Final Photo

This is one of my favorite photos and it was also chosen to hang on the wall. My initial thought was to focus on the person, so that the subject of the photo would stand out. To further increase the sense of space in the photo, I thought about having something in front of the person, forming a background as the distance, the person as the middle ground, and the obstruction in front of the person (the candied haws) as the foreground. I did this in this photo, and by blurring the background and the candied haws in the front, the reader’s eyes will focus on the person, especially the person’s small face. In the picture, a person is dressed in traditional clothing and standing next to a display area of ​​various traditional snacks. The composition draws people’s attention to the bright colors of the clothing and snacks. The theme of this photo is to convey Chinese culture or tradition. The bright colors and attention to details of the clothing and snacks show the intention to emphasize the richness of the culture. This image uses bright contrasting colors such as red and green to attract the viewer’s eye and create visual interest. The colors are harmonious and enhance the overall beauty of the image. The position of the person is slightly off-center, and the placement of the snacks creates a balanced and dynamic composition. The diagonal formed by the candied haws adds movement and guides the viewer’s eyes through the image. The smile of the person is warm and cheerful, adding a layer of happiness and warmth to the image. The challenge I encountered when taking this picture was how to find a suitable angle to make the person and the candied haws appear in the picture at the same time without completely covering each other. And how to capture the facial expression of the person. In order to choose the right expression, I took several photos when the person smiled, and found the one I thought was the most suitable, that is, the one with the brightest smile.

Fears About Going to Hutong to Take Photographs

• Fear of being physically assaulted: I worry that some people might get aggressive if they don’t want their picture taken.
• Fear of being perceived as “weird”: I feel anxious about how locals might think I’m strange for taking photos of them or their surroundings.
• Fear of being yelled or cursed at: I’m concerned that I might face hostility or get yelled at by people who don’t like being photographed.
• Fear of getting strange looks: I worry about attracting the attention of passers-by or locals and receiving judgmental or confused looks.
• Fear of intruding on privacy: I concern that photographing strangers without permission could be considered disrespectful or invasive.
• Fear of misinterpretation: I’m afraid that people might misunderstand why I’m taking pictures. They might think I have bad intentions, which is not the case at all.
• Fear of conflict: I feel anxious about the possibility of having a confrontation with locals over photography. I don’t want to get into any arguments or uncomfortable situations.

How to Overcome My Fears

Fear of Being Physically Assaulted:

• Stay Aware of Your Surroundings: I will be mindful of the environment and the people around me. If a situation feels uncomfortable and people are getting mad, I will prepare to explain immediately and apologize of taking photos about them.
• Travel in Groups: I would stay with one or few of my friends for added security and support, which can help deter negative interactions.

Fear of Being Perceived as “Weird”:

• Engage with Locals: Before I take photos, I can start chatting with people first. Getting to know them a little can help me feel more comfortable and make them more open to having their picture taken.

Fear of Being Yelled or Cursed At:

• Be Respectful and Polite: I should always respect people’s boundaries. If someone looks uncomfortable, I’ll just apologize and move on without pushing it.
• Choose My Moments: It’s better to take photos when people are busy doing something else. They’re less likely to react badly if they’re focused on their activities.

Fear of Getting Strange Looks:

• Use a Small Camera: I’ll try to use a smaller camera or even my phone so that I don’t attract too much attention. This way, I can blend in better.
• Blend In: I would dressing in a simple and stay in a small group, so I look like a tourist. If I act naturally, people are less likely to notice me as an outsider.

Fear of Intruding on Privacy:

• Ask for Permission: Whenever I can, I should ask people if it’s okay to take their picture. Being friendly and respectful can lead to better interactions.

Fear of Misinterpretation:

• Clarify Your Intentions: If someone questions me, I can explain my purpose of taking photos, which is a project for school’s photography class. Many times, being honest can help clear things up.
• Share Your Work: I could offer to share the photos with the people I photograph. This shows that I didn’t offend anyone and just want to appreciate what I see.

Fear of Conflict:

• Practice Conflict Avoidance: If things start feeling tense, it’s best to just walk away and avoid the conflict. It’s not worth getting into a fight over a photo.
• Stay Calm and Polite: If someone confronts me, I’ll try to stay calm and respond politely. Keeping cool can often help ease the situation.

Analysis of an artist

Photographer: Sally Davies 

Sally Davies is a photographer from the United Kingdom who now lives in New York City. She is best known for her street photography, where she captures real-life moments in the busy streets of the city. Her photographs have been featured in the New York Times, the UK Daily Mail, PDN online, Huffington Post, Photolife Magazine, The Guardian and The New York Post. While her exact age isn’t widely shared, she has been taking photos for many years and is well-known in the photography world. Sally Davies started photography to tell stories, expressing her own experiences through the images she captures. A good portrait shares two stories at once: hers and the subject’s, creating a connection that resonates with viewers. This approach inspires me to capture not only the people and scenes in the hutongs but also my unique interpretation of those moments.  

