Category: Photography

I want to capture emotions and expressions on rainy days, and l want to incorporate silhouettes or faces in reflection photos to add a sense of scale and narrative, as my main subjects. I’m thinking of taking advantage of rainy days to capture reflections of raindrops, umbrellas, and wet surfaces on windows. The diffused light and water droplets can add a moody and atmospheric feel. If it is a sunny day, l can spray water onto a window, to create the rainy day misty effect. Daily life theme photography captures the essence of everyday moments, transforming mundane occurrences into compelling visual narratives. This genre emphasizes the beauty found in routine activities, interactions, and environments. Drawing inspiration from Saul Leiter, l want to create abstract compositions though glass, shoot through rain-soaked windows where the outside world becomes a dreamy blur. The water droplets can act as a natural filter, adding texture and mood. However, instead of focusing on people standing, l want to capture emotions through facial expressions and body language of the subjects. Zoom in on subjects’ expressions as they experience rain, capturing emotions such as joy or contemplation. My intent is to make people feel different emotions when they see the subject’s faces, depending on their expressions, through a deep connection.

Jack Davison

 

Jack Davison is a prominent British photographer known for his distinctive style that blends portrait and documentary photography with a painterly quality. Born in 1990 and raised in rural Essex, he later moved to London, where he has established himself as a significant figure in contemporary photography.

His work is characterized by a deep use of light and shadow, creating images rich in tension and drama. Drawing inspiration from early modernist photography and vernacular styles, Davison’s photographs often evoke a sense of surrealism. He employs techniques that allow his images to obscure and reveal aspects of their subjects simultaneously. His style has been described as almost painterly, with a focus on emotional depth and narrative ambiguity.

pic 1: The use of intense, directional lighting creates deep shadows and highlights that emphasize the sculptural, geometric forms of the subject. The stark contrast between light and dark lends the image a moody, dramatic atmosphere. The unusual, off-center framing and perspective creates a sense of tension and disorientation, drawing the viewer’s eye into the frame and inviting them to engage with the subject in a more dynamic way. In addition, Davison used high-contrast and black-and-white treatment of the image to amplify the sense of drama and mystery, lending the subject a haunting, almost otherworldly quality. The way the light and shadows interact with the subject’s form creates a level of visual abstraction, transforming the human figure into a more sculptural, almost architectural composition.

pic 2: The stark contrast between the bright, highlighted areas and the deep, inky shadows lends the image a dramatic, chiaroscuro-like quality. This high contrast emphasizes the sculptural, almost architectural qualities of the subject. The fragmented, distorted composition of the subject creates an abstract, almost surreal quality, inviting the viewer to engage with the image on a more conceptual level rather than a literal one. Sharp focus on the central eye creates a sense of intensity and psychological engagement, while the blurred, textural elements around the edges add an atmospheric, dream-like quality. Lastly, the used of unconventional framing of the subject creates a sense of tension and unease, challenging the viewer’s expectations and drawing them deeper into the frame.

pic 3: In this image, Davison used a shallow depth of field to highlight the subject’s eye, creating a sharp focus on that area. The soft, grainy texture of the image adds an artistic, vintage feel, evoking a sense of nostalgia. The contrast between light and shadow creates a dramatic effect, highlighting the contours and depth of the face. The use of natural lighting accentuates the mood of the image, casting subtle shadows and highlighting the delicate features of the face. The monochromatic color palette contributes to a timeless, classic feel, while the eye-focused composition invites the viewer to connect emotionally with the subject.

pic 4: The blurry background emphasizes the sharpness and focus on the subject in the foreground. The soft lighting enhances the overall mood of the image, casting gentle shadows and highlighting the textures and details of the subject. The composition and framing of the shot draw the viewer’s attention to the central subject, creating a sense of intimacy and connection.

pic 5: A shallow depth of field technique was utilized to create a sharp focus on the face and eyes of the subject, while the background is blurred, adding a sense of tranquility and mystery. Natural light was used to enhance the expression and texture of the subject, imbuing them with a soft and warm glow. The delicate details of the leaves are emphasized, contributing to a romantic and enchanting atmosphere.

 

Saul Leiter

Saul Leiter (1923–2013) was a pioneering American photographer and painter, celebrated for his innovative work in color photography and his significant contributions to the New York School of photography. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he initially pursued religious studies to follow in his father’s footsteps as a rabbi but shifted his focus to art after moving to New York City at the age of 23.

