Brainstorm

Mood Board

Artist Research 

• Annie Leibovitz

Annie Leibovitz is a renowned American portrait photographer, who was born on October 2, 1949, in Waterbury, Connecticut. She studied at the San Francisco Art Institute and gained prominence in the 1970s as the chief photographer for Rolling Stone magazine.

Annie Leibovitz is known for her dramatic style and ability to convey the personality and emotion of her subjects, particularly in her work for Vanity Fair; her iconic photograph of John Lennon and Yoko Ono and her book Women, had both celebrated and presented the  influential through females. By fully exploring through the techniques, Annie Leibovitz had exert different compositions and unique lighting styles to generated various ironic examples and created an conceptual story. This had lead her photograph to present an impactful effect with high fashion and personal narratives.

“Annie Leibovitz.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_Leibovitz.

“Annie Leibovitz.” Artnet, Artnet Worldwide Corporation, www.artnet.com/artists/annie-leibovitz/.

Vision Statement 

The vision I have conceived for this series of photographs aims to depict a lazy style, I’m planning to focus on the portrait unit and using specific elements or objects as decorations to reflect out the theme of breaking through the order. This style of photo will allows me to connect through different concepts and helps me to build further on the lighting and composition through the photo, making me to explore through deeper understanding of the different techniques and elements being used through the images.

Final Evaluation 

For the final set of photos, I focused on the emotions and social issues that the images convey. The first photo features a girl lying next to a bean bag chair, with some books improperly discarded nearby. In this image, the girl reaches for the books, and her facial expression reflects a sense of avoidance, suggesting she feels compelled to confront them despite her reluctance. This captures the mood of helplessness in modern society, highlighting the necessity for individuals to face various realities. The second photo shows the girl sitting on the floor with her legs curled, her head bowed in a contemplative pose. Her turned back towards the books adds depth to the image and conveys a sense of unwillingness to confront her situation. The final photo introduces a stuffed animal, symbolizing a break from conventional order. This contrast emphasizes how people often use their own methods to escape societal expectations and norms. Lastly, I applied the editing function to add techniques and filters to enhance the mood and create unique lighting effects.

Overall, this set of photos utilizes books, a stuffed animal, and the girl to illustrate the social issue of how modern society can oppress individuals and how they find their own ways to challenge the established order.

Reflection

Reflecting on my progress in capturing these photos, I realize the importance of thorough planning and refining my photography techniques. A clear vision statement can help me better understand my ideas, making them more coherent and allowing me to explore the ideal scenes I envision.

Additionally, through this photography experience, I believe I have improved my skills in lighting and element representation. By incorporating various lighting styles, the images can convey clearer emotions and set the mood, helping the audience grasp deeper meanings. This approach can also highlight significant social issues, prompting viewers to find their balance within reality, ultimately making the photographs more impactful.

For the final presentation, I chose the first set of photos as my submission. These three images convey a negative and serious mood through their colors, actions, and characters, presenting a different perspective on daily life. The gray tones emphasize feelings of depression and the serious aspects of people’s lives, revealing the pain inherent in reality. The actions depicted in the photos illustrate anxiety and concern, further enhancing the somber atmosphere. Furthermore, this set of photos presents various concepts that enrich the visual impact, showcasing unique angles and perspectives. Overall, I decided to select this set because of the emotions and deeper meanings they reflect, the elements allow the images to reveal a completely different side of daily life, which helps the audience to connect further through the situation in the reality.

Joel Meyerowitz is a famous American photographer who is known for pioneering the use of color in fine art photography at a time when black and white dominated the art world. The unique style of photography had helped Joel Meyerowitz to vividly captured the energy and diversity of the life in New York City during the 1960s. These photos were being shown with different colors, which had helped to present a powerful and beautiful visual effect comparing to the black and white photo.

The photography style of Joel Meyerowitz’s was mainly focusing on the masterful use of natural light and color; the unique style had supported him to capture fleeting, candid moments of daily life, especially the scenes on urban streets. Joel Meyerowitz’s street photography reveals on the subtle details, humor, and the dynamic interactions of people, which often described the sense with eroticism and mystery, he emphasizes the importance of multiple focal points within a frame, allowing the audience to explore through every detail rather than focusing on a single subject. Overall, Joel Meyerowitz has worked in various styles, from quick street shots to large, detailed landscapes and city views, showing his adaptability and deep connection to his surroundings.

