This is a snapshot of all the photos I took at the Hutongs.

These are the top 9 photos. Some of them are successful because they simply satisfy the street photo style, while others are successful due to the intentions and unique ideas that I personally would appreciate, although they may not be successful enough objectively.

This photo is in my top three’s because it satisfies my intent, such as the composition(rule of thirds,) variety in layers, and strong diagonal.

Well… I didn’t rotate this photo on purpose… And I don’t know what keeps making this lovely photo facing the wrong way. Whatever… It has very powerful and clear layers, satisfies the rule of thirds, and possesses a triangular trend. Despite achieving multiple concepts, there is one area that needs improvement: I should’ve told Frank to move a little bit closer to the camera. However, no matter what, I’d still like to declare that this is my favorite photo among the rest of 162.

This used to be my favorite, but I don’t think it is interesting and lively enough. It demonstrates a calm and relaxing feeling and possesses various layers. The composition of this photo is typical, placing the subject at the center, and features a certain angle that makes it more powerful. To improve this photo, I would move closer so that the focusing point would be on the elderly instead of everything else and the background.

The title of this project is “The Strange and Unfamiliar.” It is made by Marie Laigneau.

The concept I want to tell with my photographs is how the rule of thirds can transform ordinary scenes into visually compelling narratives, guiding the eye to discover stories in everyday urban and human moments.

I want my audience to feel engaged — like they’re actively exploring the frame, wondering what is actually happening behind the photos.

I will get inspiration and develop my ideas by looking for these kind of photographs that master the rule of thirds to balance subjects and background elements.

Work cited:

Marie Laigneau is a London-based street photographer who enjoys travelling to the world’s biggest cities to capture the fleeting essence of urban life. Her pictures have a soft, magical feel yet often show people in nature looking thoughtful or mysterious. She’s famous for a project where she photographs all kinds of people from her home country. If you scroll through her Instagram, you’ll see her feed is full of these beautiful and interesting images that make you stop and wonder what’s happening.

Analysis of this photo (Concepts used):

• Capture Eye Contact: The woman looks directly at the camera, creating a connection with the viewer.
• Avoid Distractions: Despite the busy background, the focus remains on the woman, ensuring she is the central subject without unnecessary visual clutter.
• Rule of Thirds: The woman is positioned along the vertical thirds of the frame(approximately in the middle third.) This technique balances the composition and making it visually engaging.

Work cited:

I’m going to focus on capturing photos of people’s everyday lives. I will achieve this by applying the concept of the rule of thirds, and these are some of the images that inspired me:

These photos were taken right at the moment when people were acting natural and daily life. I feel like these are the types of street photos that I’m going to take, therefore they are the photos that’ve inspired me.

Works cited:

Photos cited:

In my point of view, street photography is like being a spy with a camera. You walk around in public places—like a city street, a park, or a mall—and take pictures of life as it happens. The key is that you don’t pose people or set anything up. You just capture real, unplanned moments.

It’s all about finding interesting or beautiful scenes in everyday life. This could be a person laughing, a cool shadow on the ground, or a funny coincidence you see. The goal is to tell a small story about the world and how people act in it, all without anyone noticing you.

Works cited:

Formal Elements in Photography
Formal elements are the basic parts that make a photo interesting and meaningful. They help guide your eyes and tell a story.

1. Line
Lines lead your eyes around the photo. Example: A road stretching into the distance (Photo by Ansel Adams).

2. Shape
Shapes are flat, enclosed areas. Example: A photo of a round basketball on a court (Image by Nike).

3. Pattern
Patterns are repeated shapes or lines. Example: Rows of colorful umbrellas at a beach (Photo by National Geographic).

4. Texture
Texture shows how something might feel. Example: Close-up of tree bark showing roughness (Photo by John Smith).

5. Tone
Tone is the lightness or darkness in a photo. Example: Black and white portrait with shadows (Photo by Dorothea Lange).

6. Focus
Focus is what part of the photo is sharp or blurry. Example: A sharp flower with a blurry background (Photo by Jane Doe).

My message is how the my Asian culture aesthetically influenced this world.  I’m going to take abstract photos focusing on textures, colors, and small details that make my audience think of the Asian cultural elements they see in real life. I hope when people see my photos, they feel interested in Asian culture.  For inspiration, I will look for photographers who use cultural objects as their subject in their photographs. In my opinion, we should not forget the existence of our culture and history.  Both of these components make us us, and make us unique.