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, 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, 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, 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. 

Diagonal Lines: Streetscape

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, 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, 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.

Rule of Thirds

I took this shot during the panel discussion during MCJR week. This speaker was giving advice to the crowd about free-lancing and owning your own business. I positioned him in the first third of the grid from the right so that he would be the subject of interest and to entice the viewer to wonder who or what he is talking to. This made the photograph more compelling as well as dramatic.

Depth of Field

With this shot, I played around with depth of field. I first focused on the woman in the blue, then on the woman in black, then on the man with glasses. I found that the best shot was the focus on the woman in the middle who I made to appear sharp while the areas in front and behind her appear blurry. All subjects are paying attention to what is going on to the right but the woman in the middle demonstrated a really intent look when listening to the panel of speakers during MCJR week last Thursday.

Framing

On this hot spring day, I happened to be walking back to my dorm room and saw this shot. I wanted to frame this young man who was listening to music outside the Spartan Station. So, I used the light poles and the leaves of the trees to draw attention to him. He is the only thing in this photo that isn't positioned to be in a straight line, rather he is positioned organically in a scene so structured. 

Framing, Simplicity, Lines, Patterns

This photo utilizes the rule of framing. The frame is the door that blocks out all sides of this particular scene. This makes the viewer focus on the red car. This picture also contains some leading lines in the concrete side walk as well as the position of the yellow poles. The yellow poles are also in a group of three, which is popular group in photography.

This photo utilizes the concept of simplicity. The blue sky is the simple background, which makes the two puff balls of cloud stand out. The camera was raised to include all of the simple background as possible so that the focus would be on the clouds.

This photo utilizes the rules of leading lines and patterns and repitition. The leading lines lead the viewer almost out o the phot and are at a slight angle. This leads to the rule of diagonal lines which are more compelling, dynamic, and interesting to the viewer. Also, the pattern of brick on the wall gives the viewer something to look at and giving the impression of size and number with impact.

A photograph is not taken, it is made!

A photograph is not taken, it is made. This is the number one thing that I have learned in this Digital Photography class. At first, I would just take photographs ignorantly without considering any rules of composition. The point and shoot technique was my approach for the majority of my photographs. Fortunately, I have learned that there is a lot more that goes into taking a photograph than simple point and shoot. The rules of composition such as rule of thirds, simplicity, framing, texture, leading lines, symmetry and patterns, and geometric shapes have been helpful guidelines for me this semester. Surely, they will be guidelines for life.

One of my favorite rules to abide by is the rule of thirds. This rule provides a grid that is available on most cameras and is the easiest to visualize. The photos above demonstrate the application of the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds is a visual art rule that can create more tension, energy, and interest than just simply placing the subject in the middle. I've learned that when the subject is moving, it is best to place the subject at an intersection or line that gives the subject the most space to move. The photo below illustrates this point. 

Another favorite of mine is the rule of leading lines. Lines automatically draw your eyes through a photograph and create a meaningful composition.  The lines do not have to be actual lines but can be the lines of the natural world like a walking path or fence. Leading lines can also draw your attention to a subject without the daunting task of having to look around the photograph and find it.

Another rule that I enjoy is simplicity. KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid is the first rule my photography teacher taught me when I was in high school. The saying always made me life but I understand now why she always said that. Simplicity is sometimes the best way to go when taking a photograph that can oftentimes be convoluted with excess. It is sometimes best to retract to a rule that is as easy as one, two, three. 

Framing is another technique that can enhance a photo. Framing a subject or scene can draw attention to a main focal point, which can not only make the viewer intrigued, but also give the photo depth, content, and layers. Framing does not always have to be an actual frame but can come in many different shapes and sizes. Also, the frame does not have to completely surround the image but can be on one, or two, or three edges of the photograph.