The photograph above captures a dynamic scene on a bustling street, where individuals exhibit a range of actions and expressions. The center of the composition is a figure dramatically sprawled on the ground, drawing immediate attention and creating a striking and surprising atmosphere. The surrounding background, characterized by a busy thoroughfare filled with staggered cars, reinforces the sense of urban activity. Moreover, the color palette further enhances the visual impact; the background features lighter hues, while the foreground is dominated by darker shades of gray, black, and red. This contrast not only highlights the central figure but also evokes a complex emotional response, merging the vibrancy of city life with the gravity of the moment. Overall, the image effectively conveys the interplay between individual experiences and the broader urban environment.

PHOTO SET 1

CONTACT SHEET

The set of photographs that I captured during the Shine Hill trip and school scenes depict the daily lives of people. Through this series of images, I aim to draw connections to the work of the photographer I researched, which is Joel Meyerowitz. The pictures showcase various elements, such as movement, posture, and the different style of color within each scene. Additionally, I had incorporate different techniques into the images, which was what I had practiced during my classes, allowing me to convey deeper emotions and highlight the nuances of daily life in Shine Hill.

Yellow Tag 

From the original contact sheet, I selected 20 images for further consideration, marking them with yellow tags to create this contact sheet. The yellow tag contact sheet mainly indicate as a curated visual narrative, which can be present by the composition to convey a cohesive story through deliberate framing, lighting, and perspective. Each photograph contributes to the broader context by highlighting the key visual elements and important details. The photos not only documents the daily life of Shine Hill but also engages with the stylistic influences of Joel Meyerowitz, specifically through the observational depth and use of color.

Green Tag

Furthermore, I selected 10 photographs and marked them with green tags to create a separate contact sheet. Through this contact sheet, I am looking forward to the focus on the composition and dynamics within each image, analyzing how these elements shape the emotional tone and narrative intent. By examining structure, movement, and visual storytelling, I aim to refine the mood and uncover deeper thematic layers within the photographs. The images emphasizes the moments of interaction and environmental relationships, which reveals how subtle gestures and spatial arrangements contribute to the overall narrative. This highlights technical execution and strengthens the conceptual foundation of the series, allowing me to explore and build on interpretations of daily life in Shine Hill.

Red Tag

Ultimately, I selected 3 final images for my last contact sheet, which I marked with red tags. This curated selection focuses on the emotional resonance and chromatic qualities present within each photograph. By using the editing tools that is available on my iPhone, I applied subtle filters and vignettes to enhance the images’ atmospheric quality. These adjustments serve to intensify the emotional depth and visual cohesion of the series, which support me to conveying a more somber perspective on daily life in Shine Hill.

Evaluate 1 Image

Overall, by reviewing all the photographs I captured during this unit, I have identified one image that stands out as the most compelling. The composition centers on a male figure with his hands pressed to his temples, his posture conveying clear distress and anxiety. Beside him, a woman gazes forward, her expression and stance suggesting deep contemplation. Both of the two character project an unmistakable tension, reinforcing the photograph’s somber tone. Additionally, the image’s color palette further amplifies this mood. Dominated by cool tones, the photograph evokes a sense of unease, while the left half introduces a subtle contrast through warmer, lighter colors. This deliberate chromatic tension not only enhances the visual dynamics but also deepens the narrative undercurrents of apprehension and concern.

PHOTO SET 2 

Vision

The vision I have conceived for this series of photographs aims to depict a positive and tranquil atmosphere for the people of Shine Hills. This will create a deliberate contrast with my previous collection, which employs brighter and warmer tones to convey its message. Additionally, this vision aligns with my selected photographic approach by highlighting the subjects’ actions and evoking emotion through color palettes.

Yellow Tag 

For this contact sheet, I’ve chosen multiple shots with the  same moments. Through these photos, I aim to emphasize the characters’ dynamic actions and postures, the various poses shows a strong visual appeal, which can effectively conveys the emotion through movement and enhancing the storytelling of the scene.

