative space, Color/tone, balance
- Perspective, framing, slight dutch angle
- Framing, color/tone, balance
- Depth of Field, Dutch angle, balance, space, color/tone
PRESENT
“Everything I Own”
The final images successfully answer my original intent of exploring identity through personal belongings by showing the stories and emotions connected to each item. My goal was to demonstrate that our possessions are not just objects; they reflect who we are and what we care about. Each of the 225 images captures a unique item, inviting viewers to think about the memories associated with it. To develop my ideas for this project, I experimented with different ways to organize and present the images, trying out layouts like grids and clusters to see which worked best. I also focused on lighting and backgrounds to make each photograph visually appealing while keeping them connected as a collection. Throughout the project, I listened to feedback from peers and mentors, which helped me refine my approach and emphasize the emotional significance of each object. As I worked on this project, I learned to pay attention to details like color and texture, which helped create a stronger visual story. Overall, these final images come together to create a powerful narrative about identity and the meaningful connections we have with our belongings.
IDENTITY
Vision for the Set
My vision for this set is to explore how our possessions connect to our identity. Each item represents a piece of the artist’s life, creating a story that highlights the importance of both ordinary and special things.This set will focus on how these items not only tell us about the artist but also make us think about our own lives. By showing everyday objects alongside thoughtful reflections, the set aims to encourage viewers to consider what they keep and what those choices say about them.
Simon Evans
Simon Evans is known for his creative collages that mix humor with deep ideas. His work often uses concrete poetry, where words and images come together, allowing people to enjoy both the visual and thoughtful parts of his art.In Everything I Have, Evans organizes his belongings in a grid format, which can be seen as a way to create a self-portrait. This method not only shows what he owns but also makes viewers think about their own connections to material things. His playful yet serious style reflects a humorous distance from consumerism, encouraging people to reflect on their lives and the stories behind their possessions.Evans’s art combines personal experiences with big questions about life, often using humor to tackle serious topics. This mix makes his work easy to understand while still encouraging deeper thought about who we are and how we relate to the things we own.
Everything I Have
Everything I Have shows a collection of everyday items like clothes, food, and household objects arranged neatly in a grid. This particular illustration showcases Evans’s skill in turning ordinary things into something visually striking.The repeated patterns in this image create a sense of order that draws viewers in, inviting them to look closely at each item. The attention to detail allows us to see not just the objects but also the memories they hold. For example, an illustration of an old pair of shoes might remind someone of past adventures or important moments in their life.Additionally, this image comments on consumerism; by displaying these items so neatly, Evans encourages viewers to think about their own shopping habits and the emotional value of their belongings. The mix of humor and reflection in this piece captures Evans’s artistic style, making it a powerful example of his work.
Contact Sheet:
Introduction to portraiture
What is a Portrait?
A portrait focuses on a person or group of people. It shows their face and expression. The goal is to capture their personality. Yes, selfies can be considered portraits. They show the person’s face and emotions. However, they are often less formal than traditional portraits. Portraits should include the subject’s face, expression, and sometimes their body. Background elements should not distract from the person. Avoid clutter that takes attention away from the subject. A good portrait captures the subject’s personality. It has good lighting and focuses on the face. The composition should be balanced and engaging.Yes, a close-up of a hand can be a portrait. It can show character and emotion, even if it’s not the face. A blurred figure or a torn photo may lose its identity as a portrait. If it’s too abstract to recognize the person, it may no longer be considered a portrait. Yes, you can represent a person through objects that belong to them. This can still be called a portrait if it reflects their identity or personality. No, a portrait does not have to be just one photo. A series of images can tell a story about the person and can also be considered a portrait.
SET 1 Contact Sheets:
Contact Sheet:
“YELLOW” contact sheet:
In my photography, I want to explore how human emotions connect with HuTong life. Inspired by Bruce Gilden’s close-up style, I aim to capture unique moments that reveal surprising contrasts in everyday life. Each photo will tell a story about daily life in HuTong and how people relate to their surroundings. I chose these images because they are all under the category of my vision and are all considered black and white street photography that demonstrates the people of HuTong and their day.
“GREEN” contact sheet:
The approach I was going with this set of pictures was making them black and white, and in focused on the people of HuTong. As well as the lighting in each images, I intended to imitate Bruce Gilden’s close-up style of the use of Focus and Light use. Each images I took could be represent an glimpse of the HuTong life. I aim to explore and capture the special moments that show the surprising contrasts in everyday life by focusing on the people of HuTong and the details of what they’re doing, without interruptions, and in addition with the black and white tone of the images, it makes everything stand out. For example if you look at image 11 and 12, these causal yet special scenes are what is going on within HuTong. And with the filter of my vision and technics, these day-to-day activities like chatting or playing cards stands out as a moment that might seems ordinary and insignificant, but will now live on in the form of an artistic black and white photo.
“RED” contact sheet:
Following my vision of exploring stories about the daily life in HuTong and how people relates to their surroundings, I mainly focused on texture (black and white), depth of field, and focus to capture glimpses of what the people of HuTong experiences. By closing in on the details of these people, the thing that our eyes originally disregard as a common sight, like seeing a old person sitting on an chair (like in picture 2 or 3), suddenly stands out. Take Photo 1 as an example (my personal favorite): I was walking alone the river, looking for interesting sites, when I notices an old man sitting on an small wooden chair, alone, selling pins for a very cheep price. I thought it was an very interesting scene, for the old man has probably been sitting here for ages, only selling pins with no one in his company. So I adjusted my camera’s setting and quickly snap a picture of the close-up of the old man. He was fine with it after I told him I took a picture. As you can see, the texture of the old man’s face stands out because of black and white. Especially when we look closely into the old man’s eyes, we could see the a bit of tears on the bottom side of the eye and the reflectived view the lake, making the image, in some extent, reflective. Illustrating the deep emotions of one of the elder resident of HuTong.