Compositional Shooting Assignment

The contact sheet above was used with my DLSR camera, then the one below was half camera phone and half a DLSR camera.

Elements and Principles of Photography

Leading Lines 

This is where your eye is attracted to lines that lead you directly to another point in the image. 

This image perfects leading lines because the trains show you where the end point of the city is. I picked this because I love the city and trains. They make me feel happy and alive.

Vertical Lines 

Can portray different moods in a photo, like power and strength. They are also attention grabbers, and create tension by making the viewer look at the lines. 

This demonstrates vertical lines because it makes the background look powerful and makes you look passed the pizza. I picked this photo because I like to make food, and the background is beautiful.

Horizontal Lines
They often act as dividing points in a picture, which also give off a calm, stable feeling. They can also crate rhythm and a pattern.

This portrays horizontal lines because the wall shows this stability and calm feeling, especially because it's white. I liked this because it's calming and gives off a vintage feeling.

Diagonal Lines
It draws the eye of the viewer throughout the entire photo. It also demonstrates a sense of action and imagery.

This shows diagonal lines because it makes the viewers eye look throughout the photo. I like it because it makes you pay attention to the whole image. 

Curved Lines

These are lines that demonstrate comfort, but it'd not a straight line. 

This shows the idea of curved lines because the view feels a sense of comfort. I like this because I love listening to music off of vinyls and it gives me comfort. 

Symmetrical Balance

This brings a pleasing proportion and balance into the photograph. It is a mirroring image of an item, or they have the same feel to it. 

This demonstrates symmetrical balance because it an mirroring image and if you put a line down the middle, you'd have the same image on each side. I really love this picture because it gives off a subtle feel and I've always loved escalators. 

Asymmetrical Balance

It can also be known as informal balance, since it is not uniform. It's normally where the subject is off center and you need to counter balance a large image with a smaller image, along with everything needing to out balance everything.

In the image above, it shows asymmetrical balance by all the objects in the photo balancing each other out. I like this image because of how the trees color pops out, along with the setting behind it. You can think it's coming from the city, or a town.

Unity

Unity is when all the objects are balanced and bring the picture to a complete whole. 

In this image, unity is shown by the orange chairs making the picture tie together. I like this because it simple, and without the bright orange, you'd completely pass this photo. 

Variety 

Is mostly produced by diversity and with doing that, it completely changes the visual input of the photograph. Unity is the opposite of variety. 

This is variety because it shows a difference and changes the input. I like it because it gives off a playful response. 

Movement/Rhythm 

This is produced by the viewers eye following the picture, and by certain elements in a photo repeating. 

It demonstrates movement by the images being blurred, and then rhythm by the repeating colors and the idea that those are people. I really like this picture because dancing is something my family enjoys, and this reminds me of them. 

Emphasis 

Is an area of a photo that will catch the viewers attention and you make it the subject of your photo. 

This perfectly shows emphasis, for it is what catches your attention. I like this because it's simple, but at the same time seems extraordinary. 

Proportion and Scale

Changing proportion and scale will dramatically change the mood of your image. One of your objects in the photo will look like it doesn't belong, it is out of proportion. 

In this image the part that makes it out of proportion are the big feet, or the feet that look like the belong to the wicked witch in The Wizard of Oz. I love this because it gives off this idea of fantasy because you know this isn't real. 

Repetition/Pattern 

This uses the idea of repeating something to create interesting images. These repeated things create equality within the image. 

In the image, the chairs are the repeated aspect. I like this because it is something is easy to take a picture of, instead of the pattern being a graphic design, or something out of the ordinary. 

Bird's Eye View

Is a change in your camera angle. You are looking down upon an item, or subject. 

This is a great example for bird's eye view because it look upon a city, and shows how busy it is. I like this because it shows a city at a whole new look, and demonstrates how an angle can change the opinion on a photo. 

Worm's Eye View 

Is where you shoot from below the subject.

This shows the composition, worm's eye view because the subject had to be shot from the camera being under it. I like this because it's different and unique. 

Horizon Line

Is the line that acts like your divider. It shows the different levels in your photo and demonstrates how you can capture more then one thing. 

I like this because it shows the horizon line really well. It has three levels, and the horizon line being where the sea and sky part. 

Rule of Thirds

This is applied when you split the photo into nine sections and where the line would be, your subject would be. 

This shows rule of thirds because the tree is in where the intersecting lines would be. I like this because the tree is you main focus and in my head I draw the lines for I know its there. 

Framing

This is a technique where one subject is being used as a frame, to frame another object.

In this the gate is the frame to the white house, and it makes you look at the house. I like this because its neat how you can take one object and make it do something to another object, like frame it. 

Simplicity 

Is where you normally place a colorful object against a neutral background for the picture has a simple thing to it. 

This isn't a neutral background but the color of the water is dull enough to make the kayak stand out. I love this because it's so simple and easy to shoot this, but at the same time difficult. 

Texture

This shows off how a subject has feels or if it has feeling. 

This is an example of texture because you can tell the wall and paint chipping has a feeling to it. I love this because you can demonstrate if its soft, hard or rough, all in one picture or in separate. 