Green Tag

For this contact sheet, I aim to select photos that can convey deeper meanings and ideal scenes. The ten photos I chose each feature unique an lighting that highlights the main subjects within the images. This lighting effectively reflects the emotions present in each scene, which helps me to determine the images that I need. Moreover, through this round of the selection, I also focused on the different techniques that I used through this trip, the various techniques allows me to capture the images in different angles, which may also creates a unique focus point.

Red Tag

Evaluate 1 Image

I identified the image above as the most satisfying in this photo set. It presents a harmonious composition, with the child positioned on the left and the doves on the right. The child’s engaging posture, as they feed the birds, effectively conveys emotions of happiness and peace. Additionally, the lighting in this photo enhances its overall representation. The natural light coming from above creates a sunny atmosphere, highlighting the subjects and enriching the colors. This vibrant color palette emphasizes the characters, giving them distinct personalities, allowing the image to present an vivid effect.

Street photography is a type of photography genre that captures candid moments of everyday life in public areas, the pictures mainly focusing on the people’s interactions and emotions, which typically features urban environments and  tells the stories about the society and culture. The key elements in street photography includes spontaneous moments, natural light, creative composition, and ethical considerations regarding privacy, which all helps to seek the reveal the extraordinary in ordinary situations.

6 concepts Selecting:

1. The decisive moment
2. Capturing through eye contact
3. Focusing on the background
4. Avoid distractions
5. Visual elements
6. Fishing techniques
7. Perspective and angles

During this unit, I wanted to explore and focus on the connection between street food in the Hutong and the daily lives of the people who live there. By capturing through the different types of food, I can present the understand and meanings through various food; the dishes on the tables or the combination of the food can reflect the culture and community. I may also show the interactions between vendors,  and the daily people , by highlighting how these moments of sharing meals create a sense of belonging and identity in the lively Hutong area. These two genres not only presents the importance of street food as part of the culture but also reveals the everyday experiences of the people, which paints the picture of life with an special individuality.

MOOD BOARD

The title of this project will be “The beauty through daily.” The general concept of the pictures that I want to present is the daily life of people who live in the Hutong. Through this concept, I can be able to explore further through the relationship of how visual elements and interactions can effect the overall mood inside the picture. By viewing through the different street pictures that the photographers had captured,  I want my audience to feel a sense of peaceful and joy, aiming to achieve the effect of presenting each photograph to serve as a window into the serene yet vibrant life within the unique community.

To develop my ideas further, I will seek inspiration from photographs that utilize bright and wonderful colors with specific techniques or compositions. For instance, the images that I had found to put on the mood board had presented various elements that include food and people around. These had demonstrated an highlight to the beauty in daily scenes. Additionally, I will also explore photographs that capture reflections, showcasing how light and surroundings can create a sense of depth and complexity. By studying these various approaches, I hope to enrich my understanding of visual storytelling and enhance the emotional impact of my own work.

Critique your favorite and least favorite images

Favorite image

• Composition / Technique – Do all the elements of the frame support the subject, or are there distractions that take away from the strength of the image?

This photo presents with an less amount of elements inside, the dark light generates an low mood and the action of looking to the stuff animal conveys an emotion of helpless. Both elements support the main idea that the photo is trying to present, which helps to take away the distractions.

• Where are my eyes immediately drawn? Where do you want the eyes to go?

By looking through the image, my eyes had mainly drawn to the pose or the action that the character was trying to made, which is where exactly I want my picture to highlight on.

• Are There Any Distracting Elements?

The picture was captured with minimum elements included, which made distracting elements disappear in this image

• Is the Exposure Correct?

I think the exposure had shown an correct effect, which made the brightness of the entire photo to decrease

• Would it Look Better Through a Different Focal Length?

I believe this focal length portrays an view that can fully express my meaning, but I don’t deny that there may be more better focal length to be shoot

• What is the Background Doing?

The plain background shows with almost none elements, which helps the audience to focus on the main subject

• How is the Composition & Balance?

The composition shows mainly with the character sitting on the right corner, which emphasizes the action of the character

• Is the Color Accurate?

The color is accurate enough to generate the mood. From the photo, there was mainly dark and cold colors being presented, which will helps to generate the low and negative atmosphere.

• Does the Depth of Field Suit the Photo?