Davies’ style focuses on showing people’s everyday lives and the character of the city, with photos that often include interesting backgrounds, emotions, and natural moments. I like her style because it captures genuine, everyday moments that feel real and relatable. Her use of street photography makes her work feel honest, showing people as they truly are without posing or preparation. I also appreciate how she uses the environment to add depth to her photos, incorporating elements like reflections, shadows, and textures to tell a richer story. The background and surroundings can make a photo more powerful and meaningful. 

Beyond photography, Davies draws inspiration from other forms of art, including music and painting. “The old photo guard continues to remind me what’s good: Diane Arbus, Saul Leiter, Helen Levitt, William Eggleston, Fred Herzog. All artists inspire me: musicians -Tom Waits, Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, Painters: Sylvia Maier, Mike Howard, Agnes Martin, and so many more. In the end, if you live with gratitude, you will find Inspiration everywhere. The universe is like that”, said Sally Davies. Davies believes that living with gratitude allows her to find inspiration everywhere. To her, the universe itself holds endless sources of creativity. This mindset likely helps her stay open to different ideas and maintain a fresh perspective in her work. 

Sally Davis presents her subjects in a creative way, focusing on capturing natural, unposed moments that capture genuine emotions and interactions. She uses her surroundings to add meaning and detail to her photos, often including textures, reflections and light to create interesting and layered photos. This inspired my photographs of Chinese people as I try to photograph them in real situations, showing their feelings and daily activities while using backgrounds such as old buildings, busy markets and simple details of city life. Sally Davis’s work helped me develop ideas in my mind maps by showing how to combine candid moments with meaningful context. Her approach taught me to capture real interactions, such as children playing or neighbors chatting, while ensuring the background adds to the story – using elements such as traditional buildings or market scenes to enrich the photo. This idea helped me expand on sections such as “focusing on the background” and “capturing gestures.” 

 Evaluation of an image

This image exemplifies Sally Davies’ signature street photography style, which focuses on capturing natural, unposed moments in vibrant urban environments. The neon-lit tattoo parlor creates a dramatic focal point, contrasting with the shadowy figures and rough textures of the street. The image feels natural and authentic, emphasizing the interplay between the individual and their surroundings.

My photos

contact sheet

Yellow images

Green images

Red images

Evaluation of 1 of my “red” images

I took this photo because I wanted to capture the joy and warmth of that moment. This lady’s bright smile paired with her bright red floral jacket immediately caught my attention, creating a cheerful, inviting atmosphere. The dress that she wore was very Chinese-the bright red color and the peony, known as China’s national flower, really captured the traditional character and atmosphere of the country. In addition, the candied haws in front of her was also a classic Chinese snack, adding a strong cultural flavor to the scene. I love how the natural light accentuated her expression, bringing out the bright colors of her dress and the shiny coating on the candied haws. Also, I was using the technic of capturing gesture. The bright smile she showed to her guests was so sincere and genuine and something I wanted to capture.

What is street photography?

Street photography, a genre of photography that records everyday life in a public place. The very publicness of the setting enables the photographer to take candid pictures of strangers, often without their knowledge. Street photography is also an attitude, a state of mind, a way of being. “Street photographers do not necessarily have a social purpose in mind, but they prefer to isolate and capture moments which might otherwise go unnoticed” (Encyclopaedia Brittanica).

General concept I want to focus on:

“The People of China”–As a huge country with the second large population, Chinese people have a variety of lifestyles. Hutongs are traditional places where Chinese people have lived for generations. Therefore, I want to capture interesting people and their colorful lives.

6 concepts I chose:

• The decisive moment: “The decisive moment” is essentially capturing the photo with perfect timing.
• Work the scene–don’t just take one photo: People won’t always know when the “best” decisive moment will occur, so you can take several pictures of the same scene to find the best one.
• Capture gestures: Capturing gestures (facial gesture, hand gesture, etc.) can convey strong emotions.
• Eye contact: To make more impactful or impressive photos, take photos in which the subject of your photo is looking directly at you (the photographer).
• Focus on the background: Using the background to express the mood, style or idea behind the photograph. Backgrounds also tell stories.
• Edges and corners and the frame: Use composition (edges, corners, frame, etc.) to lead the viewer’s attention on what the photographer wants the viewer’s to focus on.

Brainstorm of ideas (mind map)

Mood board

My project, “The People of China,” aims to capture the vibrant daily life and unique interactions within the hutongs, evoking a sense of connection and appreciation for the diverse stories of the people living there.