Leiter’s artistic journey began with painting, where he was influenced by Abstract Expressionism. He befriended notable artists such as Richard Pousette-Dart and W. Eugene Smith, who encouraged him to explore photography. His early work predominantly featured black-and-white images, but he began experimenting with color photography in the late 1940s, well before it gained acceptance as an art form.

Leiter’s style is characterized by a painterly quality, often emphasizing color, abstraction, and the beauty of everyday life. He had a unique approach to composition, frequently utilizing reflections, shadows, and layers to create dreamlike images. His photographs often captured scenes from the streets of New York City, focusing on mundane yet beautiful moments—such as raindrops on windows or vibrant umbrellas against urban backdrops.

pic 1 pic 2 pic6: The images utilize the motion blur effect to convey a sense of movement as the person walks. This technique adds dynamism to the scene and enhances the feeling of action in an otherwise still photograph. The photos are shot through windows, and this results in abstract and layered effects to the images. The extensive use of overexposure and deliberate soft focus also creates a painterly effect.

pic3: In this photo Leiter used a frame to obstruct part of the lens’ view, creating mystery and evoking a story. The photo captures a snowy city street scene with a person walking on the sidewalk. The frame is out of focus, and this brings attention to the subjects outside the window. The colors in the photo compliment each other, and they are all shades of green. The use of motion blur adds a sense of movement to the photo, creating a dynamic and lively atmosphere. The photograph seems to have been taken at night, as indicated by the artificial lighting illuminating the scene. The absence of any discernible text in the image allows the viewer to focus solely on the visual elements presented.

pic4 pic5: In pic 4 and 5, Leiter utilized the technique of capturing the scene through a wet glass surface, which adds a reflective quality and a wet texture to the images. This technique enhances the overall mood and atmosphere of the photo, emphasizing the rainy weather. The reflections of street lights and rainbows on the glass further enhance the feeling of a rainy day. The use of muted colors due to the overcast weather adds to the somber and moody tone. Additionally, the presence of blurred figures of people walking in the distance suggests movement and life in the scene, adding a dynamic element to the compositions. The presence of condensation on the glass surface indicates the presence of moisture, either from the rain or the temperature difference between the inside and outside. This detail adds a sense of realism and texture to the photo.

 

 

 

For the final work, l was hoping to create unique compositions that have a confluence between modern life and ancient architecture. I feel like l did a good job of capturing movement and shadow, and l successfully explored my theme of the contrast between old and new. The background of the photos are 孔庙 (The Confucius Temple) and 国子监 (The Imperial Academy). The Beijing Confucius Temple holds a significant cultural and historical legacy in China, as it was a place for worshipping Confucius during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. In front of the Confucius Temple, there are modern visitors walking around. The Imperial Academy was the highest institution of learning and educational administration in ancient China.

The title of my project is “Time Machine,” because photography has the power to capture a fleeting moment, allowing the viewer to step back and observe a scene that has already passed. The “Time Machine” title suggests the photographs can transport the audience to a specific moment, preserving it for contemplation. It conveys the feeling of being unrecognizable and disappearing in the crowd, almost as if one melts in with the masses and gets replaced in the same spot almost instantly, as if they were never there. Additionally, the temple used to be a place where people worshipped Confucius on his birthday annually. It was the place where memorial ceremonies were held for Confucius during the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. Getting high and good marks in the examination is the happiest time for the students and their parents. Today, many parents go to the Confucius Temple to worship Confucius for college entrance examinations. The first two photos’ background is the Dismount Stone, and it is a symbol of feudal social hierarchy and etiquette, which originates from the concept of the Five Relationships in Confucianism. The Dismount Stone represents how much the people respected Confucius and education in ancient times.

The artists that inspired my work the most are Alexey Titarenko and Frank Machalowski. Titarenko inspired my application of long exposures and intentional camera movement techniques to street photography, while Machalowski inspired me to make big masses of people and architecture my main subject for this project. In order to develop my ideas, l experimented with techniques such as long exposure, and big crowds as my subject. My initial idea was to take black and white photos, which l did with the experiments, but l liked the red walls of the Confucius Temple, so l took colored photos for my final project instead. Overall, l’m satisfied with how the final photos turned out. One area of improvement next time could be enhancing my compositions to make them more subject-focused. If l had more time, l would like to try taking photos of even more people in busy public spaces like the subway station, or of cars at night.