Yes, the Depth of Field is suit for this photo, by showing an short depth background it can helps to better focus on the main subject

• Storytelling quality – Does it show your vision?/Is the vision clear?

Yes, the image had presented my vision with a clear view; the image clearly conveys the emotion and build up the connection between the stuff animal and human

• Emotional Impact – How well does your audience identify with the picture? What emotions captured in your portrait will cause the audience to respond positively? (Get feedback from others for this part)

The feedback that I mostly receive from my friends was that the image does actually shows out an negative and low emotions, however the use of stuff animal may cause a bit of confusing while understanding through the image

Least Favorite image

• Composition / Technique – Do all the elements of the frame support the subject, or are there distractions that take away from the strength of the image?

This photo presents a similar idea with the previous photo, however, in this photo the background shows an clutter scene with a lots of distracting elements inside, which might cause audience cannot focus on the main subject. The lighting through this image was also a mess, the exposure in this photo was too low and cause the character to be blurred inside the photo

• Where are my eyes immediately drawn? Where do you want the eyes to go?

Looking through the image, my eyes were immediately drawn to the light and the building being shown in the background;

• Are There Any Distracting Elements?

Yes, the trash can, cars and the building may all be one of the distracting elements, which may mislead the main idea

• Is the Exposure Correct?

No, the exposure was too low and cause the character hard to be seen

• Would it Look Better Through a Different Focal Length?

I believe the picture will portray an better view with the use of a different focal length; the character can be more highlighted and the display of background elements may also decrease

• What is the Background Doing?

The background had shown a random scene with different unnecessary elements

• How is the Composition & Balance?

The composition of this image helps the character and the lamp to stay in the middle, which can helps to emphasize the main subject

• Is the Color Accurate?

The color did not presents with an accurate form, the show of lights had brought bright and warm colors to the environment, which was not the way I actually want for the present of photo

• Does the Depth of Field Suit the Photo?

The picture presents the depth of field with an way that is not suitable for the photo; the background of the image can be shown with an more blurry effect, which can help to lower the existence of unnecessary elements

• Storytelling quality – Does it show your vision?/Is the vision clear?

Yes, the image had presented my vision; the image can be able to conveys the mood of helpless and provokes thinking from the action of the character

• Emotional Impact – How well does your audience identify with the picture? What emotions captured in your portrait will cause the audience to respond positively? (Get feedback from others for this part)

The feedback that I received from one of my my friends was that the image presents a messy scene that caused the main subject not clear enough to be shown. This had mislead to her understanding of the image, but she still can feel the emotional connection from the shown of lamp

CONTACT SHEET

The images that I had taken for this unit links to Richard Avedon’s images, which is the photographer that I chose to research. I have taken these photos in the style of expressionism and minimalism. The pictures that I had captured portrays an less amount of elements, by using minimal amount of elements, I am able to emphasize on the focus point in the photo and generate emotions through the posture inside the photo.

BLUE CONTACT SHEET

From the original contact sheet, I had selected 18 images to mark with the blue color. In the blue contact sheets, the images was mainly focused on the meaning that was trying to express through the scenes. The pictures presents different ideas and conveys various mood through the actions, elements and facial expressions.

GREEN CONTACT SHEET

After another round of selection, I had choose 9 pictures to mark with the green color. In the green contact sheet, I selected photos that shows a better visual effect, which may include lighting, shadows, reflection, etc. These effects may help me to develop further on the emotion and expression that the image was trying to convey, which may enhance more on the balance between meanings and mood expressions.

RED CONTACT SHEET  / PHOTO SET #1

During the last round of selection, I had chosen 6 photos and separated into 2 sets of photos. This series appears with the focus on a narrative involving a stuffed animal, which presents a connection between human and the toy. The element of toy portrays an main idea of childishness and comfort, which lead the story inside the images. The images portrays a series of scene that presents a idea of how the people live in the modern society return back from mature into childishness. By using different props and elements, the progression from the cat wearing headphones to the interaction with the character highlights the intimate relationship between the childhood self and  mature self. Each image captures a moment that adds depth to the unique relationship, which presents a peaceful and comfortable moment where the character is wearing headphones with a smile on the face.

