This image features 2 people walking in a Hutong. When capturing the image, I was positioned in a darker environment than the alley outside. Therefore, it features a deep contrast between the silhouettes outlining the men and the bright outside environment. The photograph also includes leading lines formed by the cars and wall to let the audience focus their attention on the main subject-the people. Through the multiple layers is also created depth, giving off a sense of nostalgia. Lastly, the focus on the image is concentrated on the background, not revealing much details of the main subject, adding mysteriousness and making the overall composition look more natural to the Beijing daily life.
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This image shows a old man driving his rickshaw while talking to the tourists at the back. The image has a high contrast between the bright red on the rickshaw and the light green of the bamboo in the background. The image also features a pattern between light and shadows. The lighting is rather soft and dim, but it conveys the emotions of the people in the image, a blend of calmness and gentleness. The overall composition is made so that the middle line falls exactly on the rickshaw driver, emphasizing the subject and his role in the image. The combination of nature and traditional Beijing elements also reflects my Statement of Intent well.
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Similar to the first image, this photo also features a strong contrast between the shadows and silhouettes of the biker and the bright outside environment due to by stance and position in the setting. The photograph also uses sharp focus to create a rich background but leave the subject dark and mysterious. The vanishing point of the image is also placed at the end of the alley, which also draws attention to the cultural heritage of the Hutongs, adding on a feeling of containment and soothingness.
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The photograph shows a little boy reacting towards a toy in his mother’s hand. The most important element in this photo is his vivid expression, which shows a combination of anger and jealousy, urging his mother to give him the toy. His wide opened mouth and narrowed eyes convey this emotion to the audience. The colors of the subject also stand out, being light blue, compared to the gray in the background. The perspective compared to the subject rather high, which adds upon a sense vulnerability while emphasizing its relationship with the surrounding environment and people. When editing the image, I made the boy stand out by adding stronger brilliance and cropping unneeded people in the background.
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This photograph shows 2 old people on a walk in the Hutong district. The most important element here is the lighting consideration, with one person’s eyes being covered by the shadow formed by his cap. On the other hand, the rest of the subject remains light up, emphasizing the sharpness and contrast of the image, adding a sense of tension to the environment. The colors of the subjects in the image remain simple and blend into the background, with the overall color tone. being rather dark and neutral. The image is also a close up shot, allowing more details in facial expressions.
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This image is a heartwarming shot of a family standing together under a tree. The image features gestures, find the father seemingly opening his hands to let the girl come to him. The lighting and composition also emphasize such an emotion. The sunlight shines on the tree trunk and its leaves, leaving the family in its shadow, adding a sense of coziness. On the other hand, the image captures leaves being blown by the wind, creating movement and making the image more natural and lively. Another characteristic of the image is its low perspective, with the camera directly on the ground while the photograph was taken, highlighting the subject and its significance. During editing, I also cropped off unneeded elements and straightened the image to make it more straightforwards and visually appealing.
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This image shows a man walking down an alleyway. Lighting plays an important role in the composition of the image, with it illuminating the main subject of the image. The image also features the rule of thirds, with the man falling perfectly on the bottom left hand corner of the image, adding attention to him while lessening the effect of the vibrant green sign in the background. While editing the image, I added brilliance and exposure to thicken the atmosphere and lighting contrast, conveying emotions of isolation and resilience of the person.
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This photo show a moving scooter in the Hutongs. It features a strong sense of movement, with the scooter being blurred due to its high speed. The center composition of the image also allows the middle line to be exactly on the main subject, emphasizing its importance in the photograph. The color tone of the image remains gray and dull, creating moods of contemplative and aging. The eye-level perspective used also captures and connects people with the story the image tells. While editing, I cropped out a lot of useless elements to let the audience focus on the main subject while not being distracted.
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The color of red is represented rather dramatically in this image. Its vibrant tone leaves a feeling of energy and excitement. On the other hand, the muted tones of the man’s cloths create a contrast between the two. The composition uses the rickshaws as a frame to draw attention to the man on his phone. It also includes the rule of thirds to emphasize the subject. The contrast between shadows and the light falling on the person’s hat also convey mood and feeling to the audience.
This image features another man riding a scooter. Similar to previous shots, the contrast between the shadow covering the man and the outside environment creates a sense of mysteriousness, diving deeper into the unknown. Shapes in this image are also crucial, as they outline the man and other objects, adding upon the mysterious feeling. Selective focus in the image allows sharp details on the person while moderately blurring the background.