I chose my best final photos because the pictures of the woman dancing has good lighting. l like the colors and how the people passing creates a sort of frame that puts her in the middle. Additionally, l like the effect of the shadow that the woman casts on the red wall background. I chose the first two photos because l like that the Dismount Stone is the background, and it symbolizes Confucius.

Techniques

Intentional Camera Movement I purposefully moved the camera during a long exposure to produce interesting abstract effects that evoke the feeling of motion and time.

Long Exposure I experimented with different shutter speeds to make the people more or less blurred, and this creates different effects.

ISO l kept the ISO as low as possible (100) to reduce noise.

                   

The theme of my project is the contrast between old and new. For this project, l want to focus on the daily life and movement of people in public spaces that creates a powerful sense of time, and this symbolizes change, which is a core aspect of life. By capturing dynamic moments, I want to explore ancient architecture with modern visitors, where contemporary life intersects with historical settings, highlighting how movement reflects both continuity and change over time. I intend to capture both physical change and change over time. I will employ various techniques such as long exposure to convey change and motion and capture movement. This can convey the energy of city life, showcasing bustling streets.

How will you show this message with your photography- What techniques, styles, subjects will you include?

To freeze a moment, l could use a fast shutter speed (e.g., 1/1000 second or faster) combined with a high ISO setting. A camera set to shutter priority mode allows you to select the shutter speed while the camera adjusts the aperture for optimal exposure. Anticipating the peak action moment is crucial for success. Another technique is panning. moving the camera horizontally to follow a moving subject while using a slower shutter speed (typically between 1/15 to 1/30 second). This technique results in a sharp subject against a blurred background, conveying a sense of speed and movement. It works best when the subject moves across the frame rather than toward or away from the camera. Using a long exposure (20-30 seconds) can create great effects by capturing both stationary and moving elements in a scene. While stationary objects remain sharp, moving subjects blur, emphasizing their motion.

I purposefully photoshopped the photos to make them black and white, because l think black and white photography enhances minimalist architectural themes. The first photo was taken from a window of a building in 798, so the edges of the staircase are kind of blurred. By removing color, black and white photography highlights the shapes, lines, and textures of the staircase. Inspired by Fernando Guerra, l tried a minimalist style with these photos. Guerra often emphasizes natural light to create dramatic contrasts and textures. The bright background in my photo mirrors this technique, highlighting the staircase. The minimalist design of the staircase and its surroundings emphasizes a sense of simplicity and clarity. Moreover, this type of photography often evokes a timeless and nostalgic quality, which is my theme, timelessness. l used light, contrast, and shadow to create a dreamlike quality. The white background contrasts with the dark staircase. This symbolizes the passage of time and the continuous cycle of beginnings and endings. The negative space surrounding the staircase can also evoke feelings of solitude.

Red section:

Green section:

Yellow section:

   

 

Eve Arnold was a prominent American photojournalist, born on April 21, 1912, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents. She was the fifth of nine children, and her father was a rabbi. Arnold’s journey into photography began in 1946 while working at a photo-finishing plant, where she developed a keen interest in capturing the world around her. She studied under Alexey Brodovitch at the New School for Social Research in New York City, which significantly shaped her photographic style and career.

 

 

What will your message be? 

I want to document the everyday activities of people, capturing these authentic moments in time can tell compelling stories about the rhythm of city life in Beijing. For this project I’m focusing on human expressions and emotions in public spaces that create powerful imagery and resonates with viewers. I also want to utilize reflections in windows, water puddles, or mirrors to create unique compositions. There is a lot of graffiti on walls, so l want to capture the vibrant street art. By experimenting with techniques that capture movement, such as long exposures, this can convey the energy of city life, showcasing bustling streets.

How will you show this message with your photography- What techniques, styles, subjects will you include?

One technique that l can use is perspective to offer different perspectives on a subject and highlight mundane details that may have been overlooked. Perspective provides new ways to look at familiar things, and captures the beauty of ordinary objects. For example, l could use the Bird’s eye view or close-ups to take my photos. Another technique is depth of field. I could blur out the background and emphasize the foreground by putting it in focus. This would highlight the main subject. I could also use leading lines to focus on the main subject. I want to try to experiment with different light sources, such as harsh sunlight or soft shadows, to create mood and depth. Shadows can also add depth and intrigue, allowing for a play between light and dark that enhances the visual narrative.