As a learner, I had reflected on the previous tasks to make sure I will be focusing on the meaning and emotion connection through the images; by showing various strength inside the images, I believe I had developed skills such as space organization, lighting, and storytelling. These skills had been enhanced inside the series and contributed to the overall narrative.

By looking through the images, I think the overall strength that I had accomplished to capture the image were showing the emotion connections and using multiple angle shots. The different elements and the continuity between the images works well in creating a cohesive story, the interactions and facial expressions conveys an emotions flow that can provokes audiences thoughts.

Furthermore, some areas that I think I can develop more through my photos will be exploring more through the details, adding on more elements into the scene. My goal for next unit or some ways to improve my images will be to keep more focus on incorporating more specific elements and capturing more images on actual objects to show meanings in different ways.

RED CONTACT SHEET #2 / PHOTO SET #2

Another set of photo thats being selected from the series explores through the emotion from depression into bravery. The images portrays the character with their stuffed animal in dark light conditions, which conveys an negative/low mood. Later on, the scene had shown the progression from indoor solitude to an outdoor, which represent the change through emotions. With the bright light being shown in the background, the headphones on the head presents the meaning of isolating the outside voices; this leads to an transition from negative into positive emotion, which demonstrates a mood of bravery. Overall, by using lamp, stuff animal and headphones, this set of images generates a narrative through a three session photo. The photo set begins with a indoor scene that shows a quiet moment and transitioning to the outside world to face the unknown.

Looking back to the images, I believe some strength that is being shown inside the photo will be the use of different light technique and the emotional connections. Similar to what I had mentioned on previous photo set, I had reflected on my first shots and noticed that I had developed my skills on the use of lighting and emotional expressing through actions and facial expressions. These different techniques had been emphasized in my series to develop further on my mood generations.

Although the photo turns out good visual effects with the unique lighting techniques, but there are still some areas that need to be further developed. During this set of photos, I noticed that I did not represents well on the ‘continuity,’ the third image had shown a huge difference comparing to the first two photos, which presents a weird overall meaning and might mislead the audience. In this case, my goals for my next photo capturing will be focusing on creating a stronger connection between the images.I might emphasizes more on the relation between the subject and the environment, which could enhance storytelling through the images.

To plan my shots for this unit, I might need some props to help me express more meanings and add more on the visual effect. These props may include headphones (represent the ability to isolate the other noises from the environment), stuff animals (represents comfort and childishness), and other equipments or tools for different visual effects. From now, I believe I have a clear vision for my first set of photo, I understand and comprehend my ideas, I may develop my stories further more during I capture the photos. Moreover, some locations or background scenes that will be enhanced inside my images will be the scene of darkness or the scene of bedroom, which may both presents a feeling of helpless.

Subjects:

The photo that I selected for this blog is called the “Dovima with elephants, ” this photograph features a woman dressing with an elegant attire posing with two elephants in a stylized posture.

Details:

Inside the image, there are some details being include from the subjects:

1. The woman is wearing a strapless black and white dress
2. The woman wears a pair of long and black gloves, which adds a dramatic flair to her appearance
3. The elephants were captured with their trunks raised, this helps to contribute to a lively and engaging interaction
4. The background shows up to be a plain wall with some texture portrayed, this may suggested a studio or enclosed environment
5. The elephant’s leg was being put up with a thin chain, which might conveys a meaning of limitation

Setting:

1. The place appears to be an indoor setting, possibly in a studio or an animal enclosure
2. The background or the whole scene shows an concise style, which helps to highlight on the subject
3. The time period is not explicitly stated, but the fashion style from the characters suggests a classic feel
4. There are elements of hay on the ground, which indicate the existence of animals

Characters:

1. The woman shows up with an white and black dress, her unique posture portrays confident and poised, showcasing elegance.
2. The elephants seems playful, which shows an interaction between the woman and the elephant
3. I like the style and the posture that the image portrayed, it demonstrated an unique understanding through the relationship between human and animals

Situations:

1. Inside the picture, it shows an situation that involve the relationship of human and animals, the characters are engaged in a pose that suggests interactions and harmony between human and animals
2. The photograph conveys a sense of connection,  which highlights the beauty and grace of both the woman and the elephants
3. This image can fit with cultural contexts that address animal welfare and the relationship between human and the nature

STYLE & GENRE:

