Monday, April 23, 2012

Learning Never Ends............................................


            Digital photography has been a creative outlet for me. I never realized that so much artistic thought can encompass a world so technology driven.  Photography is no longer the untimely task of chemically exposing film, but rather an innovative computer based technology that uses sensors and lenses to capture the unexpected beauty of the world. The Digital Age is upon us and so is the increasing use of digital photography.
There are three different kinds of digital cameras: digital SLR cameras, compact digicams, and cellular camera phones. This semester I used a cellular camera phone and a digital SLR camera this semester. I got to know my cameras very well. My cellular camera phone was convenient when I did not have my digital camera; however, both had similar features and capabilities that provided high quality photos. This proves to me that camera phones feature more creative controls and functions that produce better images as technology advances.  
As Dr. Hart always says, “You don't take a photograph.  You make a photograph." No matter if it is film or digital, this concept still applies. Digital photography has made the arduous and chemically- driven task of making a photograph not only simpler but easy enough for even the most amateur to master. However, there are countless terms such as LCD, EXIF, parallax, composition, previsualizing, JPEG, TIFF, raw, pixel, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, f-stop, white balance, and macro mode that a photographer must now remember. There is so much more to taking and publishing a photograph than the olds days. There is so much more to know and learn.
In order to make a photograph, I’ve learned that you have to use the helpful guidelines of the rules of composition.  One rule that I’ve learned to live by if all else fails is the rule of thirds. This gives me a grid to work with and compose more compelling photos that have more tension, energy, and interest. Simply placing the subject in the middle just doesn’t cut it anymore. The photograph below illustrates this point. I took the shot during a panel discussion during MCJR week. I positioned my camera so that the panelist was in the first third of the grid from the right in my viewfinder. He is now the subject of interest, which entices the viewer to wonder who he is talking to.

 Another rule that I like to use is framing. Framing draws attention to a focal point, which can give the photograph layer, depth, content and layers. A frame does not have to have four sides or be an actual frame, but rather objects or shapes that block a side. Below is a basketball I saw under a small end table. The end table legs and patterned carpet provided a nice frame that opposed the rather round ball. This drew more attention to the ball.

 One key thing that I learned is the magic of photo editing. With the advancement of technology, there has even been expansion in altering photos via different effects and enhancements. Nowadays, an original picture can be easily altered into a totally different image once it hits a computer. Below are two photos that I altered and combined in order to create a ghost image and a UFO. Exciting stuff!



As you can see, photography is continually progressing towards a technology-based industry. People are seldomly using the older form due to the lack of convenience, ease, and adjustability. The Digital Age has now provided photographers with ways to capture images effortlessly but with more technicalities. But as I have said, photography is a never-ending learning process. Pointing and shooting is easy to do but actual composition is studied and learned.



Best Framing

DSCN2934 by korie012
DSCN2934, a photo by korie012 on Flickr.


This is a basketball that was also in the office of my professor. It was lying right under a desk, which I thought would provide a nice frame. The ball is framed on all sides by the legs of the table, carpet on the floor, and bottom of the table. This draws attention to the rather round basketball in such a linear structure.

Best Depth of Field

DSCN2943 by korie012
DSCN2943, a photo by korie012 on Flickr.


I noticed this glass in the office of one of my professors. It was up against a big window facing the parking lot, which provided a nice background. I thought the background was too busy so I opted to use depth of field to draw more attention to the glass. I also used the rule of thirds just to make the photo more compelling.

Best Portrait

DSCN2927 by korie012
DSCN2927, a photo by korie012 on Flickr.


This is a portrait of my friend Nick. I asked him to go on the other side of the door to capture some of the wood frame. He looked down, which I thought was very compelling and I took the photo. I zoomed in just enough to capture the glass, wood, and his face, particularly his saddened expression. 

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Diagonal Lines: Streetscape

DSCN2896 by korie012
DSCN2896, a photo by korie012 on Flickr.

Here, is the view outside my window. I wanted to show what it looks like outside despite the barrier of the blinds in my window. To achieve this, I zoned on the sidewalk until I achieved my desired focus. Then, I changed the angle of the camera to get a compelling and interesting shot. The diagonal lines draw the viewer's eye through the photograph. The lines also give points of interest as they intersect the opposing lines of the sidewalk. The tree leaves that inadvertently enter the shot add a splash of color to the otherwise grey wild.

Depth of Field

DSCN2909 by korie012
DSCN2909, a photo by korie012 on Flickr.
Depth of field refers to the range of distance that appears sharp. This is a picture of a cover on my bed next to my window. To achieve this effect, the camera were f/5.0, ISO 800, and no flash during the evening. As a result, a distinct hill inmy cover is sharp will the rest remains out of focus. The larger the aperture value, smaller the f-stop, and the closer the focusing distance produce a shallower depth of field.

Portrait of My Friend Will


DSCN2803 by korie012
DSCN2803, a photo by korie012 on Flickr.

Above is a portrait of my dear friend, Will. The focus is not the background, which I cropped mostly out, but of his face, in particular, his eyes. In this photo, Will displays a serious countenance with a facetious effort. From the looks of it, he seems as if he is seconds a way from bursting into laughter when you look at his mouth; however, his eyes tell a more solemn tone. Maybe it was the two tall beers he drank. We pretty much giggled after taking this photograph.