Composition Match Game

Match Game

Image	E/P of Design	Rational
	Framing	Directs viewer's attention to what is important using objects or elements existing in the scene.
	Pattern/Repetition	The repeated consistency of an element in a work.
	Bird’s Eye View	View from above looking down.
	Rule of Thirds	Compositional rule of thumb where the whole image is divided into 9 equal parts; compositional elements should be placed along these lines or intersections.
	Symmetrical Balance	One side balances or mirrors the other (separated by a vertical line).
	Vertical Lines	Lines that run north to south. Grandness and spirituality.
	Unity	All elements of a piece work, together to produce a balanced, harmonious, complete whole.
	Asymmetrical Balance	Different objects balance each other out on the page.
	Leading Lines	Lines that lead your eye to other points in the image (or out of the image).
	Horizontal Lines	Lines that run east to west. Rest, calmness and tranquility.
	Diagonal Lines	Lines that run in a slanted direction. Movement and direction.
	Proportion/Scale	The relative size of one object in relation to another.
	Texture	The appearance and feeling of a surface.
	Curved Line	Lines that deviate from straightness in a smooth, continuous fashion. Comfort, safety, relaxation
	Movement/Rhythm	Shows action and the path of the viewer's eyes through the artwork.
	Worm’s Eye View	View from below looking up.
	Emphasis	Elements in a piece that are given dominance or attract attention.
	Variety	Differences in elements and principles of design that give interest to a composition.
	Simplicity	Singling out an item(s) from their surroundings.
	Horizon Line	Used to emphasize the sky or the ground based on the placement of horizontal line where sky meets ground.

Camera Basics Quiz (group b)

ISO - 800

F stops- 16.0

Shutter Speed - 3.2

I shot this by putting it on a tripod, because the shutter speed was too long for me to hold the camera. The sweaters are on a chair in my room, which is what is in the frame. The entire picture is clear, because it had a high aperture. 

                                   

ISO - 800

Shutter Speed - 1/15

F stops - 5.0

This picture is of my sister, who is waving to the camera. This displays my moving subject because her hand is blurry, while the rest of the picture is in focus. Please don't pay any attention of that sock in the lower right corner, it's not important. 

ISO - 6400 

Shutter Speed - 1/80

F stops - 9.0

This is my shot for having grain/noise. It was shot with a high ISO because the higher that is, the more grain will be in your shot. You can see the grain the most up over the phone, by the window curtains, and by the area that has the light reflection on the iPhone.  

ISO - 400

Shutter Speed - 1/4

F stops - 5.0

This portrait selfie with my sister was more difficult then it should of been. It took long for the lighting to look good, along with the shot being in complete focus. After we finally got it to work, it took the picture with a ten second timer, and on a tripod. The setting we used was aperture priority, which is where the aperture is picked for you, which can either be a blessing or a curse.  

I learned many things throughout this unit, but the most important part was that I wasn't using all the items on the camera correctly. I also learned that manual mode is now my best friend ( goodbye all other modes ). The basics of the three main modes of the camera are that you need to know everything about them. For aperture, you must know that it lets the light in and out, and it determines if your picture has a blur, or no blur. ISO is where grain plays into your picture. You can set it up for you have a clear picture, or set it up for a grainer picture. ISO lets the more light if its higher, or less light if its at a lower ISO. Then shutter speed is how long it takes for the shutter to open. This is the mode where it blurs movement, or freezes the movement. 

Composition is what?

What is composition?

Why is it important to understand & utilize composition in photography?

Describe aspects of a “snapshot”.

Describe aspects of a “photograph”.

“Photography is the art of ________________________”

a.     Describe what interests you the most about this art form 

or what drew you to this form of communication.

Composition is the big picture of the photography elements. It is how you should place it in your frame, and how you should arrange it. When you ask yourself the question, do I fill the whole frame with my subject, or do I fill half of the frame. That is composition at it's finest. To understand the means of composition, you have to understand its elements. They are the raw materials of composition. Lines, texture, shape, light, motion and perspective are the elements that make up composition and each play an important role in a photograph. A "snapshot" is just a picture of someone capturing the moment, and not paying attention to the composition of the photograph. It is simply just a picture of someone who is either at an event, or something to remind themselves what they look like. Now a photograph is an artistic view of taking a photo. It tells the viewer there is a story, or an event behind the picture that you need to unfold. It has real meaning to taking the photo. "Photography is the art of discovery". To discover how composition takes up a photo, and tells a story. What interests me the most is that every picture you see has meaning, it can be poorly taken, but the thought and time it takes to capture the photo is what makes it interesting. 

Understanding Focal Length

55 mm 

ISO - 800

f/ 5.6

shutter speed - 1/20

 35 mm

ISO - 800

f/ 4.5

shutter speed - 1/30

24 mm

ISO - 800

f/4.0

shutter speed - 1/50

18 mm

ISO - 800

f/ 3.5

shutter speed - 1/60

Focal Lengths are represented in millimeters and is the calculation of a distance from where light covers the image in your frame. It tells us all about the view of the angle, along with how much will be captured. The longer the focal length, the narrower the view and higher magnification. Then the shorter the focal length, the wider the view and lower magnification. There is a zoom lens and a prime lens and the difference is very simple. 

Zoom lenses are able to change and is versatility. Now prime lenses are where the focal length is stationary. Many photographers use prime lenses because it has better quality, but you have to shoot at the same length every time. You can get a prime lens with different f/stops though. They also tend to have larger apertures. Prime lenses are great for portraits, since they give off a softer, blurred background. 

The lens is the key factor in photography and different lenses are better for different scenario. A macro lens is best for nature, while a super telephoto lens is good for wildlife and sports. A telephoto lens is also good for wildlife, but is good for portraits too. Then a standard lens is best for low lights and a shallow depth of field. The last is wide-angle lenses, which are made for interiors and landscapes.