• The photo shows an style with the color black and white, which emphasizes the contrast between colors and the different texture through the subjects
• The image shows an high contrast with the colors, which given depths to the elements
• The style of the image can be described with the words of elegant, dramatic, and artistic

PHOTOGRAPHIC ATTRIBUTES:

1. The photograph was captured with a perspective of normal eye level, which enhanced the stature of both the woman and the elephants, making the composition in rule of thirds.
2. As a audience, my attention was mainly drawn on the woman who is standing in the middle of the picture. The woman’s striking pose and the elephants’ expressions through the image really attracts my attention and provokes me to consider through the meanings
3. The colors that was being shown inside the image was mainly black and white, there were also some dark gray color being decorated on the elephant. The lines being shown on the woman flow gently, which presents an contrast while the elephants’ contours provide a strong visual effect
4. The soft lighting inside the photo shows an dramatic visual effect, which highlight the subjects without harsh shadows. From the image, the light is focused on the characters and subjects, which bringing attention to the interactions
5. The woman and elephants are in sharp focus, which shows an contrast with the plain background and helps the audience to highlight the main subject inside the photo
6. When I look away and review the picture again, my attention was still caught by the pose that the subjects made. The different posture had shown an unique style of the image and the dynamic effect between the woman and the elephants

MEANING / INTENT:

1. The various elements inside the image such as the color contrast and the graceful pose had contributed and evokes a feeling of elegance with a bit of playfulness.
2. The intended effect seems to show the beauty and the unique characteristic of both the model and the elephants, which may be aiming for a message about harmony with animals. The choices that the Avedon had made demonstrated an artistic idea which draws the audience into a world where elegance and wildness coexist.
3. I want my photograph to show a flow through emotions, which be represent with a way of a series of photo. From the series it present an action and the changing through characters
4. I think I have achieved this from the photo that I had planned to took, if everything goes well, then the photo will presents a short story which will portray the emotion flow

Richard Avedon

Richard Avedon’s photography conveys a profound exploration of identity and emotions, his intent or the message that he was trying to convey was not only to capture

the similarities between subjects but also reveal through the emotions and complexities. From the quote that Avedon had said, he claimed that “A portrait is not just a likeness. When an emotion or fact becomes a photograph, it transforms into a personal opinion.” This demonstrated his belief through photography, which shows what the photographer’s point of view and his understanding through capturing images. Furthermore, from the scene of Avedon’s work, it often shows an reflection to the cultural and social issues of specific period of time. Avedon captured important events such as civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. He used his art to shed light on social issues and the experiences.

His portraits shows on both celebrities and daily people, by using different techniques he can reflect on the harsh realities behind various images.

In addition, Avedon’s images demonstrated various photography style that was marked by several unique techniques and common elements. One of the style was by showing simple backgrounds. Avedon often used plain white backgrounds for his photos, this can help him to remove distractions and highlight on his subjects’ expressions and emotions, which can helps to generate a sense of closeness, allowing the audience to build up deeper connections with the image. Another style that Avedon had used inside his work is by showing unique compositions. Avedon’s portraits often include close-ups shots that crops the subject’s face in a dramatic way. This could create a feeling for the audience to make them feel like they are intruding into the subject’s personal space, which creates a feeling of closeness and vulnerability, generating a relationship between the audience and the subject.

The reason why I select Richard Avedon as the photographer to research was because of his unique display style for photos, Avedon demonstrates a creative way of taking portraits and telling complex stories through photography, his images inspire me to look deeper into the emotions of my subjects and think about the wider concepts in the story of the scene, which supported me to consider more through my theme of images. During the process of capturing photos, I will be trying to use more simple backgrounds to emphasize my subject, I will also portray more on the facial expression and the action from the character, which will help to show the emotion of the image.

The title of this project is “The beauty through overcoming,” which shows the societal/cultural issue that I want to explore with my photographs. My images demonstrated the complexity through the modern society, by emphasizing the actions, audience can feel the psychological changes of different characters in various scenes. While understanding through my images, I want my audience to feel the changes through negative mood into positive mood, which can portray an contrast between the emotions. I will get inspiration and develop my ideas by looking for photographs that highlights the actions and the form of light through different scenes, which will helps me to receive more ideas and to develop my images.