Photography is a never-ending learning process when it comes to shooting a good photograph. So many techniques and modifications are available to enhance the appeal and artistic nature of each photograph. I look at photography as a growing hobby that will continue in the near future. There is way more than just point there and shoot here. It requires some thinking, just like life.

Framing

Framing is another good composition technique which draws attention to a subject by blocking other parts of the image with something in the scene. I wanted to frame this pencil using a unique frame. This patterned pencil holder was definitely an ideal candidate. The color contrast of yellow and black draw the eyes to the main focal point, the pencil, intriguing the individual. It is also not immediately apparent that the subject is a pencil due to the overwhelming pattern which also adds interest and depth to the photo.

Leading Lines

 Leading lines is the main focus in this photograph. This is a picture of a keyboard gel pad on my Apple computer. The color of the keypad provides a vibrance and fun atmosphere to the technology. The lines draw your eye through the photograph to the end of the keyboard. This example, in particular, does not have a main focal subject making the viewer wonder what is on the other end of photograph.

Rule of Thirds

“By the Grace of the Holy Saint, the dried-up branches have blossomed forth again in their greenery.”

Sri Guru Granth Sahib quotes On this hot February day, I just happened to be sitting at a bench with this beautiful greenery behind it. I took the photograph using the rule of thirds. The bushes were so bountiful that I positioned them to take up two-thirds of the photograph. This positioning gave the look of a horizon on the horizontal line first from the top. Furthermore, the small amount of branches sticking out of the bush were placed at the intersection of that first horizontal line and first vertical line from the right making the horizon not so flat and more compelling. The rays from the sunlight give the photograph some depth and brightness.

Rule of Thirds 3

This photograph also uses the guideline of rule of thirds. The light coming through the doorway is positioned along the first vertical line from the right and takes up a whole third of the photo. The rest of the two-thirds is occupied by a gritty wall that highly displays this texture in black and white. The focus is mainly on the dark wall but the glimpse of light provides a way through the eerie darkness.

Rule of Thirds 2

The photograph above uses rule of thirds as a guideline. The insect is placed at the intersection of the first vertical line from the left and the last horizontal line from the bottom. Placing the insect here allows for the most movement and makes the insect look as if its journey is not over. One almost anticipates its jump to the perpendicular ceiling. Also, the most detail is placed in the left farthest part of the photo which provides a nice contrast to the blank ceiling-simplicity. This composition provides good tension and interest.

Rule of Thirds 1

The photo above demonstrates the application of the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds is a visual art rule that can create more tension, energy, and interest than just simply putting the subject in the middle. The sun sits at the intersection between the first horizontal line from the top and vertical line from the left. This positioning makes the sun appear even more powerful and its rays' have more depth within the photograph. This positioning also makes the sun appear as if it is crawling through these bare branches making the photo more interesting and appealing. The use of gray scale also provides texture to the branches adding to the photograph's appeal.

What's My Motivation and Style?

So, how do I approach things?

My motive for picture taking is to capture moments in time that happen everyday that become numb and unnoticeable to most people. Every picture is a moment that has passed us by but is now remembered through photography. I also like to simply have fun. Getting into tough positions to shoot subjects, laying on the ground, or getting on my tippy toes makes me get out of my comfort zone and HAVE FUN! My main interests are in people, the weird, and travel but I feel that many differnt things can interest me. Style-wise, I prefer to be self-organized and punctual but in life, that doesn't always happen. I am usually a pack rat that stores tons of photos and then I usually sort through them to find the best later. 

There are many dandelions that grow during winter amongst the dying tree leaves. They are everywhere in the grass. The combinations of colors, yellow, brown, and green, really drew me to this one particular photograph.

The sun is always shining bright regardless of the weather. This is kind of cryptic with the bending tree branches that look human appendages. One branch even look like it is grabbing the sun. Who wouldn't a pocket full of sunshine. I walk past this tree almost everday and never knew I could get a photograph like this, especially with no greenery to cover the branches.

Leading Lines